Pollock Pines: Trails at Jenkinson Lake and Mormon Emigrant Trail

When planning a stay in Pollock Pines, you can consider two separate questions: Would you like to include trails at Jenkinson Lake, or is driving the Mormon Emigrant Trail your main focus? For the trail system, consider the lakeside route, difficulty level, and wheelchair-accessible sections; for the road, the name, total length, and access route are helpful. This distinction quickly brings the right details into focus without confusing the trails with the road route.

Trails at Jenkinson Lake

The trail system at Jenkinson Lake includes more than nine miles of trails, most of which run along the lakeshore. The lakeside setting therefore characterizes much of the system, but not every section. The total length gives you a sense of the trail network’s size, while the character varies from one section to another.

The trails are mostly easy to moderate; a short section on the south shore is more difficult. When choosing a trail, it is important to consider both details together: the overall rating describes the majority of the system, not every individual section.

Wheelchair-accessible sections and picnics

Sections of the trail system in Main Day Use and Hazel Meadow Day Use are suitable for wheelchair use. This applies to trail sections in the two named areas, not to all trails around the lake. If you rely on wheelchair access, this precise distinction can help you focus your plans on the appropriate areas.

Forebay Park has picnic areas. Renovation work is underway there, so conditions may change. If you are planning a stay in the park with a picnic break, check the condition of the areas shortly before your visit. With a flexible day plan, you can adjust your break to the circumstances.

Mormon Emigrant Trail: route and access

The Mormon Emigrant Trail, also called Iron Mountain Road, runs from Sly Park Road in Pollock Pines to Highway 88 and is 29 miles long. The start point, endpoint, and total distance provide a clear framework for route planning. The alternative name is also useful: if you come across the name Iron Mountain Road, it refers to the Mormon Emigrant Trail.

From US 50, take Exit 60 to Sly Park Road; then follow the road south for 4.7 miles. These 4.7 miles should be distinguished from the trail’s 29-mile length: they describe the drive south on Sly Park Road from the exit. This keeps the access route and total length clearly separate when you plan your journey.

The trail and road information answers different questions for your planning. You can assess the trail system by its lakeside route and difficulty level; the road route has a named course with a start and endpoint. The distances also refer to separate things: more than nine miles for the trail system, 29 miles for the trail, and 4.7 miles for the southbound drive after the exit.

Explore more destinations: Shingle Springs, Somerset, Placerville, Pilot Hill, Coloma, Kyburz, Rescue, El Dorado Hills.

For the broader travel overview: El Dorado.