Falcon Crest/Old Salmon Fall = Monte Vista Trail to Sweetwater Trail
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 5.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 548 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 548 ft
- Max elevation
- 686 ft
- TrailRank
-
53
5
- Min elevation
- 469 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 2 hours 22 minutes
- Time
- 4 hours 2 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1542
- Uploaded
- August 1, 2020
- Recorded
- July 2020
near Salmon Falls (historical), California (United States)
Viewed 592 times, downloaded 6 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
My goal today was to find the connecting trail between Old Salmon Falls and the Sweetwater Trail that starts at Salmon Falls. The trails are maintained by a local horse riding group but the popularity of the connecting trail is not high on their priority list so it was a bit overgrown but nothing that couldn’t be navigated. I was happy as a tick to have found it!
Be aware there is Poison Oak everywhere but kept well trimmed back except for the short connecting trail I had set out to find today. Also, this is definitely tick country!!!
From the Monte Vista South Trail, there are many opportunities to lengthen or shorten your hike. The river/lake views and surrounding foothills are quite lovely. There are trails down to the water if you want to take a splash
At miles 2.4 going out and 4.2 returning back, you can opt to cut your hike shorter by walking up the entry road back to Falcon Crest. Parking is free at Falcon Crest but is $10 down at Old Salmon Falls.
There is an outhouse in the Old Salmon Falls parking area BUT today it was overflowing and unusable.
This trail recording is in about 70% sun exposure so it doesn’t make the best summer hike. Today was in the high 80’s and the heat crossing all those open meadows was pretty oppressive even though we started early. I’d suggest this more as a Fall/Winter/Spring Hike. For a summer hike, I suggest New York Creek starting from the Monte Vista trailhead or drive up to Salmon Falls and take the Sweetwater Trail.
Note: I overshot the return trail at mile 3.4 to 3.6 so please ignore that little mistake!
Be aware there is Poison Oak everywhere but kept well trimmed back except for the short connecting trail I had set out to find today. Also, this is definitely tick country!!!
From the Monte Vista South Trail, there are many opportunities to lengthen or shorten your hike. The river/lake views and surrounding foothills are quite lovely. There are trails down to the water if you want to take a splash
At miles 2.4 going out and 4.2 returning back, you can opt to cut your hike shorter by walking up the entry road back to Falcon Crest. Parking is free at Falcon Crest but is $10 down at Old Salmon Falls.
There is an outhouse in the Old Salmon Falls parking area BUT today it was overflowing and unusable.
This trail recording is in about 70% sun exposure so it doesn’t make the best summer hike. Today was in the high 80’s and the heat crossing all those open meadows was pretty oppressive even though we started early. I’d suggest this more as a Fall/Winter/Spring Hike. For a summer hike, I suggest New York Creek starting from the Monte Vista trailhead or drive up to Salmon Falls and take the Sweetwater Trail.
Note: I overshot the return trail at mile 3.4 to 3.6 so please ignore that little mistake!
Waypoints
Information point
Intersection
551 ft
Due to the oppressive heat this day, we cut-off 1 mile by returning straight uphill to intersect with Monte Vista North Trail
My hiking partner had run out of water so that's the reason I made the decision to tackle this shortcut.
Photo
676 ft
A picnic table awaited us at the top of the steep climb with sweeping view of the foothills and South Fork American River
Comments (2)
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This is a really nice trail, and if the water level of Folsom Lake is down you can get to the ruins at old Salmon Falls and the bridge going over the South Fork of the a American River.
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Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
This is a really nice trail, and if the water level of Folsom Lake is down you can get to the ruins at old Salmon Falls and the bridge going over the South Fork of the a American River.