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Thousands of people visit the Parkway each year to run, bike, paddle, and enjoy. We’d like to share a few of their stories with you. Our next story is from Sarah Madden – dog mom & founder of SacTownDogs _ What can I say about the American River Parkway? Well, I love it and so does my dog! From exploring its land and riverscapes since I was a little girl to now bringing my fur kid almost daily for a swim or walk, it feels like my personal sanctuary away from the hubbub of the city. I relish the times that I’m able to sneak away and enjoy a few hours with my pup along the Parkway, meeting new fur-iends and humans too. During the Dog Days of Summer, you’ll find me most evenings waterside at Sailor Bar with my Labrador, Lily. She loves having a cool place to play during the intense Sacramento heat and I’m always happy to dip my toes in too! The geese and ducks always join in on the fun, swimming alongside Lily, quacking happily. As we transition into fall, Lily’s best fur-iend Dexter will tag along for a walk along the river trails while I admire the color changes and enjoy the brisk autumn air. We’ll stop for a quick swim and linger into the evening so we can catch the sunset. It’s my favorite time of the year. There’s nothing like seeing a fall sunset glistening on the water with your best fur-iends! American River Parkway’s marked, well-maintained trails and roads ensure hours of exploring even during the cold months. The miles and miles of scenic beauty and abundant wildlife are a perfect way to stretch our human and puppy legs and get some of those winter crazies out! It’s our favorite way to spend a chilly morning or afternoon. When spring is in full bloom Dexter & I love to stop and smell the wildflowers, while Lily keeps an eye out for puddles. She can’t help but splash in every one along the way…typical lab! I always have my camera ready to capture the new life and beauty of the Parkway. If we’re lucky we’ll catch a glimpse of a doe and her fawns grazing in the tall green grass. With this year-round wonderland offering unlimited opportunities to stroll, explore and splash around with your pup, it’s no wonder Sacramento is listed as one of the top ten dog friendly cities in California. A few years back I started SacTownDogs, a community website & social network for dog owners to exchange useful information, local events, and places to explore in and around Sacramento. One of the questions we receive on a regular basis from our followers is “Where’s a good place to take my dog out?” American River Parkway is always one of our go-to answers. In fact, a picture of Lily at Sailor Bar was my inspiration for the SacTownDogs logo. The American River Parkway is an incredible asset to the Continue Reading

Thousands of people visit the Parkway each year to run, bike, paddle, and enjoy. We’d like to share a few of their stories with you. Our first story is from Kim Conley – US Olympian and professional runner. — It’s a warm morning in early July as I set out from William Pond Park for an easy run on the American River Parkway. I am headed in my favorite direction, running downstream with the river. There is something about being out here that feels like an escape from the rest of the city of Sacramento, and the narrow ribbon of the Parkway setting makes one feel entirely surrounded by nature. Even in the depths of summer you can feel a coolness blowing off the water and the tall grasses and wooded oak area provide homes for a variety of animals that dart across the path from time to time. From William Pond I climb up and over some rolling hills to a higher vantage point over the river. I soon come upon one of the many pink stone benches that dot the Parkway. This one stands in the shade of a tall oak tree that overlooks the river and on this morning Terry, one of my favorite parkway fixtures, is sitting for a break during his morning walk. I first met Terry three years ago, finally stopping to introduce myself after years of waving and saying “good morning” every time I ran by him. I learned that he has lived along the Parkway for over fifty years, before it was even the Parkway. Terry has seen the area transformed from a flood plain surrounded by orchards to the twenty-three mile network of connected regional parks that exists today. He started as a regular cyclist on the path, but more recently, since hip surgery, he walks once or twice daily from his house out to the river. Today I stop for a brief chat, and like the last time I spoke to him, our interaction has me impressed by his long-standing connection to the area and prompts me to reflect upon my own developing history. I’ve lived in Sacramento ten years now, since graduating from UC Davis in 2009, and at every turn I am reminded of how I have built my career on this trail. Not long after seeing Terry this morning, I pass by a fellow alum from the UC Davis Cross Country and Track and Field program. My history with the Parkway actually begins before I lived in Sacramento, when I first arrived at UC Davis and our team would travel for weekly long runs on the Parkway. It always felt exciting to me to leave the confines of Davis to explore new, beautiful sections of the Parkway. Eventually, as my years of crossing the Causeway added up, and the length of my long runs simultaneously increased, I began to connect different trail sections from various starting points. These trips developed my appreciation of the extent of the Continue Reading