El Dorado Trail
Celebrate May is Bike Month! Join us for the Grand Opening of the Missouri Flat Road Bike/Pedestrian Overcrossing and a Community Bike Ride on El Dorado Trail on Saturday, May 31, 2025. Visit the Bike Month page for event details.
Bike Month Event Flyer(PDF, 2MB)
About El Dorado Trail
The County is actively developing the El Dorado Trail within the Sacramento-Placerville Transportation Corridor right-of-way. The multi-use trail is envisioned as ultimately traversing the length of El Dorado County from its western border to the Tahoe Basin. Several sections have been developed to date, through multiple projects undertaken by the County and the City of Placerville.
Beginning from the western border with Sacramento County, a segment of natural trail traverses the Sacramento Placerville Transportation Corridor (SPTC) for 23 miles to the County’s Historical Railroad Park depot station in the town of El Dorado. At this juncture it becomes a Class 1 multi-use trail that runs east 2.2 miles to Missouri Flat Road immediately south of Walmart. The segment then extends 3.7 miles to the intersection of Forni Road and Main Street in the City of Placerville. The trail passes under U.S. Highway 50 at the transit station at Mosquito Road and parallels the highway to Jacquier Road. The final segment of Class 1 trail crosses back over U.S. Highway 50 at Newton Road and proceeds to Halcon Road in the community of Camino. At the Halcon Road crossing, the trail becomes improved natural road that ends at Carson Road. The trail is planned to continue to the Tahoe Basin, but the specific alignment has not yet been determined.
Check out the Department of Transportation's El Dorado Trail Extension video series with everything you need to know about the lates upgrades on the trail, along with tips and tricks on how to use it safely:
Trail Classifications
Class I paths are paved trails completely separated from the street or highway. They allow two-way travel for people bicycling and walking.
Class II lanes are striped preferential lanes on the roadway for one way bicycle travel that include pavement stencils and signs. Some bicycle lanes include a striped buffer on one or both sides to increase separation from the traffic lane or from parked cars, where people may open car doors into the bicycle lane.
Natural trails are unpaved and intended to serve hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians, depending on constraints of terrain and environmental sensitivity. They function primarily as recreation features rather than for transportation.
Trailheads and Amenities
El Dorado Station Trailhead
El Dorado Station at Historical Railroad Park, 4650 Oriental Street, El Dorado
Transit Directions
Take Diamond Springs Bus 30 or 35 to the stop on Pleasant Valley Road at Church Street (El Dorado Transit Map).
Trailhead Amenities
- Restrooms
- Minimal parking at Historical Railroad Park
Missouri Flat Trailhead
Trailhead at 4415 Missouri Flat Rd, Placerville
Transit Directions
Take Diamond Springs Bus 25, 30, 35 or 50 Express to the Missouri Flat Transfer Station (El Dorado Transit Map).
Trail Amenities
Ray Lawyer Trailhead
Ray Lawyer Drive Park & Ride at Forni Road
Transit Directions
Take the Sacramento Commuter Bus C or CR to the Ray Lawyer Drive Park & Ride (El Dorado Transit Map).
Trail Amenities
Placerville Station Trailhead
Placerville Station at 2984 Mosquito Road, Placerville
Transit Directions
Take the Placerville Bus 25 or 20, Pollock Pines Bus 60, or 50 Express Bus to the Placerville Station Transfer Center (El Dorado Transit Map).
Trail Amenities
Smith Flat Trailhead
Trailhead adjacent to Jacquier Road
Transit Directions
Take Placerville Bus 20 to Smith Flat Road at School Street (El Dorado Transit Map).
Trail Amenities
- Small exercise/warm up area
- Parking
Access Points at Parks
Bradford Park
Access a segment of El Dorado Trail's natural trail located across the street from the park. The trail is located next to the train tracks and follows the Sacramento-Placerville Transit Corridor. Travel east to the El Dorado Station at Historical Railroad Park or travel west to Latrobe / Folsom. There are restrooms, a water fountain, and parking at Bradford Park.
Historical Railroad Park
Access a segment of El Dorado Trails' Class I trail that traverses through the park. Travel east to the Missouri Flat pedestrian bridge and Old Depot Bike Park or travel west to Bradford Park and the Latrobe area. There are restrooms and minimal parking at Historical Railroad Park.
Old Depot Bike Park
Access a segment of El Dorado Trail's Class I trail that is adjacent to the park. Travel east to Weber Creek Trestle bridge and the City of Placerville or travel west to Historical Railroad Park. There are restrooms, a water fountain, a bike repair station, and parking located at Old Depot Bike Park.
Trail Etiquette
Share the Trail
- Be alert!
- Stay on trail
- Don’t block the trail
- Respect private property
- Keep pets on leash, 6’ maximum
- Leave no trace
- Do not feed wildlife
Right-of-Way
- All trail users yield to horses
- Greet and communicate with horse riders
- Bicyclists keep right, except to pass
- Pedestrians keep left to face oncoming bicyclists
- Trail users going downhill yield to those going uphill
Safety
- Travel at a safe speed – 15 mph or less
- Kids under age 18 must wear a helmet when riding a bicycle, scooter, roller skates, skateboard, or any other vehicle with wheels
- When riding at night a headlight must be visible from the front of the bicycle
- Use Hawk Signals at road crossings
- No motorized vehicles per County Ordinance Section 10.32.020
- No alcohol, no drugs, no smoking, no discharging of firearms
- No camping
- No loitering
- No noise from dusk to dawn
E-Bikes
- Electric bicycle (e-bike) is a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts as defined in California Vehicle Code § 312.5.
- Only Class 1 and Class 2 electric bicycles are allowed on trails per County Ordinance Section 10.32.020
- California Vehicle Code Section § 312.5 Definitions:
- Class 1 electric bicycle, or “low-speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle,” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
- Class 2 electric bicycle, or “low-speed throttle-assisted electric bicycle,” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
- Class 3 electric bicycle, or “speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle,” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour, and equipped with a speedometer.
Trail Maps
Trail Rental Information
Please call the Parks and Trails office at (530) 621-5360 or send an email for any questions or to check rental availability.
Trail Projects and Volunteering
Interested in El Dorado Trail volunteer opportunities? Check out the Parks & Trails Volunteer page for upcoming trail workdays and projects.
Trail Development
Visit the County Department of Transportation’s Trail Projects Update page for more information on current trails projects.
Other Trails and Partners
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