Hidden Falls Loop Auburn, CA

Just west of Auburn, off Hwy 49, is hidden a very nice recreation area. Hidden Falls Regional Park is a multi-use preserve catering to hikers, horseback riders, mountain bikers, and dog owners (and their dogs of course). This fact will most definitely scare away the more dedicated outdoor enthusiasts looking for a pure wilderness experience, and understandably. But, enthusiasts and casual visitors alike can appreciate the beautiful foliage and vistas that this 5 mile loop trail has to offer.



Hidden Falls
 

This is a very popular park despite what I read in my book "60 hikes within 60 miles." The trail begins directly behind the porta-johns off the parking lot. There are several trails that branch off from the main service road/trail, and following the outermost portions of these trails link together the 5 mile loop that my guide book recommended. The trail as a whole is rated as "Difficult." This is a bit of an overstatement for anyone who hikes semi-regularly. Bre and I considered it to be more "Moderate" if we were to put a rating on it. The trails are all very well groomed and easy to walk on, and if you have difficulty trail finding there are trail maps posted every .5 miles (I don't think I'm exaggerating on this either).

Your first destination is a nice one. Less than a mile into the hike we came across "Hidden Falls." It was not too extremely hidden and was clearly the final destination for 80% of the park goers on this particular day. Many groups scattered around the area which includes a wooden platform viewing area from which to enjoy the falls. An easy trail from the viewing platform leads to the canyon floor where two creeks converge and many nice picnic areas are available. Bre and I enjoyed our lunch while watching the water flow past. Unfortunately many people who visit this area do not appreciate the delicacy of nature. We found and collected several pieces of garbage that included wrappers, bottles, and cans scattered throughout the trail system.
After leaving the falls, the crowd of people disappeared. We did pass several groups along the rest of the trail but not nearly as many as expected considering the number of cars in the parking lot. The trail became more quaint and the foliage thickened. I loved that the trail followed Coon Creek much of the way, gaining and losing a moderate amount of elevation. While there was plenty of plant life to observe and enjoy, there was practically no wildlife. This is most definitely due to the high number of dogs which were present on the trail. We must have seen two dozen dogs along the way. We did see one grey squirrel, we heard dozens of frogs along Seven Pools Loop Trail, and smelled a skunk. Other than that no wildlife. There was a good amount of poison oak which was starting to come in. Be careful if you venture off trail. Obstacles about on trail as well in the form of various animal's piles of scat. Pay attention to the trail or you're sure to step square in a nice fresh pile of horse, dog, coyote or skunk crap.

The 5 miles seemed to fly by. We completed the trek in just over 2.5 hours. You'll want to spend a bit of time at the falls and there are many more nice places to stop and have a rest. We took advantage of many of these spots. The trail is easy to casually stroll with a total elevation gain of less than 1000 feet and few steep sections. We enjoyed petting the dogs hiking past and chatting with their owners and took detours to try to identify plants and scat piles (both of which we are not well versed at). I definitely recommend checking this trail out. If 5 miles is farther than you care to hike then you can piece together your own trek from the several trails offered. Also, if you're a wine lover you should stop by the Mt. Vernon Winery on the way back to the freeway, delicious $6 tastings (15 varieties). Enjoy the photos.