Serrano El Dorado - Goat Hill Hike
Vertical Gain: 300'
Start Coordinates: N 38 40.376, W 121 03.806 End Coordinates: Same as start coordinates
Car Shuttle Req'd: No Parking Directions: Park in the parking lot of the Serrano El Dorado offices at the northeast corner of Silva Valley Road and Serrano Parkway in El Dorado Hills.
Hazards of Note: Rattlesnakes, ticks, poison oak. Crowd Factor: Moderate. Dog walkers and runners particular make use of this trail.
From the parking lot head around behind the Serrano Homeowners Association building where there is a big grassy area. Head toward the playground equipment you see just past this, and you will find the marked sign for the start of the Serrano Trail. This trail will head up the hill on the north side of Serrano Parkway, and is paved the entire way up to the street. When you get to Serrano Parkway, cross on the cross walk, and then pick up the Goat Hill trail on the Southwest side of this intersection (Terracina and Serrano.) Head up the paved pathway with great views of El Dorado Hills and even Folsom Lake as you get further along the trail. You will pass the trail marker for "The Split," which is the way you will head back to the parking area at the end.
Continue on this trail for up to another mile and a half. There are three bench stops, and this track includes a walk to the second of the three. This second bench has the best viewpoint to the south across El Dorado Hills and even down to Rancho Seco in the distance. Backtrack to the trail marker for "The Split," and head down this fairly steep dirt path as it will cross under the eastbound roadway for Serrano. In between this and the westbound is a short side detour to your right for Turtle Cove, which is a reddish/green pond housing a number of turtles. You may have to wait and watch for a little while, but you will eventually see their heads pop up from the water. Turn around and head back down the rest of this trail, cross under the westbound Serrano overpass and then meet up with the Serrano Trail near the Homeowner's Association Building to finish the hike.
The grassy area behind the Homeowner's Association Building that you will look for to start this hike.
Trail markers for the first two routes you will be travelling.
The view as you start up the beginning of Goat Hill trail.
Enjoying the open views along the paved Goat Hill trail.
Looking toward the north end of El Dorado Hills and Folsom Lake in the distance.
View to the south from the second bench spot, somewhat obscured by a large clump of Poison Oak.
Between the two benches is a small detour on the lower side of the trail which will take you through a pleasant grove of trees and across a couple of bridges. Worth the short effort to check it out.
Shorten the return trip significantly by heading down The Split about a 1/4 mile from the beginning of the Goat Hill trail. It drops down steeply in one section, but is interesting and takes you to Turtle Cove between the east and westbound sides of Serrano Blvd.
Turtle Cove (with lots of live turtles!) is a great rest stop near the very end of this hike. It is just a little off The Split, between the two directions of roadway that you pass underneath.