A quick downhill from the ride start on Arden Way brings you to the American River Parkway Bike Trail. 

The early AM bike trail is a pleasure:  wild turkeys (photo left), deer, and rabbits commonly are visible. 

After about ten miles you will loop under Hazel Avenue, passing Nimbus Dam on your left. 

Several sharp twists and turns will bring you to the US 50 bridge and to Folsom, which you will cross on Folsom Blvd and Iron Point Road.

Leaving Folsom you again will cross US 50.

During the next three miles, on Scott and White Rock Roads, you may encounter huge gravel trucks.  Watch out for them and prepare, if necessary, to get off the road:  they travel fast and often give little heed to bicyclists. 

When you turn left from White Rock onto Scott Road you again can relax and enjoy the rolling, undeveloped grasslands. 

Scott Road is my favorite road on this entire course.  The Deer Creek crossing on Scott Road (photo below) is vulnerable to flooding after heavy rainfall.

Beyond Deer Creek Scott Road rolls up and down through exceptionally attractive oak forests (photo below).

After a quick jog on Latrobe Road, you will encounter the ride's only "hill" - on Stonehouse Road.  From the crest of Stonehouse Road (photo below), you will view a nice panorama of Rancho Murietta, where you are about to stop at Rest Stop #1.

Highway 16 (Jackson Road) will take you to Dillard Road where, at mile 36.3, the 53 and 100 mile rides separate.

The 53 mile ride continues west on Highway 16, passing through Sloughhouse, (photo left) to the Folsom South Canal.

After passing through a gate, continue along the west side of the canal (photo right). 

This section is very tranquil:  no traffic, usually no other bicyclists. 

At the end of the canal section, turn left on White Rock Road, right on Kilgore Road, and proceed north to Folsom Blvd. 

CAUTION:  take care turning left and crossing the intersection at Folsom Blvd. 

After a short jog on Folsom Blvd, relatively quiet streets will take you back to the American River Parkway Bike Trail and ride's end in Carmichael.

The 100 mile ride continues on Dillard Road (photo below) past orchards and farms.  White fences and horses frequently are seen. 

Green Road takes you to Wilton, and Wilton Road (photo right) brings you across the Cosumnes River to Sheldon. 

Elk Grove Blvd (intermittently bumpy) will convey you through Elk Grove (many stores and food franchises available) and to Rest Stop #2.  

Turning left onto Bruceville Road used to leave Elk Grove and enter quiet, bucolic surroundings; rapid growth has totally changed the character of this area:

Bilby Road (left photo taken in 2001; right photo taken in 2006) terminates in Franklin.  

Hood-Franklin Road takes you past the Stonelake Wildlife Refuge. 

I usually stop at Hood Community Park to eat and replenish water supplies, rather than stopping at designated Rest Stops #2 and #3.

Head north on Highway 160 (River Road - photo below) and enjoy views of fertile orchards and vineyards on the right and the Sacramento River on the left. 

Rest Stop #3 is in Freeport. 

Cross the Sacramento River on the Freeport Bridge (photo right), and turn right on South River Road. 

On South River Road (photo below) enjoy more river views, this time with the river on your right.

Navigate through West Sacramento and cross the Sacramento River on the historic I Street and Jibboon Street Bridge (photo right). 

Like most Sacramento River bridges, this is a "draw bridge":  now and then you will come upon such a bridge in the "up" position and will have to wait.

This ancient bridge splits in the middle; take a left turn at the split onto Jibboon Street and cross the rail yards on your way to Discovery Park.

From Discovery Park it's a short 13.5 miles on the American River Parkway Bike Trail back to the ride start.