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Print Friendly MapThe Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues Trail skirts the Folsom State Prison, which Cash sang about in his well-known 1955 song "Folsom Prison Blues." The trail—formerly known as the Folsom Lake Trail due to its position at the south end of the lake—was renamed in honor of the late country music legend.
The trail includes an unusual bike and pedestrian bridge over Folsom Lake Crossing (a roadway) that was designed to look like guard towers from the prison.
For a longer ride, trail-goers can connect to the American River Bike Trail on the west end of the Johnny Cash Trail, where it crosses over the American River.
An upcoming phase of the trail will extend it southwest to the Historic Truss Bridge, a bike and pedestrian crossing over the American River that dates back to 1893. Another extension will head northeast to Green Valley Road at the El Dorado County line. The trail will also feature a 40-foot statue of Cash, public art and a small trailside park in the future.
From E. Natoma Street, pick up the Oak Parkway Trail to reach residential neighborhoods to the east via an overhead electric utility corridor.
There are no official parking areas for the Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues Trail, but the trail can be reached from the American River Bike Trail, which offers numerous places to park.
The trail is expanding; by fall 2017 it will be complete! Right now it takes you past the historic prison and you get to see great views of the lake (which has recovered nicely from previous years' droughts and is full and lovely).
I can't wait to try it again this fall once done and go back behind the City Hall over the wooden bridge and see views of the American River.
I is a good trail for biking, not so much for hiking. It is very loud, you are walking along cars the entire trail. Very mellow though, a nice beginner trail. I would say, that one of the great things to see is folsom lake, unfortunately not so much. the lake is basically gone.
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