

It’s right at Canyon Creek and it does provide for some nice pictures. The Black Hole of Calcutta Falls is a rather small waterfall. The Black Hole of Calcutta Falls Black Hole of Calcutta Falls In fact, there’s one section right before the falls. Along the trail, you will also see remnants of the old railroad. After about 15 minutes of walking, I could hear the falls. And, make sure you bring plenty of fluids to drink. However, if you ever get too hot, you can just jump in the river provided that the current isn’t too strong. I recommend bringing a hat and sun screen because the trail does have numerous lengthy sections without shade. These trails are also for horses and bikes. In some points, there’s a small gain in elevation. The trails are clearly marked and easy to follow. From this point, it was about 20 more minutes before I reached the Black Hole of Calcutta Falls. I spent at least a good 30 minutes at the bridge taking pictures. When on the bridge, you can get some nice views of the American River as it winds its way through the hills.Ĭheck out my article on No Hands Bridge for more photos and information. In fact, I did this on both sides of the bridge.

Before I crossed the bridge, I climbed down to the river bank and took some pictures. Prior to the bridge, there are two port-a-potties. When walking from the parking area, it’s roughly 5 minutes until you get to the bridge. You can see the bridge prior to even reaching the split on 49. The bridge is roughly 482 feet long and about 150 feet above the river. It spans the North Fork of the American River and was effectively rendered non-operational by the beginning of World War II. No Hands Bridge No Hands Bridge in the WinterĪlso known as the Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge, the “No Holds Bridge” first began construction in 1910 and was completed in 1912. One of the trails this leads you to is the famous Western States Trail. It says Gate 150 and it’s the beginning for many trails in the region. There’s a green gate close to the bridge that you just crossed over. Once parked, it’s easy to find the entrance to the trail. Another reason why you should get there early. This parking area fills up quickly as it’s on the side of the road and not much room for cars. But, as soon as you turn right and cross over the small bridge, the parking area is immediately on your right.

Essentially, you are staying on Highway 49. To get to the Black Hole of Calcutta Falls, you have to turn right at the split. It’s also the hub for several trailheads like the one to Lake Clementine Trail. This split is referred to as the Confluence area, where the North Fork and the Middle Fork of the American River meet. After about 5 miles or so of this winding drive, I eventually see the split between 49 and Old Foresthill Rd. This highway eventually weaves out of town and into the heart of Auburn State Rec Area. The many twists and turns force you to drive roughly 20 miles an hour for long stretches. Once in Auburn, hop on Highway 49 south toward Placerville. I was able to get there within 45 minutes. Since this is an easy trail, it can get quite crowded when the warm weather arrives. Additionally, I was hoping to get to the Black Hole of Calcutta Falls before there were too many hikers on the trail. I was hoping to beat the morning traffic and not get stuck on Sunrise Blvd or I-80 East. I set out at 7:15 am on a Friday morning to get across town and quickly over to the city of Auburn. A day was barely enough time for me to visit both of these popular Auburn points of interest. There’s so many places to visit in the Auburn State Recreation Area, that a week wouldn’t be long enough for visiting all that this region has to offer. Additionally, it also has one of the state’s finest recreation areas. Auburn is a wonderful town filled with a wealth of history.
