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Print Friendly MapThe Johnny Cash 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 and is sometimes referred to as the Johnny Cash Folsom Prison Blues Trail.
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 Trail, but the trail can be reached from the American River Bike Trail, which offers numerous places to park.
I thoroughly enjoyed this trail. The ride up the hill is quite the workout. You will feel it in your legs. When you hit the top, the views are breathtaking. Beautiful views of green pastures toward Folsom Prision. The ride back down the hill is so freakin fun. It was a blast from beginning to end. ***Word to the wise, I’m not sure this is a good trail for kids. It’s pretty tough for the first 1/3 of the trail and the ride down hill really picks up quickly.
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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