Stagecoach Trail
Technical Level: Beginner
Strenuous Level: Intermediate
Altitude Gain: Around 800 feet
The Ride:
3 miles one way, 6 miles total
Where:
Off of Highway 49 a few miles east of Auburn
When:
All year, but its really hot in the summer
To get There:
Map
marking Trail Head (also marks Clementine
Loop )
Note: The map marks 49 as Eldorado St., I have no idea where
that came from, its just 49.
The trail is on the map!! Its the light line the Stagecoach arrow is
pointing to. Neat-O
From
Sacramento: Take Interstate 80 North towards Auburn. Follow
the signs to highway 49 South. You will twist through town, and its
easy to miss a turn, so pay close attention to the signs. At the edge (literally)
of town, 49 drops into the American River Valley. Its kinda cool,
one second you are in the middle of this town, and the next you're falling
off the edge of the earth on a really steep curvy road. Its a couple
really curvy miles past Auburn to the bottom of the canyon. This
is called the "confluence". When you get to the bottom, you will
see the river to your right. 49 turns right and crosses the river
at the T intersection. Go straight (towards Foresthill) at this intersection
instead of following 49. There is dirt parking along side the road
immediately after the T. Park somewhere. Get ready to ride!!
If you want to start at the top of the trail, take highway 80 Russell
Road Exit. There is a dirt parking area on the right side of the
road about a mile from Lincoln. The trail is at the end of the dirt
parking area.
The Ride
This
area is known as the confluence because the North Fork and Middle Fork
of the American River join here. This trail follows 49 back up into
Auburn and comes out on Russel Road. The Trail starts on the
left hand side of the road just before the Old Forest Hill bridge (North
West side of the bridge), most likely right beside where you parked.
The trail starts climbing immediately, and doesn't stop till the top.
It is a hard climb, but you can always walk. Stagecoach is non-technical.
Just watch your speed on the way down, there are some big drop offs, but
the trail is wide so it shouldn't be too hard.
Technical Option: For some good technical dirt, try Manzinita
Trail. It starts a little ways from the end of Stagecoach and rejoins
it besides the bench on Stagecoach. Ride to the top of Stagecoach,
and turn left on Russel (actually the street name changes right there,
but I can't remember what its called at that particular point) when
you get to the top. About 100 yards down the hill, turn left when
the road Y's. Bear right on this road. In a 1/4 mile it dead
ends into Manzanita Trail. There is a gate at the start of the trail.
The picture to the left is on Manzanita, that's a killer spot. It
was one of those moves that I was totally out of control, and somehow pulled
it off (almost took a dip in the little creek right underneath this -Yikes!).
Critical Turns:
There's only one turn, but it isn't marked so here you go. Just
after the start and after a really good climb, there is a 160 degree switch
back to the left. A trail goes straight, but you don't want to take
that (actually you can, it's kinda interesting but I don't remember if
it goes anywhere). Anyway, turn hard left and head up the trail.
About a mile or so up the trial there is a cool view and a bench to take
a break on. To the left just after the bench is where Manzanita Trail
comes out (see above). Turn around and start down when you hit the
dirt parking lot and the road.
The Trail
Its a nice ride for beginners who are in good riding shape. If your
not in shape, this is not the ride for you cause its a killer climb.
Its a fun downhill! Manzanita is especially cool, and very technical.
The 2 photos at the top of the page are from Manzanita. The picture
to the left is the bench mentioned above. This was taken at the 1996
Muni Weekend (I'm not pictured, I was looking for some keys or something).
This is a pretty popular trail, so make sure and keep your speed
under control. You never know what's around the next corner.
You can't beat the view here, it is incredible! I think this is a
great novice trails, because it is very un-technical, but it is on dirt,
and will provide a challenge to those haven't been lucky enough to beat
the dirt a lot.
Trail Details:
Sunrise/Sunset
Weather
Thanks to John Foss,
the unicyclone for the pictures!!