Distance 1-way 4.5 miles; Difficulty moderate; Elevations: 780’-1280’- 820’; Time 2-2 ½ hours. This pleasant stroll up this short segment of the historic Western State Trail (WST) leads you into a seldom visited piece of the Middle Fork American River canyon.
...hike up the rolling trail along the rugged canyon above primitive Ruck- a- Chucky Campground to Fords Bar.
South- slope wildflowers such as lupine and poppies can be abundant with the right timing in the spring.
The trail uses a piece of a mining road as it begins its way towards Fords Bar area that was last used by an estimated 1500 miners during the Gold Rush. WST racers follow the trail from east (Squaw Valley) to west (Auburn). As racers use it, this segment continues downriver beyond the lower end of the less-than-beloved “Devils Oven” reach of the 100-mile long WST. Most runners encountered the area above Fords Bar during the heat of the afternoon as it crosses the southern slopes of the canyon. Most recreationists end the outing at Fords Bar, below the very arduous piece of trail between there and the bright lights of downtown Foresthill.
Today, adventuresome recreationists hike up the rolling trail along the river above primitive Ruck-a-Chucky Campground to Fords Bar. Nothing is left of the old “town site” but visitors enjoy the historic link to the rich past of this area, fishing, and cold, cold-water swimming or toe-dipping.
Across the river lays the mouth of Otter Creek and a primitive trail links to Cock Robin Point and, via a 4WD road, on to what’s left of the mining town of Volcanoville. Wading the river is not recommended.
Near the trailhead, the old road/trail crosses below the mouth of Paradise Canyon and a 100 foot falls that’s more cascades than falls, but in spring-time make a nice scramble and photograph opportunity. The trail also slips by Ruck-a-Chucky Rapids, that are too rugged for even the most experienced whitewater enthusiasts to do anything but portage. And take pictures.
South-slope wildflowers such as lupine and poppies can be abundant with the right timing in the spring. A little later in the season, black berries offer opportunities to snack your way along the river – unless the bears beat you to the juicy morsels. Keep one eye open for foraging critters and the other alert to snakes and poison oak. Nothing unusual of our canyon county, and the views of the canyon and the river-too-wild-to-be-tamed are worth it.
The trail is accessed by the Drivers Flat Road just beyond primitive Ruck-a-Chucky Campground on the Middle Fork of the American River in the Auburn State Recreation Area. The well-signed Drivers Flat Road is a right turn, south off the Foresthill Highway about 8.1 miles east of where that road exits from I-80 in Auburn.
After the first 1/2 mile on the Drivers Flat Road, there is a large parking area on the left side and at that point the road turns from blacktopp to dirt. Beyond there the next 2 miles to the end of the road, can be fairly steep, sometimes rough, and at times narrow as it drops into the canyon. How rugged will depend mostly on the weather. After the parking area, I recommend only higher clearance vehicles such as SUVs.
The trail begins just beyond the primitive campground at the green, metal gate that blocks all but administrative vehicles.