American Canyon Trail

Deep within Auburn State Recreation Area, the forested drainage descends along the northern slopes of the deep, river canyon, while on the other side of the river, trails traversing the southern slopes have earned the reputation of crossing through "an oven." Still late summer in the bottom is hot, hot anywhere except when you are not enjoying the cool river itself.

Offers a longer, thus, more gradual and rewarding decent, along American Canyon Creek. Cooler, too. Nice falls in the creek shortly above the River. No signs and marked or constructed trail drop to the falls. The main trails crosses through a small meadow with the creek slicing through an obvious dike of rock abutments. Usually you can hear the falls but won't see them until scrambling closer to the rocks. Mostly lying above the falls was an historic town site that was once home to thousands of miners but has now been reclaimed by Ma Nature. Watch carefully for the mining remnants -- mostly lying on the east side (right side going down) of the creek after crossing the main creek.

The lower elevation not far above downtown Cool makes this a natural winter or early spring hike. The crest of the ridge top along the Georgetown Highway 193 prevents from the winter sun from glowing above the north slope exposure. So, winter outings will likely be cool and dampish. Dress accordingly, leave a hot treat in the vehicle—or better yet, swing into downtown Cool or Auburn for warm-ups. Ah, Wilderness.

Options:

Make one of two smaller loops on the lower end of the trail by following the WST trail rolling along the mid-slopes of the timbered slope. You can loop in either direction, but since the two connecting trails dropping down to the river are steeper than the relatively sensible climb out the American Canyon Creek Trail, I prefer to make it the way out back up, and up. All intersections were well-signed a few years back during my last trek.

(1) Head left (west) onto the WST-08 where the American Canyon Trail crosses it. Then connect with and drop down the Maine Bar Trail to the river. Pick up the Tevis Cup trail heading upriver (east) back to the American Canyon Creek Trail. Then return up the trail past the falls and up to your parking on Foresthill Highway 193.

(2) The second loop instead follows the WST east until reaching the Dead Truck Trail. Drop down it left (west) to you reconnect with the American Canyon Creek Trail. Dropping down the ridge you’ll pass the obviously dead truck, chuck full of bullet holes, lying off the river-side of the trail. Probably a remnant of the area had faint 4WD trails before the area was classified as a State Recreation Area. You connect to the main trail just below the falls. Then climb back up to the Foresthill Highway 193.

Or if you are even more adventuresome, leave a shuttle car at either of a couple of alternatives:

(3) It's downhill hiking all the way if you come out at the Quarry Road Trail parking. Once you connect with the Tevis Cup Trail follow it downriver until it connects with the Quarry Road Trail and continues past the bottom of the limestone quarry to the trailhead. Long, but mostly easy all the way.

(4) Or leave a car at the Cool Parking Area and follow the WST back up as it heads to the top of the quarry and the Olmstead Trail System. Still long, but downtown Cool offers cool drinks in the summer and warm ones in the winter.

Bikes and motorized vehicles prohibited on each of these trails. Perfect for equestrian riders!

To American Canyon Trail

Via Georgetown Highway #193

See point C to E on Auburn State Recreation Area Map. Directions: From Auburn Cool is only short distance south of Auburn on Highway 49. But the curvy road down and out of the American River Canyon makes it feel like it’s much longer. It's hard to miss Higway 193 to Georgetown: turn left (east) at the only stop light in downtown Cool (C). Travel east 5.3 miles (D), then left (north) onto Pilgrim Way, the entrance road to Gate 3, the most eastern entry to Auburn Lake Trails subdivision. Trail drops down to right before Pilgrim Way goes through the gate. Park alongside street.

Topographic map: Greenwood.

Communities

• Cool