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Sports & Outdoors

American River Bicycle Trail

📍 Discovery Park, Garden Highway & Discovery Park Drive, Sacramento, CA 95827。
American River Bicycle Trail
1 photos
4.5/ 5.0
★★★★★

Introduction

The American River Bicycle Trail is the Sacramento region's most popular multi-use recreational greenway, winding about 51km along the American River from downtown Discovery Park to Folsom Lake Dam. The trail is paved asphalt, closed to motor vehicles, and open only to cyclists, pedestrians, and skaters, one of the West Coast's most renowned long-distance cycling trails. It passes Old Sacramento, Discovery Park riverside wetlands, and Folsom Lake shore forest, with riverside wildlife, historic Gold Rush sites, and California agricultural landscapes along the way. The greenway connects multiple parks and picnic areas, a popular route for family weekend rides and long-distance training, rated by Bicycling Magazine as one of America's best urban bike trails.

✨ Highlights

1
51km Greenway
2
No Motor Vehicles
3
Riverside Wildlife
4
Links Multiple Parks
5
Best US Bike Trail

🛈 Practical Info

→Hours：Trail open 24/7
→Admission：Free, no ticket
→Transport：Bike from downtown or bus to Discovery Park trailhead
→Best Time to Visit：March-May and September-November mild weather best
→Recommended Duration：Half day for 25km; full trail 6-8 hours
→Notes：Bring bike and helmet, water points along the way but carry a bottle

💡 Tips

• Multiple downtown shops rent bikes at USD 25-40/day, e-bikes are easier
• Beginners should do Discovery Park to Cal Expo 15km; advanced riders can reach Folsom Lake Dam
• Summer has no shade; use SPF 50+ and carry 2+ liters of water
• Dawn and dusk are best for riverside deer and water birds
• Connect to Sacramento Northern Bike Trail for multi-day rides

FAQ

Any practical tips for visiting American River Bicycle Trail?

Multiple downtown shops rent bikes at USD 25-40/day, e-bikes are easier Beginners should do Discovery Park to Cal Expo 15km; advanced riders can reach Folsom Lake Dam

Information on this page is compiled from public sources. Opening hours, ticket prices and other details may change — please verify with official sources before your visit.