Top Trails: Sacramento
Exploring Valley, Foothills, and Mountains in the Sacramento Region
Near Sacramento, numerous trails access the Central Valley’s wildlife-filled wetlands and traverse riverside forests and grasslands. In the Coast Range and Sierra foothills, trails lead to scenic waterfalls, wildflower-studded meadows, and high mountain lakes. Longtime Sacramento resident and intrepid hiker Steve Evans has selected the 43 “must-do” hikes, the majority of which are within two hours of the city. Whether you’re looking for a scenic stroll, a full-day adventure, or even a spectacular alpine peak-bagging trip, you’ll find it here. Trails ranging from 1 to 10 miles and sea level to 9000 feet, and each trip includes Near Sacramento, numerous trails access the Central Valley’s wildlife-filled wetlands and traverse riverside forests and grasslands. In the Coast Range and Sierra foothills, trails lead to scenic waterfalls, wildflower-studded meadows, and high mountain lakes. Longtime Sacramento resident and intrepid hiker Steve Evans has selected the 43 “must-do” hikes, the majority of which are within two hours of the city. Whether you’re looking for a scenic stroll, a full-day adventure, or even a spectacular alpine peak-bagging trip, you’ll find it here. Trails ranging from 1 to 10 miles and sea level to 9000 feet, and each trip includes elevation profiles, detailed maps, driving directions, and “don’t get lost” trail milestones. elevation profiles, detailed maps, driving directions, and “don’t get lost” trail milestones.
Steven L. Evans was born and raised in the Mojave Desert near the typically dry Mojave River. When he moved up to Northern California in the 1970s for college, he discovered that most rivers actually had water and fish in them. He began exploring the wild places of the Sierra Nevada, and when he discovered that many of them were threatened by logging and other development, he became a full-time environmental activist as well as a hike leader for the Sierra Club. Steve has been hiking and backpacking Northern California trails and running its rivers for more than 30 years. As a resident of the Sacramento region for the last 20 years, he is familiar with the many trails in the valley, foothills, and mountains beloved by Sacramentans. It took Steve three years to hike the more than 235 miles of trails in Top Trails Sacramento, while continuing to work full time for Friends of the River (California’s statewide river conservation organization). It’s no coincidence that many of the trails lead to or follow some of the most scenic rivers and streams in the region. Top Trails Sacramento is Steve’s first book for Wilderness Press.
