The way points of this bicycle route:
Here is where it begins (and yea, this is where I parked)
Quality Drive and Data Drive, Turn right
Data and Zinfandel Go straight (Easier now that there is a light here!!)
Turn right on (sigh) Disk Drive (shaking head)
Turn Left at Prospect Park
Turn right on White rock
Start working your way to the center turn lane, watch for fast movers!
Turn left here
Entrance to the Canal, part of the Folsom-South Canal
Sunrise Blvd. There is a traffic signal here for bikes. It is built kind of stupid since it does not line up with the canal entrance/exit but it is better than what was there before (nothing to stop the cars)
Back in the canal
Tunnel Entrance.. No, I am not crossing over the top and dodging traffic on Highway 50, I'm going through this nifty tunnel underneath of it.
Out of the tunnel
Cross carefully.. the people that live in the gold river housing project of Rancho Cordova (built upon what used to be the county dump) drive a little fast and are not too attentive here
Turn left here, end of the line for the canal
You need to carry your bike through the fence here (it is stupid but the US Guvmn't set it up that way)
You have a choice here, follow my blue line or cross the street and hit the trail over yonder at the hatchery
Hazel and Gold Country.. Cross with the crosswalk ...its easiest.
Entering a bit of the Bike trail that goes around Nimbus lake
Good little fishin' spot there on the left (and this is where the canal connects up with Nimbus, btw)
There is a bike trail under these trees, honest!
To the right... you go around the lake .... ahead, lays adventure.
Crossing 50 over the top this time..
This circle thing is stupid..
Cross at the light.. they are treating bikes like pedestrians at this corner... ugh..
Cross 50 again.. this time, going under
Folsom Blvd and Natoma Station, there is a little trail to the right here, it is safer at this point since there is no bike lane or shoulder up ahead.
Stupidity.. the dip in the sidewalk (the ramp) does not line up with the trail and you hafta negotiate around a pole in the sidewalk
Tahoe Joe's there on the right
Blue Ravine Rd. .. more stupidity.. there is no ramp lining up with the trail.. you have to go left here against traffic.. on the sidewalk and...
Turn your bike here, putting you in conflict with cars making right turns from Folsom Blvd.
Blue Ravine.. go right (East)
I am not actually cycling in the middle of the road.. I am using the "auto-follow the road" feature to make life easier for me.
E Bidwell and Blue Ravine.. Go straight (nice little climb, eh?)
Blue Ravine is now Green Valley Rd.
I suspect we're in El Dorado now..
Notice that this is mostly Up? ... and there is a large body of water you can't see to the right (behind a taaaalllll levee)... that's Folsom Lake
Stop here.. stretch.. take off your shoes and rub your feet.. stretch.. drink some water... stretch... suck down an energy bar or something.. stretch... because next up is a bitch of a climb!
Green Valley Rd and Sophia Parkway.. turn right (and pedal hard, it is ALL UP)
The worst is over. There is more climbing but not as bad.. the rest is just loooong steadily rising hills (and a couple short downs for relief)
There is a little turnout here, use it and watch out for gravel
Sophia is now Empire Ranch Rd
Folsom at Iron Point, turn right (a tiny bit more climbing to go)
Best View ever (for now) This is the top of the long climb and on a clear day, you can see the entire valley from here. ON a normal day, you can see Downtown Sac to the West and Rancho Seco to the South. Gird your loins here.. I've been clocked going 40 mph down this hill... Pucker-factor 7
Iron Point at Folsom, Turn Left, Use the left turn lane if you can. You can take the bike trail across the road or follow me.
Bike Trail entrance.. turn right.
Stupid circle thing..
Crossing 50...
Mmmmm... Fish...
Hazel.. Cross at the crosswalk. The sensor will NOT pick you up at all.
Careful here, make a U turn to the right
Carry bike across the entrance
Snob country... (wow, not "Canal crossing" they have to call it "tributary" crossing.. sheesh!) Carefull, look both ways, etc..
Tunnel under 50 again
yell "Echo!!!!"
Alive!!! No zombies got me!
You were actually in RC further back but hell... Here is Sunrise, Use the crossing wisely.
White Rock Rd. Turn Right (watch for fast movers)
Try for the left turn lane
Left onto Prospect Park Dr.
Zinfandel and Data, wait for the light..
Go to the center, watch for fast movers..
Onto the sidewalk to go around the gate
Put the bike away, you're back!
Welcome to Bikely, take a step by step tour of this path:
Press Start Tour - then use the navigation buttons below to move along the path.
Nice 2 or so hour tour with hill climbing hell
Tagged with: Recreational, Training, Onroad, High traffic, Scenic
