3 Best hiking during Fall within 1 hour of Sacramento.

We put together the 3 best fall hiking trails all within 1 hour of Sacramento, CA. Fall brings cooler temperatures and exciting new colors to our local vegetation. Here are the best hikes to capture the scenic change of season and enjoy nature’s beauty before the winter season is upon us.

• River Bend Park Riverside Loop. 

This amazing year-round trail is in a 444-arce park near the beautiful American river. About 30 minutes west of Sacramento, CA this trail offers many walking trails as well as biking trails both paved and unpaved. As you enter this park you will notice the abundance of picnic tables as well as restrooms. This park not only offers great trails for fall but also year round horseback trails and popular fishing spots. This park is fee mandated, and more information is available on the park’s website. HERE

This trail is a 3.9 mile loop of moderately trafficked trail, near 30 minutes of Sacramento. California has a trail skill rated for all levels. This trail is a popular spot for locals and does at times get congested with traffic from bicyclists, runners, horses, and hikers. During the summer months people will be found with their rafts and other floating devices to enjoy the cool river waters.

• Deer Creek Hills

Deer Creek Hills has 4,060 acres of wonderful fall scenic views of the oak woodland reserves and rolling grasslands. Perfect for fall, deer creek hills has many seasonal creeks to enjoy. The oaks and grassland house approximately 170 species of birds, 105 mammals, 58 amphibians and reptiles, and an estimated 5,000 different kinds of insects. Deer Creek Hills is located south of highway 50 near the city of Folsom about 40 minutes from Sacramento, CA. This park’s trail does run into some private property lines and has a strict time schedule to access this beautiful park. Check to see more info HERE

Deer Creek Hills has guided tours and hiking available featuring botany, birding, geology, history, stargazing, yoga and more. This is only available when an SVC staff member is on site and this is private property so please check the above link before heading out. They offer night time mountain biking from July-October from 4:30PM-8PM.

• Hidden Falls Trail 

Next up we have Hidden Falls trail which is a 3.3 mile heavy traffic loop trail and the heavy traffic is for good reason! This trail features a beautiful waterfall and the trail is rated for all skill levels, accessible all year-around. Hidden Falls trail is located about 40 minutes east of Sacramento. For more information on the park click HERE 

This hiking trail offers restrooms and historical landmarks and other information about this specific area. There are rules on fishing so be sure to check with the link provided to be sure fishing is open. The trail is maintained to ensure that all skill levels of hiking can accommodate the trail. Once getting about 1 mile down the trail you’ll notice that the trail become less wide and a bit more of a challenge but not by much. Traveling through the foliage and embarking on the scenic views of the waterfall will be nothing short of spectacular!

A gorgeous waterfall that the others cannot compete with and while each has great fall hiking the waterfall is the best in my opinion.

This trail is known to the locals and tends to get rather crowded especially during the weekend. Plan early!

These are just the starting point to enjoy all that northern California has to offer us. Next we will explore 2 hours from Sacramento and get to touch the Sierra Nevada’s for some awesome hiking!

Have a hidden trail? Message us and we’ll go hike it, write about and post it!