01
Best local stroll
Clarksburg Branch Line Trail
Along The Old Rail Corridor East Of Clarksburg • Flat Delta Rail-Trail • Best Car-Free Path From Town
An easy, straight-shot path that lets you stretch your legs right from Clarksburg without getting far from vineyards and fields.
This converted rail corridor is the closest thing Clarksburg has to a hometown trail, with a wide, mostly flat path that works for walkers, runners, and casual cyclists. You’ll skirt vineyards, orchards, and open farmland, with big sky views and very little traffic noise. Go early or toward sunset for softer light and cooler air, and bring water since there’s little shade and no services once you’re out on the line.
02
Classic riverfront route
Sacramento River Bike Trail
West Sacramento And Old Sacramento Riverfront • Paved Multi-Use Riverside Path • Best For Long, Scenic Walks
A paved path tracing the river with skyline views, bridges, and plenty of room to stretch out on a longer walk or easy ride.
Head across the river from the delta and you can join the Sacramento River Bike Trail from several access points near Old Sacramento and West Sacramento. The path feels urban but never harsh, with river views, bridge vistas, and long, uninterrupted stretches that are ideal for putting in miles without much elevation gain. Start from Old Sacramento if you want coffee or a post-walk bite within a couple blocks of the trailhead.
03
Best for wildlife watching
Cosumnes River Preserve
South Of Elk Grove Along The Lower Cosumnes River • Wetland Preserve Boardwalks And Dirt Trails • Top Pick For Birders And Families
Short, mostly flat trails and boardwalks lead through wetlands rich with birds, seasonal wildflowers, and big stands of valley oaks.
About a half-hour south of Clarksburg, Cosumnes River Preserve offers some of the easiest access to intact Central Valley wetland habitat. The trails are gentle but varied, with boardwalk sections over marsh, levee-top paths, and shaded stretches beneath oaks and willows. Visit in fall and winter for migrating sandhill cranes and geese, or come in spring for wildflowers and high water along the river.
04
Easiest family walk
UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden
Along Putah Creek On The Uc Davis Campus • Landscaped Creekside Loop • Best For Relaxed, Shaded Strolling
A mellow, creekside path with gardens, interpretive signs, and plenty of benches for a low-effort but genuinely scenic walk.
The arboretum path traces the old Putah Creek channel through the UC Davis campus, making it one of the most pleasant shaded walks within an easy drive of Clarksburg. The loop is mostly flat and well-maintained, with native plant gardens, small footbridges, and spots to sit and watch ducks and turtles. It’s ideal if you want a scenic stretch of legs paired with coffee, food, or campus people-watching before heading back toward the delta.
05
Scenic foothill escape
Putah Creek Wildlife Area
Foothills West Of Winters • Creekside And Hillside Singletrack • Best Nearby Day-Hike Adventure
A more rugged option with creek views, rocky slopes, and enough elevation changes to feel like a true hike without a long mountain drive.
If you’re ready to graduate from flat levees, head west toward the low foothills and Putah Creek. Trails here weave along the creek and up surrounding slopes, mixing shaded stretches under oaks with open, rocky segments that offer big views toward the valley. Summer can be hot and exposed, so plan a morning start and bring plenty of water; in spring and fall, it’s one of the closest places for Clarksburg hikers to get a taste of real backcountry terrain.