On trails - and pavement - Auburn area has a path for every cyclist

The Auburn State Recreation Area (Auburn SRA), which stretches from Auburn to Colfax, offers a variety of trails for cyclists who want to explore the area beyond the concrete. Within the recreation area, traditional bicycles, mountain bikes and Class 1 electric bicycles are permitted on some trails. According to the Auburn SRA website, a maximum of 15 mph is allowed on all trails, and cyclists may not exceed 5 mph when approaching blind curves or passing pedestrians and equestrians. Cyclists can enjoy 15 trails of various difficulties from easy to moderately difficult within the Auburn SRA. According to the website, some trails include: Quarry: An easy, 5.6-mile trail that follows the route of a Gold Rush-era manmade channel used to convey and harness the power of the river water for gold mining operations. Lake Clementine: An easy trail of 1.8 miles that begins at the Confluence and ends at Lake Clementine Road. This trail offers a view of the North Fork Dam. Bridgeview: An easy to moderate, 0.8-mile trail that offers views of the Foresthill Bridge. The trail connects with the Stagecoach and Mossy Rock trails. Stage Coach: A 1.8-mile "moderate up, easy down" trail that provides a bird's-eye view of the Confluence Area and American River Canyon. Other trails can be found at parks.ca.gov/?_id=1345. Directions to, maps of and trail information can be found on the California State Parks' app, OuterSpatial. For riders who prefer paved multi-use paths over dirt trails, cyclist and Cycling through Placer County writer Tom Frady provided some Auburn roadways for more experienced riders to avoid downtown and traffic: Auburn Ravine Road from Bowman Road to Elm Avenue due to it smooth pavement. Aeolia Drive/Russell Road, as it offers great views and little traffic. Shirland Tract/Rattlesnake Road, ending at a boat ramp at Folsom Lake/Newcastle Road ending at Auburn Folsom Road. Frady describes this ride as an "extremely tough climb, harrowing downhill." Dry Creek from Bowman Road through Highway 49 to Joeger Road. Frady said the ride is fun, has nice pavement and is slightly downhill with an acceptable shoulder for part of it. Christian Valley from Dry Creek Road, which Frady described as a tough initial climb and then nice downhill. No matter if you're starting out or have been biking for years, Frady reminds riders to wear a helmet and bright clothing, "even if it's just a trip around the block." "It seems everyone's favorite color is black and it's just not good for bike riding," Frady said. The last bit of advice Frady offers is to share the roadway. "Most bike riders are drivers, too," he said. "Sharing the road is a two-way street."