Touring * Fitness * Artistic *

From U.S. 50, take the Sunrise Boulevard exit heading south. After less than two miles, look for the stoplight for Sun Center (west) and Sunrise Gold (east). A quarter of a mile after this light, you'll see yellow gates across the trail on the right side of Sunrise. Pull in and park in front of the gates, next to the trail's entrance.

The Folsom South Recreational Trail runs alongside the Folsom South Canal for 14 miles, cutting a sunny swath through treeless fields south of Sacramento and connecting the Nimbus Dam with Sloughhouse Road. Don't expect great scenery: the wide bike path runs low next to the canal rather than up on the levee, so there's no view--and not much of a breeze, either. But this helps keep away the crowds, leaving the trail for dedicated speedskaters interested in serious distance or endurance workouts. Feel free to go as fast as your wheels will travel! Be sure to bring water, since you're certain to get thirsty and there are no amenities along the way. The posted sign at the gate says that trespassing and loitering are prohibited by law, but this trail is recommended in "Rolling Right Along," a pamphlet about skating locations distributed by park rangers and Sacramento County.