The American River Parkway is Sacramento's green corridor

The American River Parkway is one of the main reasons Sacramento can feel green and close to the river. It is not one single park. It is a long chain of places to enter, pause, ride, walk, or sit near the water.

Parkway stops include Discovery Park, Ancil Hoffman, River Bend Park, William B. Pond, and many smaller river access points. The Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail starts at Discovery Park and runs 32 miles to Beal’s Point.

That long shape is the main thing to know. The Parkway can be a short river stop, a bike ride, a picnic, or a bigger trail day, depending on where you enter.

A good first plan is to pick one access point instead of trying to understand the whole Parkway at once. Check the park or trail segment you want, then build the day around that spot.