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Feb 29, 2008 4:28 pm US/Pacific
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One Tank Trip: Rainforest Trail
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
Right off Highway 49 a few miles east of Pilot Hill, there's a small trailhead most people never notice. Park here and start walking into another world.
The path will take you through a pine forest, and then into a grove of old oaks each covered in a wide array of mosses and lichens.
This is the Dave Moore nature trail. Moore was a Bureau of Land Management Ranger who was wheelchair bound but loved exploring – as best he could – this forest. When he passed away, his peers built this public trial in his memory.
This is a wide, gentile trail, constructed to allow wheel chairs to negotiate through the woods and over numerous creeks.
This trail is about a two mile loop that takes you past strange rock formations. You'll see dozens of man made rock walls. 150 years ago Chinese lived and prospected here and left the remnants of their progress behind.
Take your time, look at nature's artwork. But don't eat these colorful mushrooms.
And listen carefully. Besides the birds chirping, you'll hear an ever louder rushing sound, at the end of the trial you'll discover why.
The Dave Moore trail leads to one of the public access beaches along the south fork of the American River. In the spring you'll see an almost non stop parade of rafts here, but in the winter, especially when it's stormy, you'll likely have the trail to yourself.
Because this area is so heavily forested and the river is so close, this area is always damp and that makes for some spectacular scenery.
Twisted madrone trees add to the mystique of this rain forest adventure. Figure on about two hours to hike the trail loop from highway to river, more if you want to stop and picnic. Even in the dampness you'll find flowers like this blooming Manzanita.
This easy going, gently sloping trail is perfect for beginners. The wheel chair bound and for kids.
And if you choose a cold, drizzly day like I did, you might not see another human being.
The trail offers one other big plus, its open year round, and is free to the public.
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