[Yolo_MTB]

This would be great and would really expand options near Salmon Falls. You could connect a long way from here to the sweetwater, salmon falls and skunk hollow trails (SART), all the way out to Cronan Ranch!

The parts of Browns Ravine that are legal are OK, but adding the shoreline area and making it not just for horses and feet would be such a nice bonus!

Browns Ravine Trail Change-in-Use Project

Browns Ravine Trail Change-in-Use Project

www.parks.ca.gov

 

[NorCalTaz]

Looks good, may take a while to get used to, but it appears to me to be lots of new trail added

 

[Quercus agrifolia]

Wow, this seems like a big deal! The trail modifications will take some time to implement, but this seems very very positive!

Love the recognition of this trail being a critical link for adjacent multi-use trails. I used this trail to connect to SFART and out to Cronan Ranch, ultimately for a big ‘around Folsom lake’ ride at the beginning of Covid. Would love to see this become reality!

 

[Empty_Beer]

As referenced in the original post, the FLSRA website (mostly) details the looooooooooong history of converting this trail to multi-use. I'm happy that it is being addressed PRIOR to the Road & Trail Management Plan fiasco getting completed (thank you Acting Gold Fields Supervisor Barry Smith). Anyone on this forum remember this from 2001??? https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/712/files/nr060501a.pdf

Anyway, assuming everything gets approved, the big issue is that the trail won't be bike legal until FLSRA completes allllll the trail repairs/improvements. That's bullcrap. Especially if FATRAC and mt. bikers assist with the trail work.

So... in the comments you BETTER email to [email protected] before the end of January 2022, make sure to mention that once FLSRA decides to open the trail that is already predominently used by mt. bikers, it should be legally open to bicycling while the repair/improvements are completed.

 

[ripn]

Its just depressing to realize its taken over 20 years to get this trail (hopefully) bike legal.

 

[Stumpy_Steve]

Uh oh. I usually ride Browns Ravine by riding to (or parking at) the gravel lot just south of Helios Ct, ending at Browns Ravine.

Can you help me understand what the proposed change is? That we can ride from Browns to Old Salmon Falls without it being horse/hike only, and then in the future, all the way to the end of Skunk Hollow? Is that horse/hike only today as well?

 

[Stumpy_Steve]

What is the best loop to do that isn't just out and back?

Have folks done Cronan Ranch -> Skunk Hollow -> Browns Ravine?

 

[Empty_Beer]

Uh oh. I usually ride Browns Ravine by riding to (or parking at) the gravel lot just south of Helios Ct, ending at Browns Ravine.

Can you help me understand what the proposed change is? That we can ride from Browns to Old Salmon Falls without it being horse/hike only, and then in the future, all the way to the end of Skunk Hollow? Is that horse/hike only today as well?

Where you are parking (above the bridge that goes over New York Creek), that section of trail all the way back to Browns Ravine, as well as the whole section of trail that goes towards Old Salmon Falls, has been off-limits for bicycling since the 1980's. The proposed "Change In Use" is to make the entire 13 mile section from Browns Ravine to Old Salmon Falls legal for bikes.

East of Old Salmon Falls is bike legal on the "Guardrail Trail" and Sweetwater Trail... which as you know connects with Skunk Hollow after riding Salmon Falls Rd. across the Salmon Falls Bridge.

This is how a lot of people loop Browns Ravine, using a section of Salmon Falls Rd. (either direction). The X is where you said you park:

Here's a pretty fun 100% legal loop that can only be done when the hidden bridge is crossable: Follow Ron on Strava to see this activity. Join for free. ....once the lake level hits 309', it isn't crossable (Folsom Lake Water Level).

 

[Stumpy_Steve]

Oh man, I needed this. Thank you!

Also, woah - I had no idea there was a hidden bridge or that what I was riding was illegal. It's pretty beautiful and pristine.

So what I have been illegally riding will soon be legal when exactly?

 

[Empty_Beer]

Oh man, I needed this. Thank you!

Also, woah - I had no idea there was a hidden bridge or that what I was riding was illegal. It's pretty beautiful and pristine.

So what I have been illegally riding will soon be legal when exactly?

New York Creek Bridge is a wood bridge below that parking spot you mentioned. That remains "no bikes". The Hidden Bridge is the cement bridge that is available to cross from the Old Salmon Falls parking lot or the Sweetwater Trail to Darrington Trail (aka Salmon Falls Trail). That bridge and all trails mentioned are legal for bikes.

Hidden Bridge (actually, Old Salmon Falls Bridge: Place your bets... Old Salmon Falls Bridge crossing.)

As for legally riding anything between Browns Ravine and Old Salmon Falls, realistically, the decision won't be until early next year, if there aren't the usual endless delays. If FLSRA approves Change In Use, then they say they need to do all the trail modifications and improvements BEFORE officially allowing bikes, which it total bullcrap. That'll likely take 2 years or more! So, when you send your comments about this Change In Use to [email protected], in addition to saying you support this change in use (and hopefully why), request that the trail is immediately open to bikes, especially since bike organizations and individuals will be volunteering to help with the work that needs to be done.

Stumpy Steve, please familiarize yourself with this. Also get your MTB pals involved! Thanks! Browns Ravine Trail Change-in-Use Project

 

[Yolo_MTB]

The low water bridge...

 

[Darth Lefty]

(and hopefully why),

Because I Want To Ride My Mountain Bike There

 

[Empty_Beer]

Because I Want To Ride My Mountain Bike There

Why?

I want to ride my bike on the PCT but that's not allowed either... but the PCT overlords aren't asking why I want to be allowed to ride on the PCT. FLSRA is asking about riding bikes on the Browns/south side trail. Let 'em know, with a better reply than "because!": [email protected]

 

[Quercus agrifolia]

Email sent, thanks for bumping this along.

 

[LightRanger]

Bump.

There's a virtual meeting tomorrow: Public Meeting: FLSRA Browns Ravine CIU (Online) 11 More Miles of Singletrack | Fatrac

Talking points for your comments listed here:

https://www.facebook.com/FATRACmtb/posts/4605567116229142

 

[J.R.Bikes]

Oh man, this could be HUGE! I'm stoked to see this addition to the already awesome trail network in Folsom area!

 

[Yolo_MTB]

Was anybody able to attend who can pass along any good tidbits?

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I attended and listened in for about half of it. A few quick tidbits:

- MTB'ers were by far the most well represented user group of those who attended. At the very beginning a poll was taken, and 61% of attendees identified as MTB'ers compared to relatively small amounts of equestrians, hikers, trail runners, etc. So I'd say we did a good job of showing up for sure.
-Data was presented regarding erosion concerns of section of trail in question if opened to true multi-use, safety-converns etc. The take home messaging was that the amount of user reported bike accidents is extremely low over the past few years, erosion isn't much of a concern, and this section of trail has (for the most part) great lines of sight, etc
-The most important part is that making the change in use to multi-use (i.e. to allow bikes) was RECOMMENDED.

So that is good news....but I wasn't able to stick around for what the next steps are now that the CIU has been recommended, etc. Perhaps others more knowledgeable can chime on in

 

[LightRanger]

Vast majority of the second half was Q&A. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for the timeline: Browns Ravine Trail Change-in-Use Project If you click the last link near the bottom of the page, it has maps of their proposed trail modifications: https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/1324/files/Trail_Mods_Maps_BRTCIU_v2_01_11_22.pdf Then a written description of them as well.

General thoughts:

1. I didn't hear anything that suggested they plan to deviate from that timeline. They said that their plan is to make the "high-priority" modifications before opening the trail to bike use. Low- and medium-priority can come later.
2. They acknowledged the push to open the trail before the "high-priority" mods, but did not commit to doing so.
3. Jim M. suggested that want to keep as much of the existing technical aspects of the trail as possible for speed control (and riding variety reasons). He very much emphasized the speed control because the opposition in the comments section keyed in on that.
4. They also talked specifically about working with FATRAC and other groups to hopefully speed along trail modifications.
5. Jason (the landscape architect/trail guru) pushed back on "Mike's" repeated harping on about the trail needing to be 48" wide per State Parks trail manual. He clarified the minimum width is 36" and not 48" as the guy kept commenting. It's 36" in the body text of the manual and 48" in the appendix and he said he would correct the appendix to conform to the text. He also said the width standard isn't necessarily binding.
6. I made a pointed comment about hoping that they wouldn't put down DG/gravel anywhere like they did in Granite Bay and Jim M. confirmed that he didn't see that happening.
7. They haven't committed to what kind of CEQA review they think this will require--but it sounds like they're thinking very minimal, which is obviously good.

TL;DR- It really looks like this is going to happen. It's just a matter of timing and ensuring the trail mods do not go too far.
TL;DR2- The comments section was pretty entertaining.

 

[Empty_Beer]

The "Mike" who was going on and on about trail width and other nonsense was none other than Mike "Moron!" Finta. I thought it was hilarious that 3 people logged in and chose "Finta" as their screen name or part of their screen name

I made sure to get this question on record:

Here's the "Safety" screen capture. The top numbers include all the paved trails in FLSRA. The bottom shows that FLSRA has a record of 5 accidents in 10 years, and none involving bike vs. horse. The equestrians lost their minds over this:

I'm pretty sure "Peggy" was Jade Miloslabitch... or one of her long time minions. Lots of hysterical questions about safety and she dropped a key name from 2002.

Overall, this train is moving forward and is looking good. Keep sending emails to [email protected] with input about opening the trail while proposed trail modifications are taking place. It makes no sense to keep bikes off and no other user group, especially since the work being done is mostly addressing water crossings. Vocalize that decomposed granite and gravel have no place on this trail and the focus should be on drainage, not adding material that will wash or wear away. Comments are welcome before 1/31/22. A decision should be made in February.

The only hiccup I can envision is if Interim Superintendent Barry Smith is replaced before the decision is final, and the wrong person takes that position and either delays it further or indefinitely. I don't think we'd be where we are without Superintendent Smith, but his reputation for "getting things done" seems very appropriate.