Construction to Continue on American River Bike Trail along Lake Natoma
Contacts:
Richard Preston I State Park Superintendent
Jim Micheaels I Senior Park and Recreation Specialist
(916) 988-0205
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California State Parks continues to make good progress to repair and reopen the American River Bike Trail, also known as the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail. Starting next Monday, October 7, State Parks will remove loose debris from the bluff, repair the trail and enhance public safety near the Orangevale Bluffs.
A large landslide covered portions of the trail, located between Nimbus Dam and the Negro Bar recreation area of Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, during the winter storms of January and February 2017. In late August of this year, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in partnership with State Parks initiated repairs by removing the debris that covered the trail as a result of those storms.
The second phase of this project will utilize a geotechnical contractor to scale a portion of the bluff to remove loose rock from the face of the bluff directly above the trail. Following the scaling, crews will remove the additional debris from the trail and the trail will be repaired and reopened for public use. Reopening this section of trail will be a major asset to the recreating and commuting public.
The segment of trail by the northern shore of Lake Natoma and Nimbus Dam will remain closed during the work until the trail repairs are complete, which is expected before the end of the year. State Parks will announce the reopening of the trail opening once repairs are complete.
This closure will begin at American River Call Box #28, approximately 3.25 miles upstream of Hazel Avenue and continue to the southern end of Negro Bar. People using the bike trail access points located at the Hazel Avenue overpass, Sunset Avenue and Main Avenue intersection, the Mississippi Bar area, and the Negro Bar area, are advised that trail traffic will not be permitted through the closure area.
The map below highlights the closure indicated in RED and there is no detour route. Visitors are advised to use other area trails; the south side of Lake Natoma will not be affected. Signage will be posted at each end of trail closure. Areas in ORANGE represent where the public may encounter construction equipment and the public is strongly advised to keep out of this area.
State Parks thanks the public for their patience and understanding as we work to restore this popular trail for everyone’s enjoyment. For questions on the closure, please contact our Gold Fields District Office at (916) 988-0205 or visit the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area website at www.parks.ca.gov/FolsomLakeSRA.
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