Closest forested area to Sac (Sacramento, Rancho Cordova: casino, living in, move)

[Scorpion3510]

Hi there!


I'm looking for the closest forested (pine, conifers, or other areas) which are not Oak (thicker canopy cover). It should have hills/mountains as well. Basically (although this doesn't exist) take the tree cover in East Sac and transplant that to a place with some elevation. I'm thinking the closest place like that would be Auburn?


Thoughts are appreciated! Thanks!

[CAHntr]

You'd have to go a little higher than Auburn but go up to about 4,000 feet elevation to find pine forests. Choose either Highway 80 or Highway 50, depending on where you live in Sac.

[Scorpion3510]

So basically up into the snow line in Colfax?

[KC6ZLV]

Sierra Nevada forests below about 6000 feet (locally) are naturally a mix of conifers and oaks. You will see oaks up to about 7000 feet in some places. Conifers start to dominate around Placerville and just east of Auburn.

[Scorpion3510]

Originally Posted by KC6ZLV

Sierra Nevada forests below about 6000 feet (locally) are naturally a mix of conifers and oaks. You will see oaks up to about 7000 feet in some places. Conifers start to dominate around Placerville and just east of Auburn.

So does most of Placerville experience the canopy cover? I've been to the downtown only so I can't attest to the areas outside of this.


From what I've seen (from US-50) it's fairly forested once one gets to Pollock Pines but not so before then. I have less experience on I-80 but I think I remember Colfax being the forested point. My wife and I are making it a point to explore the area with a future move in mind.

[KC6ZLV]

I really don't know what your expectations are, so this is hard to answer. Several pines used to be very common right down to the base of the foothills. Ponderosa pine and grey pine. In fact, ponderosa pine used to grow down into the Sacramento Valley before they were cut down for lumber. Today you will see grey pine along the American River from Rancho Cordova and east. Ponderosa pine starts showing up around Shingle Springs. They start to become numerous several miles east of Shingle Springs. You will see groves of them where the soil is good and on shady slopes. By the time you get into Placerville they make up most of the tree cover, except where soil and microclimate conditions aren't favorable. You will also see Douglas fir and incense cedar around Placerville as well. Around Placerville, it is also common to see oaks dominate sunny hillsides and conifers dominating the north side. As you go higher more conifers cover the south side of ridges until you are in a mostly 'mixed conifer forest." There are still some oaks.

I suggest you take a drive up US-50, maybe go to Gold Bug Park, then drive up to Jenkinson Lake. The latter is a very good example of a mixed conifer forest. I think there are six different conifers growing around the lake.

[CAHntr]

Originally Posted by Scorpion3510

So basically up into the snow line in Colfax?

Snow line depends upon your interpretation. In "general," 2,000' of elevation gets you a dusting of snow. Colfax is about 2,400'. 3,000 feet of elevation gets you around a foot of snow. 4,000 feet gets you more snow (depending on the year, 5-10 degrees cooler weather and a lot more pine trees.

Depending on where you and the wife are living in Sacramento, you're about 2 hours to South Lake Tahoe on hwy 50 or 2 hours to Verdi, Nevada (Boomtown Casino) on hwy 80. Ideally, you should explore both. Currently, there's not a lot of snow on either Highway so you can drive both fairly easily. If you decide to go up either highway, several of us can give you some great places to go, depending on what you're looking for.

[evening sun]

Come up on 99 & 70 to Magalia, It is tree heavy, & a nice lake to walk around ( Paradise lake ) Not too far from Sacramento. ( North West It might be a bit farther than Colfax, but it's an easy drive.