03/20/2020
Sending love to all of my friends out there. Since outdoor exercise is still ok, I wanted to share a few local hikes for my Elk Grove/Sacramento people. Exercise + sunshine is vital to keeping us going in these uncertain times, and under current restrictions, is considered an essential activity. Keep in mind that bathrooms at all public facilities are closed, so this isn't really a great time for a road trip. Plus the National Park System is really begging us not to go to those places - people are crowding those areas due to waived fees. These hikes/walks are all within an hour or so of Elk Grove, and we had no problem maintaining safe distance form people, if we even came across any other people along the way.
Also side note - please be kind to yourselves, parents who are now acting as teachers. You've probably already realized that with the 1:1 attention your kids are getting, they only need 2 hours to do what requires 6 hours in the classroom.
Ok, so some nice places that are NOT CROWDED:
Laguna Creek Trail (my favorite places to start are behind Cal Fit & and at Camden Park, or start at Del Meyer Park and end at Jack Hill Park
Elk Grove Creek Trail (Start behind Letherby's, or Taco Bell on EG Blvd., or near Walmart and walk over the freeway
Consumes River Preserve (20 mins form EG)
Stone Lakes Preserve: (10-15 mins from EG)
Browns Valley: pictured - beware trails can be muddy! (Vacaville)
Rockeville Hills Regional Park (Fairfield)
Black Diamond Mines (Antioch)
Putah Creek Reserve (Davis)
Bobelaine Audubon Sanctuary (Yuba City)
River Bend Park
William B Pond Clay Banks
Vic Fazio Yolo Preserve
Black Hole of Calcutta Falls (Auburn)
Jensen Botanical Garden
Lodi Nature Trail
Paradise Beach
Beeks Bight (Folsom)
Mather Vernal Pools
Lynch Canyon Open Space (Fairfield)
Vernal Pools at Rancho Seco Park
If you know of any other good spots I'd love to hear about them!