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In the 19th century, thousands of Forty-Niners passed through Sacramento on their way to California’s gold fields. Today, visitors can explore those former haunts in the Old Sacramento Waterfront District from the Sacramento River Parkway Trail.
The 8.6-mile trail hugs the levees on the eastern bank of the Sacramento River as it rolls south from that river’s confluence with the American River. After a 2-mile interruption through the Pocket neighborhood, the trail resumes for about 3 miles and continues to its southern endpoint at a sports complex in the Freeport neighborhood.
About the Route
The paved trail leaves off from its northern endpoint at the intersection of the Jibboom Street bridge at Tiscornia Park, where the American River flows into the Sacramento. More parking and facilities are available across the bridge at Discovery Park.
Heading south for about a mile atop a levee built to protect Sacramento from flooding, the trail arrives at the old railyards, once the largest in the west. The vintage rolling stock here indicates the trail's arrival in Old Sacramento. Here, trail users will find the California State Railroad Museum, which houses many restored locomotives and cars, as well as a historic depot. Nearby, trail users can take a short excursion on the Sacramento Southern Railroad, a tourist train that once carried freight and passengers in the early 20th century.
The parkway’s river walk through Old Sacramento can get crowded with tourists hopping in and out of shops, restaurants, and bars. An alternative is Front Street, which is wider but paved with cobblestones and just as busy. The trail gets more manageable after it passes Capitol Mall/CA 275 at the iconic Tower Bridge.
South of the bridge, the trail is wedged between the excursion train tracks and the river. About 1.5 miles past the Tower Bridge, the trail passes a marina and launch ramp in Shady Miller Regional Park.
There are more parks along the trail for the next 4 miles to the community of Pocket, named for the semicircular bend in the river. Access to the levee is broken here, but plans are underway to upgrade the levee to a trail after the property is acquired. Until that happens, take Clipper Way south to Riverside Boulevard, and turn right to continue on Riverside (it becomes Pocket Road) about 3.7 miles to Garcia Bend Park to rejoin the trail. The trail reaches its southern end of the trail in 3 miles at the Bill Conlin Sports Complex in Freeport.
Unless you’re familiar with the area, check the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website before you go for possible levee closings due to construction.
Connections
At the trail's northern endpoint, it connects to both the Jedidiah Smith Memorial Trail (American River Parkway) and the Two Rivers Trail.
The Sacramento River Parkway runs between Tiscornia Park, 195 Jibboom St (Sacramento), and 7895 Freeport Blvd (Sacramento).
Parking is also available at:
Visit the TrailLink map for all options, available transit lines, and detailed directions.
Great views during the bike trail. My son and I went on a beautiful day. Stoped by old sac for some food on the way back from Discovery Park.
Not bad
The short portion below the museum of Science and curiosity was nice and then the short portion through Old Town was also fun. The rest was navigating through one run down neighborhood after another.
Bike path is opening back up by the end of the year. Was previously closed due to levee upgrades
This trail is perfect for those who are scooter riders. This trail is smooth, long and a few curves and little hills here and there. There are hardly any pedestrians or bike riders. My husband and I recently bought scooters and have been looking for somewhere we can get some speed and just cruise without all the traffic. Not the most scenic. You can jump off the trail in spots and take a break.
Awesome trail but it’s closed for levee construction until November 2020
This trail is a very easy ride and drops right into the parkway trail systems. I highly recommend parking by Scotts Seafood as there is a nice public parking lot and it really is the start of the trail from the south end. Any further south and you end up riding through nieghborhoods and on the street rather than on the trail. The trail itself is well marked and follows the river the bulk of the way. There is also a lightly used rail track on the side and if you are lucky you will get to see the sacramento railway taking a lea sure stroll. Best part of the trail is dropping into old town sac where you can quickly get to downtown or the parkway for all the more riding. Nice little sunday stroll.
If you are in the Sacramento area, then this is a great trail to run. It starts near Tiscornia Park but it may be easier to start at Discovery Park (which is right across the river) where there is plenty of parking. Both Park's have bathrooms and water fountains. Discovery Park looked nicer and cleaner.
The trail is paved and fairly level. There is a nice dirt/gravel shoulder that you can run on too so you don't have to stay on the paved portions. Lots of great views of the river, well shaded, many blackberry bushes along the way, and lots of small wildlife. The trail is officially open from sunrise to sunset.
Happy running!
Bob Osmond
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