Sacramento Hotel Near Discovery Park + More
Crisscrossed by waterways, Sacramento is your place for year-round outdoor beauty and exploration. The American River Parkway winds through the city, offering abundant urban green space. The expansive Discovery Park is a quick drive – or warm up jog – from the Kimpton Sawyer. It’s also the starting point of the city’s renowned Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, which offers Sacramento’s best trail access for hikers, runners, walkers and bikers. Plus, Sacramento is an ideal home base for hiking the larger region. Drive just 45 minutes or an hour from the Kimpton Sawyer, and you can find yourself hiking rolling hillsides, cooling off under sparkling waterfalls and forgetting about the bustle of daily life.
Want a quick jog before a business engagement? There’s a trail for that. Craving a weekend hiking through rolling hills? We’ve got those, too. Whether you’re penciling some casual exercise into your packed schedule or divining days of outdoor peace, this is your spot. At the end of the day, head back to the Kimpton Sawyer to unwind in style.
Around Sacramento’s Discovery Park
Discovery Park
At the confluence of the Sacramento River and American River, you’ll find Discovery Park, a 301-acre swatch of greenspace and water views. Get your heart rate up jogging, walking, or biking. Take advantage of the boat launch for a scenic day on the river, or just head to the park with your fishing poles.
Drive Time: 6 minutes
Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail
Pack your running shoes. Tune up your bike. A smooth 32 miles of paved trail await, starting at Discovery Park. Winding between Folsom and old Sacramento, the The Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail runs parallel to American River, and stop-off points curate your tour of the city’s natural spaces.
Drive Time: 6 minutes
Greater American River Parkway
Don’t stop exploring at Discovery Park! The full American River Parkway winds 23 miles through town. Pick your favorite outdoor activity – whether it’s kayaking, horseback riding, or hanging out beside the barbecue with your friends – and match it with one of a dozen plus Parkway access points.
Drive Time: Various entry points
Sacramento Area Hikes Worth the Drive
Beale Falls/Fairy Falls
This easy, 5.3-mile loop lies just beyond the city, popular with both hikers and mountain bikers. Stroll gentle inclines and pass cows lounging in the green grass. If you’re heading out on a hot summer day, you may decide to cool off in the waterfall or a swimming hole.
Drive Time: 60-90 minutes
South Fork American River Trail
Just outside Sacramento, find this 17.5-mile trail touted for great birding, mountain biking and hiking – all with peaceful views of the American River. It’s popular, but spacious enough to grant you some solitude. Take a full day to see every inch of trail, or pick your own turnaround point for a shorter jaunt.
Drive Time: 45 Minutes
Homestead Trail & Blue Ridge Loop
This hike near Winters, California is known as challenging, sun-soaked and beautiful, with a creek crossing for adventure-seekers. Get your workout one of two ways: a shorter, steeper hike with a stunning viewpoint or a longer lakeside loop.
Drive Time: 45 minutes
