Hiking Sacramento Area's Old Salmon Falls Loop

The Old Salmon Falls Loop is located about a half hour outside Sacramento, in Folsom, and is a must - do hike for those looking for a nice excursion in Mother Nature for a couple of hours. It is also an excellent hike for the entire family.

The Sacramento area offers many choices in hiking trails, and even though there is usually about a half hour to an hour to get to most of them, the countryside is beautiful, and well worth the drive.

Old Salmon Falls Loop is probably a favorite hike for my husband and me because it is everything that we like in a hike. It is an 'in and out' hike, because you are in and out the same day; it is not a difficult hike because it only gains an elevation of about 460 feet which is quite do-able for even beginning hikers, and it only takes a couple of hours at a meandering pace. It is an added bonus for us, because we can take our dog. In fact, there are many hikers that take their beloved family pet. There is a requirement that all dogs be kept on a leash, though many people let their dog off the leash once they arrive at the picnic area to let them run. We don't. We have a Rat Terrier and they like everybody but their owners when they get loose.

The hiking trail is well maintained so there are no problems at all maneuvering the trail, but there are areas where your shoes could get quite muddy, so it would be a good idea to have an extra pair of shoes to put on after the hike.

I wear over the ankle boots whenever I hike to protect my ankles, and on Old Salmon Falls Loop hike it is a good idea. If you're not careful you will be picking cockle burrs out of your socks for a week.

This is a nice leisurely hike, and is ideal for families with young children. Frequently a mom or dad can be seen with a young child in a back pack carrier, and children a little bit older following along. At 2.2 miles the hike is just long enough to help children burn off some energy without getting so tired they have to be carried.

The hike and the scenery are so enjoyable that the hike will be over before you realize it, and if you still have energy you can explore around the old town site. It is really quite interesting.