The ride: Olmstead Loop Trail Technical Level: Beginner Altitude Gain: Around 800 feet The Ride: 9 mile loop Where: Cool California (near Auburn)
If you have the itch to get out your mountain bike and ride, take a day-trip to Cool, Calif. This is a beginner trail, however it is a great way to get out on your bike and enjoy beautiful scenery. The trail is not too technical and the up hills can be a challenge. For extreme bikers, this trail doesn't have that much trill.
The 9 mile loop is a multipurpose trail so bikers, hikers and horse back riders must all share the trail. Watch out for horse droppings and respect the signs that hikers and bikers must yield to the horses. There are many side trails that branch off the trail and connect at different parts, so it is easy to try and explore new ways.
The wide dirt trails are lined with wild flowers and through certain parts of the loop it has a forest feel with oak trees lining the way. It is almost like you are in the movie "The Wizard of Oz," where they are skipping down the yellow brick road, because the large gangly trees line the trail, along with radiant yellow wild flowers. Don't worry the Wicked Witch of the West's monkeys are not flying around.
There are two ways to travel on the trail, clockwise is a bit more of a downhill and there are quite a few up hill climbs that will get your heart rate up going in the counterclockwise direction. Doing the 9 mile loop can be a nice exercise, but many people choose to do the trail twice (once in both directions) to get more of a workout. Bring a packed snack or lunch and take some time to sit and enjoy the landscape, there are plenty of pull off places to sit and enjoy. We saw some deer prancing across the trail at one point, they had just got a drink of water at one of the little lakes.
The drive to get to the Olmstead Loop is about 70 miles from Truckee, but you can be out on the trail in about an hour and a half - that includes putting on all your gear. The drive down Hwy 80. is lined with vibrant green trees and the temperature increases about 10 degrees as you make it into Auburn.
Directions: Take Interstate 80 South towards Auburn. Follow the signs to highway 49 South (it is the In N' Out Burger exit). You will twist through town, and at the edge of town, 49 drops into the American River Valley. It's a couple really curvy miles past Auburn to the bottom of the canyon.
When you get to the bottom, you will see the river to your right. Turn right and follow 49 across the river at the T intersection/ the bridge. When you get to the top of the canyon, you will enter the town of Cool. The trail starts behind the fire department on your right in Cool (first right turn before the gas station. There is plenty of parking.
Check out VIDEO from the Olmstead Loop Trail:
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The ride: 
The wide dirt trails are lined with wild flowers and through certain parts of the loop it has a forest feel with oak trees lining the way. It is almost like you are in the movie "The Wizard of Oz," where they are skipping down the yellow brick road, because the large gangly trees line the trail, along with radiant yellow wild flowers. Don't worry the Wicked Witch of the West's monkeys are not flying around.
Directions: