Great Rides Sacramento – Bike Rides for Everyone

Within reach of the Sierra foothills, Sacramento’s levees and paved pathways are unique.

With a silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community award and 240 miles of mostly-flat bike lanes and counting — plus relatively short and dry winters — Sacramento has laid the groundwork for becoming a celebrated cycling city. Partial credit has to go to the world-class, 30-mile-long American River Bike Trail, which extends from the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers to Beals Point on Folsom Lake (and sees over 5 million annual users).

For more mellow miles, add on smaller offshoots like the Two Rivers Trail and the Sacramento River Parkway — then head farther out for wide-open farmland, spectacular mountain views, and the rolling roads of the Sierra foothills.

Folsom Lake, just 30 minutes from town, has everything you need for a packed day of MTB: the sandy, cross-country terrain of Granite Bay, the rocky climbs and zooming descents of the Darrington Trail, or the steeps of Skunk Hollow. If you can organize a shuttle, the best downhill riding is in the Auburn State Recreation Area (think big berms, rock gardens, and tight turns).

For gravel, the possibilities are practically endless: start with the network of levee trails in West Sacramento, especially near the Tower Bridge, then follow country roads out toward Davis. Beeks Bight, at Folsom Lake, is a classic spot. Looking for 10k vert a day? Start in Auburn. Want to blow out your Strava mileage records? Explore the fire roads near Nevada City.

Bike events in Sactown are crazy diverse. Check out the Sacramento Century (road), the 8-part Sacramento Cyclocross series, the weekly Prairie City Race Series (MTB), and even regular crits.

Clarksburg Loop

Distance: 36.7 mi
Elevation: +/- 353 ft

Sacramento, CA

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Babel Slough Loop

Distance: 29.4 mi
Elevation: +/- 240 ft

Sacramento, CA

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Levee Loop

Distance: 43.2 mi
Elevation: +/- 414 ft

West Sacramento, CA

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American River Loop

Distance: 39.5 mi
Elevation: +/- 896 ft

Sacramento, CA

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Tuesday South River Ride

Distance: 26 mi
Elevation: +/- 281 ft

Sacramento, CA

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Saturday Morning River Ride

Distance: 50.4 mi
Elevation: +/- 552 ft

Sacramento, CA

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Trek to Trail Out and Back

Distance: 26 mi
Elevation: +/- 292 ft

Sacramento, CA

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Cantelow Loop

Distance: 25.4 mi
Elevation: +/- 1123 ft

Winters, CA

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Granite Bay

Distance: 15 mi
Granite Bay - Main Beach
500 Folsom Dam Road
Folsom, CA 95630

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Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park

Distance: 16 mi
Coloma Rd
Pilot Hill, CA 95664

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Salmon Falls Ranch

Distance: 3 mi
Skunk Hollow Parking Lot
Salmon Falls Rd
Pilot Hill, CA 95664

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Olmstead Loop

Distance: 31 mi
7200 St Florian Ct
Cool, CA 95614
Behind the fire station

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Auburn State Recreation Area

Distance: 59 mi
15800 Foresthill Rd
Foresthill, CA 95631

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Hidden Falls Regional Park

Distance: 14 mi
Hidden Falls Regional Park
7587 Mears Pl
Auburn, CA 95603

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Northstar Bike Park

Distance: 125 mi
5001 Northstar Dr
Truckee, CA 96161

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Mount Diablo State Park

Distance: 7 mi
Summit Rd
Walnut Creek, CA 94598

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West Sac Bike Path Loop

Distance: 12 mi
Elevation: +/- 187 ft

Sacramento, CA

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South Land Park Loop

Distance: 4.6 mi
Elevation: +/- 29 ft

Sacramento, CA

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Bridge to Bridge Out and Back

Distance: 17.5 mi
Elevation: +/- 577 ft

Sacramento County, CA

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Elk Grove Bike Trail Out and Back

Distance: 12.1 mi
Elevation: +/- 126 ft

Elk Grove, CA

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Elk Grove Bridge Ride

Distance: 9.4 mi
Elevation: +/- 67 ft

Elk Grove, CA

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Sacramento River Path Out and Back

Distance: 8 mi
Elevation: +/- 97 ft

Sacramento, CA

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Elk Grove Bridge Ride

Distance: 9.4 mi
Elevation: +/- 67 ft

Elk Grove, CA

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American River Bike Path Loop

Distance: 4.8 mi
Elevation: +/- 61 ft

Sacramento, CA

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West Sac Gravel Loop

Distance: 26.8 mi
Elevation: +/- 251 ft

Sacramento, CA

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Trek Gravel Loop

Distance: 50.4 mi
Elevation: +/- 513 ft

Sacramento, CA

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Hidden Falls Loop

Distance: 8.6 mi
Elevation: +/-1070 ft

Placer County, CA

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Serrano Hills Loop

Distance: 6 mi
Elevation: +/-497 ft

El Dorado County, CA

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Spenceville Wildlife Area Loop

Distance: 14.1 mi
Elevation: +/-1103 ft

Yuba County, CA

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