Robie Point Firebreak Trail from Overlook Park

Overlook Park Restrooms

Generally these restrooms are open, but there could always be maintenance taking place that could close them.

Trail from restrooms

From the restrooms the trail runs along side of the Auburn Overlook Equestrian Staging Area.

Trail Junction

Follow the trail sign to Robie Point

Trail Junction

There are several places where trails intersect from nearby road or parking areas. Continue straight ahead and down.

Auburn Dam Footing Location

Great view of the excavation for the western footing of the Auburn Dam.

Trail Junction

This is the end of the "string" portion of this balloon loop. You'll arrive back at this location on the return. Take the trail to the left.

Picnic Table

If you want to talk a break here's a picnic table.

Trail Junction

Take the trail to the right. If you go to the left you end up at Gate 130 on Hwy 49.

Trail Junction

At this junction take the trail to the right.

Possible brief scramble

Immediately after crossing the creek there's a sharp, short uphill with steps that could be a scramble.

Creek crossing

The scramble quickly begins to start leveling off.

North Fork of the American River

Nice scene of the north fork of the American River

Remnants of Mountain Quarries RR Route

Along side the trail people can still make out where granite surrounded railroad ties. Construction of the Mountain Quarries Railroad started in 1910, and was used to serve a large quarry near Cool, CA. and haul the limestone mined there to a connection with the SP at Flint (Auburn),CA. The line used 17 trestles, a large triple arch concrete bridge, plus a switchback to make this seven mile trip. The bridge was completed in 1912 by the Pacific Portland Cement Company and service began later the same year. Just east of there the line crosses CA. State Route 49. Much of the roadbed as well as the "No Hands Bridge" still exists and has been incorporated into the world famous Western States Trail and is used for hiking and equestrian purposes. Portions toward the Auburn end were completely destroyed during preparation for construction of the Auburn Dam. Improvement of the trails continue along with interpretive signs being placed at No Hands Bridge, the Quarry Trail trailhead, and along with park benches, the quarry crusher/loadout.

Watch your footing

There's two ways to descend here.

Footings for Trestle

These are footing used for one of the trestles for the Mountain Quarries Railroad

Back to Intersection for Return

This is the intersection that was visited on the way out from the start. You now begin retracing your steps.

Returning on the out and back portion

Park Bench for Rest

Stay on Trail that You Came Down

Auburn Dam Excavation

Geology 101

This section of the trail has interesting rock formations that show sedimentary rock that had been horizontal when created, but are now vertical.

Geology 101

This section of the trail has interesting rock formations that show sedimentary rock that had been horizontal when created, but are now vertical.