Best Hiking Loops in Auburn, CA
There are 2 main hiking areas in Auburn, Ca. Hidden Falls Regional Park, and The Auburn State Recreation Area. The Auburn State Recreation Area (Auburn SRA) is hilly and beautiful, with literally hundreds of miles of hikes. As a local, I like to stay away from the trails crowded with visitors as much as possible. So here are my favorite hikes in the area. As always, be mindful of your environment, leave only footprints, and remember that you’re walking through the homes of many wild animals. Fair warning…none of these are easy, but if you have fairly good cardio, this will be enjoyable for you, even if you’re newer to hiking. Follow me on AllTrails to see what I’m hiking!
Training Hill Loop
Distance: 4.5 Miles
Starting Elevation:
Elevation Gain: 1,047 (nearly all in the first mile)
Closest Parking Spot: Parallel parking is free if you’re on the El Dorado County side. You can also park at the Quarry Parking area (fee required) and use the trail directly across from the entrance to start on a slightly different part of the loop. Parking in the Confluence Area can be an issue on the weekends, so consider using Auburn’s On Demand Shuttle
Some people call this K2. I wouldn’t get that carried away. Don’t get me wrong, it is a struggle up the first mile, but not only are you rewarded with a beautiful 3 miles on the backside of Training Hill, but this really is one of the best trails to train on. There are about 5 false peaks, which is sad on your first couple of times up, but believe me, it’s better knowing this going into it.
When you’re getting close to the top and need that breather, don’t be afraid to look back on that monster of a hill you’re conquering, plus you’ll get an awesome view of the mountains and the Foresthill Bridge (the tallest bridge in California). And when you get to the top on your first time, add your rock to the pile on the left… It’s tradition. You did it!
The rest of the trail is diverse with creeks (in the winter and spring) and fields.
ADO Loop
Name: ADO Loop
Distance: 5.16 miles
Elevation Gain: 656 ft
Closest Parking Spot: Overlook Park (Free)
ADO stands for Auburn Dam Overlook, so the big cement thing you’ll see near the river (shown in the picture above), is the never completed Auburn Dam (the work on the dam was halted in the 1970’s). Contour Trail has a steep section of the trail leading to/from the parking lot, so be aware of that as you select which direction you want to go on the path. This trail is beautiful and varied, complete with a tiny wooden bridge, which I’m a sucker for.
Bridgeview-Stagecoach Loop
Name: Bridgeview-Stagecoach Loop
Distance: 3.47 miles
Elevation Gain: 820 ft
Closest Parking Spot: There is a lot of paid parking in the area (unless you have a State Park Pass it’s included), although parking in the Confluence Area can be an issue on the weekends, so consider using Auburn’s On Demand Shuttle.
Stagecoach is a very popular trail, but if you just go a little off the beaten path, you will not be disappointed.
You’re going to start on this trail by going up (and up and up) on Bridgeview Trail. The first mile is definitely the hardest part of the loop – but you might as well get the hard part of the workout/hike over at the beginning. You’ll eventually take a left on Mossy Rock Trail, then continue up Flood Trail until you get to Upper Stagecoach. On Upper Stagecoach you’re rewarded with a bench overlooking the canyon. Upper Stagecoach will eventually meet Stagecoach and you’ll continue down until you hit Tinkers Cut -Off Trail on the right. (Please note parts of this trail do not allow bicycles, so if you’re a biker, don’t follow this one!)
Hope you enjoy your time exploring Auburn! If you found this helpful, please follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest. And if you’re looking for more hikes, check out our post on the Best Waterfall Hikes in Auburn!
