About one hour east of Sacramento lies Hidden Falls Regional Park near Auburn, CA. This place is a real gem for those living near Sacramento and was recently expanded with new trails and excellent hiking facilities. The park contains several canyons with year-round rivers and waterfalls. It is in the California foothills with the oaks and hills typically found in the region. There are hiking trails for all activity levels and is popular with families. And it's free!
The drive to the park takes you past several Satsuma orchards along the Placer County Wine Trail outside of Auburn. Once you finally get there, the park seems pretty small with a parking lot and a small trailhead. However, most of the part is literally over the river and through the woods. The first hike is either along the service road or the easier trail pictured above. Once you climb down the first valley and cross the river, you have many options.
There is a great hike to the actual Hidden Falls overlook, but for this trip I explored the new area. The access road takes you over several fire breaks and into a side valley with another set of falls. These falls are not as impressive, but Placer County installed a nice overlook gazebo and bridge which were worth the hike. You will not get to the actual falls without a major hike, but the main trails will take you close enough for some cool pictures. Plus the hike there is very nice too.
You will get dusty on this hike. The trails have lots of fine red clay which will stain white clothes. BRING WET NAPS! There are several portable toilets along the hike, but water is limited, so pack some extra fluids for the trip. It is a very nice hike for everyone and very close. Pack a change of clothes if you want to hit up some wineries on the way back. Enjoy the rest of the hike below.
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