Sacramento State students looking to have fun around campus can look no farther than the American River Bike Trail. The trail is useful for more than recreation and transportation and provides access to hidden beaches, seasonal fishing, hiking trails, boating and wildlife viewing.

Formally named the Jedediah Smith Memorial Bicycle Trail, the trail runs for 32 miles along the scenic American River Parkway. It makes a detour that crosses the river at Howe Avenue and runs behind Sac State.

Students may be familiar with the curvy access road that leads from the Guy West Bridge to the lines of bike racks where scores of students park bikes on their way to class. Features like these make Sac State one of the more bike-friendly places in Sacramento.

Freshman kinesiology major Laine Brown says she uses the trail on a regular basis.

“It’s nice to go up there and use it. I use it about two to three times a week,” Brown said. “I mainly use it for recreational use. It’s scenic, so that makes it a lot easier to use. It’s a nice place to ride.”

Brown recommended the trail to students who have never ridden it.

“I think that once you do it once, you realize and think, ‘This is cool.’ If they try it at least once, I think it’ll be utilized more.”

Senior kinesiology major Gage Harty rides the trail to get to class.

“I use the trail every day,” he says. “I use it mostly for transportation to school but for recreational purposes also. I love looking at the scenery while I’m riding.”

It also features 82 miles of trails, a dozen parks, two golf courses, three lakes and boat rentals at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center.

“During the different seasons, it’s constantly changing – the trail, the water, everything,” said Rad Beauton, a manager at the Peak Adventures bicycle shop. He said Lake Natoma is one of his favorite spots.

Beauton said his employees use the trail too.

“Most of the workers in our shop ride the trail or use it to commute. We’re all about it,” Beauton said.

The surrounding parkway is a haven for animals like deer, beavers, river otters, mountain lions, rattlesnakes, great blue herons and dozens of other species.

Sac State has the luxury of being a campus with a diverse ecosystem in its backyard.

Peak Adventures offers basic bike maintenance classes for a fee, free road repair clinics and inexpensive ride of the month trips.

“In the clinics, we emphasize how to ride the trails and commute correctly on the trail. (We) show them the safest way to places like Midtown,” Beauton said.

Beauton believes there is more to riding than exercise.

“I ride because it’s fun,” Beauton said. “I think riding can make you a better person.”

Robert Linggi can be reached at [email protected]