The ability to ride or trek from downtown Sacramento to Coloma, the site of the gold discovery that began the 1849 Gold Rush, is nearer to reality as this Bee article notes.
This is wonderful news and something we advocate, writing about it in our 2007 report as part of a Golden Necklace of trails embracing the historic Gold Rush region. (pp. 17 to 36)
An excerpt from the Bee article.
“Hikers, bicyclists and equestrians soon will be able to trek between Folsom Lake and Highway 49 near Coloma, following a trail along the south fork of the American River.
“The nonprofit American River Conservancy announced that it has acquired the last of 16 riverfront parcels needed to complete the 20-mile South Fork American River Trail Project.
“The 45 acres on the north side of the Salmon Falls bridge provides the southwestern trailhead next to the existing Salmon Falls parking lot, said Alan Ehrgott, director of the conservancy.
“Construction of the trail’s final four miles from Salmon Falls Road to the Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park is to begin in April. The new section likely will open to the public in late spring 2010, Ehrgott said.
“With the addition, he said, an approximately 50-mile trail from Sutter’s Fort in downtown Sacramento to Sutter’s Mill in Coloma will be 98 percent complete. Trails advocates hailed acquisition of the trailhead parcel.”
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