42 MILES / 1,065 FEET

79 MILES / 3,115 FEET

116 MILES / 3,185 FEET

• The 116 mile route, which circumnavigates the northern metropolitan area, is my favorite late fall and winter Century ride.  It offers a variety of quiet, rural landscapes:  rolling hills, cattle ranches, orchards, rice fields, and vistas of the American and Sacramento Rivers.   Most of the ride is flat, and elevation changes between Folsom and Sheridan are gentle and minimal.  As maximum elevation is about 900 feet (Newcastle), the ride avoids risk of winter ice and snow.  After heavy rains, minor flooding can occur on Riosa and/or Pleasant Grove Roads, but I never have found it impassible.  Large flocks of migratory birds often are visible in the rice fields.   
     
  

  • Starting in Carmichael, all rides proceed east to Folsom along the upper American River Parkway.

  • The 42 mile ride loops back from Folsom via Eureka Road and Beales Point.  

  • The 79 mile ride continues to Newcastle, then loops back via Ridge Road and the Loomis basin.  

  • The 116 mile ride continues to Sheridan, passing through lovely, quiet, gently rolling hills.  The course then visits Bear River orchards and Sutter County rice fields on the way to Verona.  The Garden Highway offers scenic views of the Sacramento River on the way to Discovery Park.  The lower American River Parkway provides an easy return to Carmichael. 
    
    

• SETTING

  • The American River Parkway, providing a scenic conduit through the Sacramento metropolitan area.

  • Lightly traveled, pastoral roads of northern Sacramento and southern Sutter counties.

  • The Garden Highway along the Sacramento River.
    
    

• START

  • Five Points Shopping Center, on the southeast corner of Arden Way and Fair Oaks Blvd in Carmichael.

    • Travel to the intersection of Arden Way and Fair Oaks Blvd in Carmichael, CA (immediately east of Sacramento).  Park in the Five Points parking lot (SE corner of Arden Way & Fair Oaks Blvd, away from retail outlets).

    • Riders optionally may start at any point along the American River Parkway Bike Trail.  This would alter total mileage on the 53 mile ride; total mileage on the 100 mile route would remain unchanged.

   

• 42, 79, 116 MILE RIDES

  • Climbing:  3,185 feet on the116 mile ride; 1,065 feet on the 42 mile ride.

  • Difficulty:  as the rides have little climbing, difficulty relates only to mileage.