American River Parkway
Encyclopedia
The American River Parkway is a 23 miles (37 km) parkway that runs along the American River
throughout Sacramento County, California
and consists of many smaller parks and boat launching points. It can be accessed by various exits off Highway 50 in Sacramento County.
, where the American River meets the Sacramento River
, accessible by taking the Garden Highway exit off Interstate 5
. Discovery Park is the trailhead
for the 32 miles (51.5 km) long Jedediah Smith Bike Trail
which continues all the way to Folsom
through the historic Leidesdorff Ranch
. Other activities include softball fields, an archery range, a picnic area and boat ramps.
, accessible by taking the Watt Avenue exit off Highway 50. Named after a Sacramento County Supervisor and manager to the famous boxer Max Baer, the park has many ancient oaks and is bordered on two sides by the American River. Major attractions include reconstructed Maidu
Native American homes, the Ancil Hoffman Golf Course and the Effie Yeaw Nature Center. Many varieties of animals can be seen in Ancil Hoffman Park including wild turkey, deer, and hawks.
American River
The American River is a California watercourse noted as the site of Sutter's Mill, northwest of Placerville, California, where gold was found in 1848, leading to the California Gold Rush...
throughout Sacramento County, California
Sacramento County, California
Sacramento County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Sacramento, which is also the state capital. As of 2010 the county had a population of 1,418,788....
and consists of many smaller parks and boat launching points. It can be accessed by various exits off Highway 50 in Sacramento County.
Discovery Park
Discovery Park is a 302 acres (1.2 km²) park located just outside of Downtown SacramentoDowntown Sacramento
Downtown Sacramento is the central business district of the City of Sacramento. Downtown is generally defined as the area south of the American River, east of the Sacramento River, north of Broadway, and west of 16th Street. The central business district is generally defined as north of R Street,...
, where the American River meets the Sacramento River
Sacramento River
The Sacramento River is an important watercourse of Northern and Central California in the United States. The largest river in California, it rises on the eastern slopes of the Klamath Mountains, and after a journey south of over , empties into Suisun Bay, an arm of the San Francisco Bay, and...
, accessible by taking the Garden Highway exit off Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
. Discovery Park is the trailhead
Trailhead
A trailhead is the point at which a trail begins, where the trail is often intended for hiking, biking, horseback riding, or off-road vehicles...
for the 32 miles (51.5 km) long Jedediah Smith Bike Trail
Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail
The Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail is a paved multi-use pathway that runs between the confluence of the Sacramento River with the American River, just north of downtown Sacramento, CA, and Beal's Point at Folsom Lake, north of Folsom, CA. The trail is long, and is used as a major recreational...
which continues all the way to Folsom
Folsom
- Places :* Folsom, Alabama* Folsom, California* Folsom, Louisiana* Folsom, New Jersey* Folsom, New Mexico* Folsom, Pennsylvania* Folsom, West Virginia- People :* Abby Folsom , American feminist and abolitionist...
through the historic Leidesdorff Ranch
William Leidesdorff
William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. was one of the earliest mixed-race U.S. citizens in California and a highly successful, enterprising businessman. He was a West Indian immigrant of African Cuban, possibly Carib, Danish and Jewish ancestry. William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. became a United...
. Other activities include softball fields, an archery range, a picnic area and boat ramps.
Ancil Hoffman Park
Ancil Hoffman Park is a major 396 acres (1.6 km²) park located in Carmichael, CaliforniaCarmichael, California
Carmichael is a census-designated place in Sacramento County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 61,762 at the 2010 census, up from 49,742 at the 2000 census.-Geography and geology:Carmichael...
, accessible by taking the Watt Avenue exit off Highway 50. Named after a Sacramento County Supervisor and manager to the famous boxer Max Baer, the park has many ancient oaks and is bordered on two sides by the American River. Major attractions include reconstructed Maidu
Maidu
The Maidu are a group of Native Americans who live in Northern California. They reside in the central Sierra Nevada, in the drainage area of the Feather and American Rivers...
Native American homes, the Ancil Hoffman Golf Course and the Effie Yeaw Nature Center. Many varieties of animals can be seen in Ancil Hoffman Park including wild turkey, deer, and hawks.