Johnny Cash Trail

Finding the trail is a little confusing but if you park in the library lot its pretty much a few hundred yards down the hill through another parking lot. Once there you can go left to see the bridge and eventually get to Folsom Prison. Along the way you will likely see squirrels, turkeys and lots of deer. If you take the trail to the right you will be in old town within ten to fifteen minutes. We went left to the prison returned to our starting point and then went right to hsve brunch in Folsom. The trail is a great way to get some exercise and wind up in old town for a drink and a bite.

We really enjoy this trail. It is completely paved and is a great walk all year long. The hike is very easy if you have kids or are not looking for a challenging trail this is your spot. You walk right along the prison towards the end of the trail. There is a cool bridge and lots of available parking.

Love this part of the bike course that takes you along the beautiful American River Bike trail.My cycling group and I would also meeting up early on a Saturday morning near Howe/Hwy 50. And enter the bike trail for a minimum 20 mile ride along side the river, where we'd go typically out to Nimbus Point and back. If we were wanting to get in say a 50 mile ride, then we would make our way to or start in Folsom. And we'd be sure to rider up and through Johnny Cash Trail.I love seeing the different scenery from along the way, and enjoy the different degrees of terrain while out on the trail. Depending on what part of the trail you're on, expect to see various groups out her from dog walkers, to avid runners to cyclists.I've never had issues with any of groups while out here (both cyclists or those on foot). But I know and have heard stories from both sides. As someone who comes out to ride, depending on route, we can be traveling at speeds of 20 to up to 30+ miles an hr in many cases. And trail walkers many times can move out into your path in the blink of an eye. Which is extremely dangerous for all involved.So cyclists are constantly looking out for obstacles on the trail, while others on a slower path may not realize how fast cyclist can appear.

We failed miserably at walking to the Johnny Cash Bridge. Given the art installations aren't all yet complete, trail signs are also lacking. The walking path is considered complete. Google Maps seems a better resource than the official trail website:https://folsomcasharttrail.com/Portals/0/Documents/JCT_Trail_Map_072519.pdfTrail is about 2.5 miles long, 2.75 miles according to one website. Only the two bridges are complete.For parking and directions to the trail, I referred to the detailed Yelp review by Stephanie S. Thank you, Stephanie! To find her review, you could search on "Folsom Zoo" or "Robbers Bridge", which are where you should park and the first sight you'll see. Main thing to know is to head towards the back of the City Hall/Folsom Zoo parking lot, stay left, and look for stairs down to the trail. It is not easy or obvious to find this trail entrance.https://www.yelp.com/biz/johnny-cash-trail-folsom?hrid=6Hh3LPBDCY3HB2tNOGlyYQ&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)We saw the Robbers' Ravine Bridge and then lots of signs for the state prison and future art installations. We didn't know the best route to Johnny Cash Bridge after hitting the intersection with a tree-lined trail to Folsom Prison on our left, a curving bike trail under a white bridge to our right, and a path leading up to the bridge on trafficky Natoma St. Of the 3 paths on a hot day, the shady path looked the most inviting and at least had a brown sign mentioning Folsom State Prison, but it was not correct. If you go up onto Natoma Street and stay on the closest side, going right leads you back to where you parked, but you can't go left! The sidewalk ends with a construction sign (hyphen in a circle). Perhaps the sidewalk is on the opposite side of busy Natoma Street? I didn't see a nearby crosswalk, so maybe you need to walk to the nearest intersection? I think you're supposed to go left on East Natoma Street somehow. No "Amazing Race" for me!The clear scenic route would be to follow the underpass bike route, which is what this website suggests doing:https://www.americantrails.org/resources/new-trail-honors-johnny-cashHere's the excerpt:"Visitors on the newer segment of the trail enter an underpass beneath the main prison road to avoid disrupting deliveries and other vehicle traffic. Farther along the trail, is the Johnny Cash Bridge..."My friend said that would be a longer route than Natoma Street, so she didn't want to go.Not many people are on this trail on a weekday afternoon, so my friend didn't feel comfortable exploring and getting lost around here. It's mostly people exercising. Not a whole lot to see yet. I wish there were anticipated dates for each art installation, but fundraising and art creation are still happening.Afterwards, I looked at Google Maps to search for an easier way to walk to Johnny Cash Bridge or Johnny Cash Trail Overcrossing (which is what Google Maps calls it). Folsom Point State Park appears to have two parking lots near it. I haven't tried parking there yet, but maybe a local in Folsom or a more ambitious tourist/walker can verify for me? Parking Lot 1 near Johnny Cash Trail Overcrossinghttps://goo.gl/maps/Q5iy1fNwVhu4J2uw6Parking Lot 1 near Johnny Cash Trail Overcrossinghttps://goo.gl/maps/QQpxXZVhtwdn32Ns9As Yelp reviewer Shirley M.J. suggested, we ended up driving by Johnny Cash Bridge to photograph it. Because I was the passenger, I was able to take motion photos as we approached it.https://www.yelp.com/biz/johnny-cash-trail-folsom?hrid=TFw_Sm_DlREBkTxwCL8lVA&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)Here are some videos about the future art installations, most of which will be created by Adan Romo of Romo Studios:https://vimeo.com/236156304http://romostudios.com/Projects/Johnny-Cash-TrailAlso planned for the future will be the Man in Black statue in the future Legacy Park. The Man in Black statue will be designed by Gary Tillery of Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt Amrany. Legacy Park will be a collaborative design by RRM Design Group and Rotblatt Amrany Studio:https://rotblattamrany.com/man-black-landmark/https://folsomcasharttrail.com/artwork/meet-the-artists/rotblatt-amranyAbout the Johnny Cash Trail - Click VIEW MASTER PLAN:https://folsomcasharttrail.com/the-trail/about

One reviewer asked, "Is the trail a loop?" The answer is technically no, but it's easy to make one, and I will explain how.The Johnny Cash Trail begins on a self-named bridge over Lake Natoma Crossing, near the intersection with East Natoma Street, at what used to be a terminus of the American River Bike Trail. It ends when it meets the trail leading over the Truss Bridge, which is part of the American River Bike Trail.Notice how it begins and ends at the American River Bike Trail? Therefore, it is possible to make a loop around the river in either direction by simply connecting the trails. As long as you stay on a main trail in Folsom and keep the river on the same side of you as it was when you started, you probably won't get lost.You can even do a loop that goes all the way around both dams (Folsom and Nimbus) by including the Lake Natoma Bike Trail. One reviewer said, "Watch out for speedy bicyclists!" As an avid hiker and cyclist, I would just like to point out that the easiest way to stay safe on the trail is to simply follow directions. Make sure that you are facing bike traffic, be aware of the fact that it is perfectly legal for them to fly by you at what may feel like a fast speed to you, and be glad that they're doing it here instead of on a main road, which would be more dangerous for everyone.One reviewer said, "I just feel it was frustrating that the trail keeps changing sides of where you can walk." This was a misunderstanding on her part. In Folsom, pedestrians should always walk facing bike traffic. If a bicyclist is truly flying right by you and/or yelling at you, chances are that you are on the wrong side of the road.I agree that signage could be more clear on the Truss Bridge (technically not part of this trail, but close), where, for some reason, pedestrians almost always break the rules by walking on the wrong side, causing safety concerns for cyclists. (I can't tell you the number of times I've been yelled at by a pedestrian for "speeding on the bike trail," which I am practically physically incapable of doing. I clock around 13 miles an hour at best, and the speed limit is 15.)That being said, there are a few cyclists out there who ride in an unsafe manner. If you want to be sure to avoid them, or want a more family-friendly experience, I would recommend the river-front near Sutter Street, or Powerhouse Park, or the Willow Creek Trail.One reviewer said: "You get great views of the prison, hence the name Johnny Cash Trail." True. I would argue that the best views of the prison overall are from the Jedediah Smith hiking trail, but on a good day, you can actually walk right up to Folsom Prison from the Johnny Cash Trail! This is done via an auxiliary trail near the terminus of the Oak Avenue Parkway Trail. Sometimes it's locked, but it's usually open in good weather, when the cows are in town.As other reviewers have pointed out, there is only like, one art installation so far. According to signs on the trail, the rest are still waiting for funding.With all of that in mind, this is currently the best-maintained trail in Folsom. Like any other trail in Folsom, you can expect to see deer, coyote, turkeys, snakes, lizards, bunnies, hawks, eagles, herons, bobcats, etc. Depending on the season, there will usually be an abundance of mushrooms and/or wildflowers.

Paved 2-way trail. Be careful if you stop to take pictures or cross the path because bike riders are constantly flying past you.Apparently the signage can be good depending on where you hop on the trail, but I was a bit puzzled where the trail started and stopped near the Folsom Powerhouse. Does it cross the rainbow bridge? Is it a loop? Is the Jebediah Smith Memorial Trail part of the loop? Either way, I very much enjoyed the scenery and serenity (when you're not near roads).

I love getting out in nature and today I took a walk on the Johnny Cash Trail in Folsom, Ca. With my husband on our wedding anniversary. To commemorate our special day, we left a hand painted rock on the path. Though the weather was very hot and we didn't go as far as I would have liked, I knew it was a place I wanted to return to in the future to take in beautiful views and just unwind. The trail has some gorgeous pedestrian bridges on it and I enjoyed the references to Johnny Cash along the way. I recommend walking and hiking along the trail especially because of its close proximity to the historic section of the town which has some good restaurants to dine at after getting your exercise.

Busy trail! Watch out for the bikes! Watch out for walkers!It's a paved 2 way trail that starts at the prison. Goes through open fields, houses and parks.Didn't see water fountains or restrooms on the trail. Veer off to the parks for that.This trail favors bike riders.

This trail is fantastic, however watch out for speedy bicycles watch the markings as to which side you to be walking on or plan on a good time with angry bicyclists. RUDE. Anyways paths are great. Disappointed no Art that we thought was going to be there. Rolling hills will be beautiful in the spring Walk to old Folsom had some good up down works the heart but not so strenuous.

My brother and I decided to go walk around and check out downtown Folsom. The trail has entry points close to downtown. This is a great place to go for a walk, run, bike, scooter possibly a horse back ride. This is a great site seeing trail. You get glimpses of Folsom prison hence the name Jonny cash trail. This trail is for all levels of endurance and is fairly gentle. I believe there are even trails down to the river to fish or take you or your dogs for a swim. There are bathrooms on part of the trail and some drinking fountains. If you get hungry or want a drink just head back up to downtown and enjoy the local restaurants and tap rooms. You could definitely make a day out of Folsom and the Jonny cash trail.