Quarry Road Trail
A grand way to head the Middle Fork of the American River from the Confluence with the North Fork American. The first 1.25 miles is essentially a graveled pathway and is one probably the easiest strolls, jogs or jaunts here in the heart of the Auburn State Recreation Area. And only minutes out of downtown Auburn or bustling burg of Cool. Wide, gentle trail follows Gold Rush-era Grand Flume, paralleling the Middle Fork. A developed picnic site sits 1.25 miles up river, below the old limestone quarry.
...follows Gold Rush- era Grand Flume,...
Shade is skimpy for the first couple of miles so mornings and evenings are best.
DESCRIPTION:
5.6 miles, easy, elevations: 720’-800’, 2¼ hours. Topographic maps: Auburn, Greenwood.
Most pick their picnic or swimming spot and head back whenever they’ve had enough, but the trail parallels the Middle Fork upriver to Poverty Bar. Shade is skimpy for the first couple of miles so mornings and evenings are best. Once the trail becomes single-track it enters the cooling forest. And becomes more a real hike. This leg ends at Poverty Crossing—unless you want to ford the Middle Fork. Or…
There are five options to loop back along the way or arrange transportation at other trailheads, but none without pain. The best is the Western States Trail across from Murderer’s Bar. See maps for all options.
| Miles | Elevation Range | Options |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 720’-800’ |
|
DIRECTIONS:
To Quarry Road Trail
0.4 mile south after Highway 49 crosses the American River, turn left onto the signed gravel road. This short road quickly drops down to parking area (not shown on map). From there the trail heads upriver.
ACTIVITIES:
Mountain Biking (Rating: Best)
6 miles one-way, double & single track. Easy. Map. Heading up or down, the first 1.5 miles of this trail along an historic water ditch and closed road that is super easy double-track that qualifies as a 4-lane bikeway. After that the trail becomes classic single lane rolling up and down along the Middle Fork American. Several connections climbing out of the canyon could make much more difficult shuttles or loops.
Equestrian Trail Riding (Rating: Good)
This wide trail is actually an old gravel road bed and an easy equestrian ride that beginning trail riders appreciate. After the historic limestone quarry, the trail soon becomes a traditional single-lane trail and is soon joined by the WST (Tevis Cup) from Cool or Poverty Bar river crossing (ford) on the eastern end of the segment.
Historic Sites (Rating: Good)
Historic limestone quarry and processing plant.
Hiking: Dayhikes (Rating: Exceptional)
Especially in the off-season; skip the heat of day in the summer.
