![]() The river flows nicely, despite our recent severe drought, and the bridge is mesmerizing at times. For the first 20 minutes or so, the hike is very pleasant. On both sides of the trail, there are some intriguing things from flora to remnants of an old steel bridge. Watering Hole: Clarks HoleĬontinuing north, the trail runs parallel with the North Fork American River. The bridge spans an estimated 2,429 feet and is the 3rd highest bridge in the United States.Ĭheck out my article on the Foresthill Bridge for more pictures and information. The trail travels underneath the bridge which is roughly 731 feet above the riverbed. Looming over the trail for the first 3/4 of a mile is the New Foresthill Bridge. There’s a sign on the gate that lists the distances for the significant points of interest including a local watering hole, Lake Clementine and a few other trails. Once I was all geared up, I walked across the Old Foresthill Road to gate 139 where the trail officially begins. And yes, I was laughing out loud as I typed that last sentence. And if that weren’t enough to ease the transition of $10 out of the pocket, the parking area does have bathrooms. This hike is definitely worth at least $10. I always try to get out to the trailheads before anyone else arrives, so that I can hit the trails without any interruptions or unintentional ‘photo bombs’.įor the Lake Clementine Trailhead, there is a $10 fee to park there. At 8am on a Friday morning, I was the only car in the parking area. This is about 5 miles northeast of the city of Auburn. The parking area is located on Old Foresthill Road just past the Old Foresthill Bridge on the right side of the road. I was out of my house by 7am and at the trailhead parking area within an hour. My journey began on an early Friday morning in mid-April. So, when I discovered that the Lake Clementine Trail had all of the scenic aspects that I look for in a hike, I was like a kid on Christmas morning just counting down the hours until I could unwrap this exploration. And, rarely do I ever find a hike that offers all of the above. Typically, I only embark on hiking trails that offer scenic views of a lake, a waterfall, a river or a cool landmark like an old bridge or historic building.
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