Assassin's Trail

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Special Note:

Trailhead parking for Assassin's Trail is located on BLM land, adjacent to Cerro Vista road.

Walkers, equestrians and mountain bikers ARE WELCOME to use the BLM trails in the ridgeline area and extending down into the canyon of the North Fork of the American River. Due to concerns about trail damage and consequent erosion during the rainy season, BLM land is OFF LIMITS to motorized off-highway vehicles (OHV's), including dirt bikes. The Placer County Sheriff's Office is aware of the restrictions and will respond to reports of illegal use.

Recreational use of this trail, as with all others listed on this website, is at the user's own risk. If you encounter anyone who claims you are trespassing or suggests you should not use the trails, or if you encounter any OHV users, please report the incident at once to the MVTA Trails Coordinator. MVTA will coordinate reporting to BLM and/or the Sheriff.

Where did the name "Assassin's Trail" come from?

It's a reference to an unsolved murder that took place adjacent to this trail. The County Sheriff still lists it as a "cold case." The victim was one Matthew Bosek, caretaker and employee of the Esoteric Fraternity in Applegate. Bosek, in his 70s, was shot and killed in August of 1973, while working in a hillside garden that overlooks the North Fork American River Canyon. This trail passes the now-abandoned garden.

The trail today is better remembered for its quiet beauty and excellent views into the canyon.

Features:

This trail follows the contour of the western slope of the North Fork within one to two hundred feet below the ridgeline. The trail is one of the most beautiful in the region and is also one of the easiest to access. Views from the trail take in the wild and scenic river hundreds of feet below.

Availability:

To avoid causing erosion, steep sections of this and adjoining trails should not be used during the rainy season (usually mid-November thru mid-April.)

Difficulty:

The first section of this trail is an old wagon road that follows the contours of the canyon with only gradual changes of elevation. This section of the route is easy to hike or ride. The footing is even and mostly free of rocks. For those who choose to continue, though, there is a steep uphill section of about 1/2 mile, beginning about two miles in. This more difficult single-track section then joins another wagon road. From there, the going is once again easy for the remaining two miles until it connects with the Heather Glen Trail area.

Cautions:

This trail traverses Cougar Habitat. Cougar sightings are rare during daylight, but use good sense: Do not walk or ride this trail alone, especially after dark. Keep small children and pets close at hand.

Poison Oak grows along much of this trail and hangs out into the trail in places.

Drinking Water must be carried with you. Creek and river water are not safe for human consumption, no matter how clean it looks. Drink it only in an emergency and consult a doctor afterwards.

Trailhead parking:

• From I-80, take the Applegate exit and follow the overpass road East to where it T's into Applegate Road.
• Go left onto Applegate Road; the road passes through a one-lane tunnel under the railroad.
• Take an immediate right after the tunnel onto Boole Road. Boole Road is narrow and has poor shoulders, so drive with care.
• There is a dirt access road to the main trailhead about 1.5 miles alongon your left. But there is no signage, so don't be surprised if you miss it. There is room enough here for one passenger vehicle. A short dirt road leads up slope to the trailhead, about 300 ft. Continuing past the trailhead access road, the pavement forks: Cerro Vista Road to your left and Boole Road continues to your right. Note: There used to be a parking area further along on Boole Road but it is now private.)
• Go left at the fork onto Cerro Vista Road: Less than a quarter mile up the hill is a flat unpaved area to your left with room for several cars or horse trailers. From here, you can reach the main trailhead, about a 1/4 mile away, by taking the graded road that follows the ridgeline north past the vehicle barrier.

Main Trailhead Location:

The main trailhead is a saddleback area on the ridgeline near Cerro Vista Road. Click on the map above for a more detailed version: The trailhead is marked by a green star.

From the Cerro Vista Road parking area, follow the dirt roadway north, up and over the hill and down to the saddleback area, about 1/4 mile.

There is presently no trail signage at the trailhead, so here is what to look for: From the saddleback, there are trails leading away in five directions:

1. South: This is the trail you arrived on, coming from the Cerro Vista Road parking area, 1/4 mile away.
2. East: The Upper Clementine Trail is the wide graded road that heads downhill into public lands controlled by BLM. The road is gated to prevent unauthorized vehicle traffic. Non-motorized users are free to skirt this barrier.
3. Northeast: This is the Assassin's Trail, initially a single-track trail that is sometimes partly obscured by brush but soon widens into a wagon road.
4. West: A short dirt road connects to Boole Road about 300 ft away. Vehicles are blocked by cement barriers. Parking is available on the nearby roadside, but only for one passenger-size vehicle.
5. North: A wide dirt fire road climbs steeply uphill and continues along the ridge to where It is joined by the Assassin's Trail route.

Trail Course:

Follow the Assassin's Trail wagon road for about two miles. Then take the trail branch to the left, a single track that winds its way uphill for less than a half mile. If you continue instead on the wagon road, it ends at a point of land after about a half mile, with only limited views of the canyon.

The single track climb T's into another wagon road, the one that climbs North from the trailhead. The Assassin's Trail route continues to the right on this wagon road.

After about about a half mile there is a fork in the trail. Take the left fork to pass above the Assassin's Garden area. The right fork is an alternative route that passes below the garden. Both trails link up farther on, forming a loop.

The garden itself is fairly overgrown, with only the remains of wooden fenceposts and rusted wire to mark its edges.

About 100 yards past the garden, there is a natural year-round spring on the uphill side of the trail, denoted on the map by the circle-w symbol. The water is suitable for pets and stock animals only.

After less than a 1/4 mile of moderate uphill, you will pass the back gate of the Esoteric Publishing Society's property. MVTA members can use this access to the Society's interior trails and parking. (Contact the MVTA Trails Coordinator for more information.)

The trail continues downhill from the Esoteric gate for about a 1/4 mile to where the two branches of the trail rejoin. This is generally where you will start heading back to the trailhead, via one branch or the other.

Extended Route: The wagon road does continue, however, to the Heather Glen Trail area, with access to Codfish Creek canyon and the American River.

MVTA tries to assure the accuracy of the trails information presented,
but can make no claims to such. Please let us know if any entries are incorrect.

Email your comments or questions to our Trails Coordinator.