Northern California - What is the ARBT like?

Hey, so I am considering doing a group ride with two of my friends for the American River Bike Trail. I hear people talk about how great it is ... during the weekdays. Can anyone give me any of their impressions of it? Is it mostly flat? Is the trail wide? Is the path pretty far?

Mostly flat, wide enough. Not particularly busy during the week. Round trip from Discovery Park in Sac up to Folsom Lake is about 65 miles or thereabouts.

Let me know when you're going and I may be able to join you for part of the ride.

I am planning on doing it Wednesday in the morning. I live in Roseville, so I believe that I'd be going in the opposite direction that you mentioned, since Folsom Lake is close to where I live. PM me your phone number and I can get a hold of you when I figure out exactly who's going. Who knows, it may just be us haha.

Wed. is the only day this week I can't go. Kids have the day off for Veteran's day and I'm a stay-at-home dad. Any other day this week I'd be good.

I have been wanting to do this ride too...found some vids on youtube:
Here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSCVxZ996UU&feature=related), here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjIO0Zs-YI4&feature=related)and here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DCxumnCzrc&feature=related)
Gives you an idea of the terrain, even if they aren't the best quality.
After almost getting run over this morning (in a crosswalk, me with the proper signal, car ran the red light), just makes me want to ride it even more (30+ miles, with no cars, sounds great:)).
Please post after your ride!

You wanna join the ride? PM me if you do :X

All of the 'hills' are near Folsom lake. Beals Point is the hardest climb but it's not that difficult. Other than that it's really flat, curvy, but fun. It's a good ride, and we're extremely fortunate to have it. How far you planning to ride it? If you ride from Granite Bay to the Old Town, I'd recommend grabbing a little food in Old Town, if you're only going as far as Sac State or so, Get some grub in Folsom at Coffee Republic on the corner of Auburn-Folsom and Greenback. I recommend the Ooh La Luscious lemon sandwich; it's AWESOME.

I am planning on riding the whole way. It will be like doing two group rides in one day, but I mean, I'm under no time pressure anyway.

If you don't want to do a round trip you can catch the light rail at either end to take you back where you started, either Folsom or Old Sac.

I use the ARBT at least twice a week for flat training rides. Pretty time of the year to ride it. You will have it to yourselves during the week. Watch the weather however. There is a chance of rain Tuesday and Wednesday. (If you are from the Pacific Northwest, you will consider it a slight overcast.;))
Other places to stop for food. Google Panera at Howe and Nothrup. It is only about a block off the bike trail.
Another place is Bella Bru (Fair Oaks Blvd. at Arden. Google it. You will exit the bike trail at the Arden bridge. Both places have great sandwiches and coffee. I might be able to join you, but will turn around at Sac State. PM me if interested.

There might be a lot of leaves on the trail which can make it slick so just use caution when going around any tight corners. And watch for oncoming people who can't stay on their side of the trail when going around corners, usually kids.

Have fun!

I am planning on doing it Wednesday in the morning. I live in Roseville, so I believe that I'd be going in the opposite direction that you mentioned, since Folsom Lake is close to where I live. PM me your phone number and I can get a hold of you when I figure out exactly who's going. Who knows, it may just be us haha.

just FYI if you plan on starting at beals point you have to pay to park there. I'd recommend parking at the new folsom bike which is right down the street. Check out folsombike.com for directions.

Awesome, thanks for the tip shiz702!

May be changing ride to Tuesday mainly because friends that said they wanted to go too have not contacted me...

I've stopped at the fish hatchery on the west side of Hazel Ave where Lake Natoma is and fed the fish in the growing ponds. 5 cents for a small handful of food from the dispenser machines. Bring lots of nickels as the ravenous little monsters are always hungry. I've walked around the ponds there with my bike. Always a a good stop if you have kids with you. If the hatchery visitor center is open there are clean bathrooms inside.

Fish Hatchery Info (http://www.visitfolsom.com/history/nimbus_hatchery.aspx)

Depending on where in Roseville, its a very easy ride to Beals Point ;) . I almost live in Granite bay, so it's about 5 miles along Eureka for me. I recommend Eureka - on the weekends the traffic is light, don't know about during the week, you'd pass close to Granite Bay HS and the Eureka Union elementary school. Roseville Pkwy isn't too bad, lots of rollers and lots of stop signs.

The worst part about the opening decent - the roots almost breaking the surface near the end... As your approaching Folsom, after you go under Folsom River Crossing rd (the new bridge) and under I think it's Oak, the pavement is horrible until you leave the woods. They have painted the worst of them orange, but they can be hard to see.

Thanks for the heads up!

EDIT: I will be going tomorrow (Tues) with JoelS. My friends haven't gotten back to me yet. If anyone wants to go Wed let me know!

Update: Went with JoelS from Fish Hatchery down towards Hagen Park and back with a loop in between. Was fun! There was a lot of leaves on the path, definitely, but because so many people rode through them you could generally see a clear way to ride on. Definitely a beautiful place, saw a decent amount of riders out there. Hope to go down there again soon! Path is definitely well kept, very few potholes :) and a surprisingly high number of restrooms/water fountain stops!

I picked up acaurora at the Fish Hatchery. We went over the Hazel bridge and along the N side of Lake Natoma. We started up the hill towards Bealls Point, but instead picked up the road and climbed up and over the new bridge. Then dropped down E Natoma to Folsom and took the path back along the S side of the lake. Then continued past the Fish Hatchery to Hagan Park where I peeled off to home. Acaurora headed back to his car at the Fish Hatchery.

Fun ride.

We should've taken pictures... but my mom has my point and shoot, and I ignored my mom's suggestion to "wear a backpack to carry your DSLR". Oh well.

We should've taken pictures... but my mom has my point and shoot, and I ignored my mom's suggestion to "wear a backpack to carry your DSLR". Oh well.

Who wants to carry a DSLR when riding? My friend says the same thing to me. Apparently I'm supposed to bring my backpack. Too heavy!

I know, right?! Would be sweating with a backpack -_-;;

I've got a tiny little point 'n shoot. Good little camera for rides.

Went on the ARBT again this week with another friend of mine. Went to Beal's Pt, but the ranger there said if we drove about a half mile down there's a parking lot that doesn't charge $10/day for parking. Left there, went down past the Fish Hatchery and Hagan Park to one of the bridges, then turned back. Was a good ride. Beautiful scenery. Took some pics and used PS CS4 to put them together (it kinda flipped out on the metal bridge one, but oh well looks nice nonetheless)

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/8180/arbtbridge2sm.jpg
http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/3250/arbtbridgesm.jpg