Touring * Fitness * Artistic *

From Interstate 80, just outside of Davis, exit north onto State Highway 113. Take the Russell Boulevard exit and turn left at the end of the off-ramp. Look for curbside parking on Russell or on the side streets, Arthur or Eisenhower. You will see the bike path on the south side of Russell.

The Russell Boulevard Bike Trail sets a standard for in-line touring that's hard to beat. It's a paved, very smooth dedicated path with light traffic, which means you can safely enjoy fast cruising right out in the middle of gorgeous Sacramento Valley farm country. The trail starts at the UC Davis campus, heading west out of town along Russell Boulevard, the university's northern boundary. For the first two miles the wide asphalt trail is bordered on the south by the wire fence of the University Airport. You will pass through a shady residential area just beyond the Davis city limits, then emerge into the sunny farmland, finally leaving the wire fence behind. The trail is narrower here, only about five feet wide, but it's still separate from the roadway and in great condition. From here on, you have an unobstructed view of the country with its corrals of grazing horses and sheep. At one point the trail takes a short jog to the north of Russell, but puts you back on the south side within a quarter of a mile. You'll probably hate to see the trail end at the intersection with Road 95a, but at least you get to re-do it on the return trip. If you're not too tired after you get back to Davis, continue to the campus to explore its winding paths and the Putah Creek trail bordering its southern edge.