Let's ride the El Dorado Trail before they pave more of it!!!. This section of the trail starts at Forni Rd. near Ray Lawyer Drive west of downtown Placerville (near the jail, for those of you who who have been there.)

Directions: Take Hiway 50 to Placerville, exit Forni Rd., left on Forni Rd. Go one mile, trailhead is on the right just before the driveway to the jail, parking on the right just past the driveway to the jail. I'll be in my silver Scion xB (the box). For those wanting to car-pool or caravan, we will meet at the Iron Point Light Rail station at Iron Point Rd. and Folsom Blvd. at 7:45 AM, leaving no later than 8:00. REPEAT: WE WILL MEET AT THE IRON POINT LIGHT RAIL STATION IN FOLSOM AT 7:45 AM, LEAVE THERE AT 8:00 AM, AND MEET AT THE TRAILHEAD ON FORNI RD. IN PLACERVILLE AT 8:30. Call me on my cell if you get lost - [masked].

The trail: The first two miles are newly paved, with some parallel dirt trails on either side, though on this section the parallel dirt trails aren't much more than deer trails with overhanging branches - when I rode last Sunday, I hugged the handlebars and still got a few branches in the face and chest, but they weren't big enough to hurt or knock me off the bike. You can avoid the branches by staying on the pavement. This section of the trail also includes the long, high railroad bridge on which I trespassed last year - it is now open to the public with new decking and railings and even observation decks in the middle. The end of this section of trail is under construction - it was graded but not paved last Sunday.

Once across Missouri Flat Road, the railroad tracks are still intact, with single track along one side or the other, following the natural rolling contours of the land where the tracks go through cuts and over fill. These trails are generally not technical, but they were never constructed or maintained, they just evolved as people used the abandoned rail corridor. At one point, I had to scramble up a steep enbankment dragging my bike, but the next section of trail was worth it. There are enough ups and downs to make it a really fun trail. Two miles of this part of the trail are officially "open to the public," but the trails follow the tracks for several more miles, crossing several roads, all with minimal traffic (the exeption being Missouri Flat Rd. - it had a lot of traffic.) I did six miles each direction last sunday, but could have kept going (may be all the way to Folsom.). You can also follow the RR right-of-way from the Forni Rd trailhead the other direction into downtown Placerville - it's a flat dirt road all the way. If you pull up Placerville on Google maps, the tracks are shown on the street map but not the contour map, and you can see the right-of way on the sat photo.
This ride can probably be done by adventurous beginners with some riding experience. There's not a lot of climbing, but the best trails alternate from one side of the tracks to the other (usually crossing where the tracks cross roads - only once did I have to cross the actual rails, and someone had filled in dirt so I could ride across). There are also a few short downhills with loose rocks and a couple places where the trail is a bit sketchy.

Remember, helmets are required, gloves and eye protection are recommended, and don't forget water and food. Sunscreen too, though much of the trail is shaded.

Call me on my cell if you get lost - [masked]