Auburn Confluence Hike
	Trip Date:  01/05/2015 Distance: 8.6 Miles Vertical Gain: 2024' Group Size: 1 Hike Rating:  Easy   Moderate    Hard    Strenuous	GPX for this trip
	Start Coordinates:   N 38 54.901, W 121 02.379     End Coordinates:   Same as Start Coordinates   Car Shuttle Req'd:   No Parking Directions:   Take Highway 49 from Coloma toward Auburn.  Right before the junction with highway 193, there is a wide area on the left side for free vehicle parking.  Get there early, especially on a weekend or the space will be filled. Hazards of Note:   Rattlesnakes, ticks, poison oak, mountain lions. Crowd Factor:   Moderate.  This entire area is popular with hikers, runners, mountain bikers and dog walkers.   General Notes: This hike starts off just on the SouthEast side of the confluence area at a signed parking area for the Confluence Trail.   It is $10 to park here without a state parks pass, so parking is recommended at the coordinates provided above, adding another 1/2 mile to the trip.  The first 2 miles of the trail are the actual confluence trail, which is fairly level and meanders along the north side of the river along an old roadway. At the far end of the confluence trail, there is a road which heads steeply down to the Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) park at Murderer's Bar.  Bathroom facilities are available at this location.  From here, you can head up one of the steep OHV trails to the north to gain back the altitude you lost (and more,) picking up the Stonewall Trail near the top.  Join back with the Confluence Trail for the last couple of miles back to the confluence area.
	Very early in the morning at the confluence itself.
	Looking down at the Middle Fork of the American River from the Confluence Trail.  The Quarry Trail can be seen on the opposite side of the river.
	Wondering if this large rock in the middle of the road was intentionally placed there to keep out large vehicles from the trail.
	Black Hole of Calcutta falls after recent rainstorms.
	Past the end of the Confluence Trail is the Murderers Bar OHV area.
	Great name for one of the trails up from the OHV park, but unfortunately it is currently closed off to any type of access.
	A sign which does not properly indicate just how steep the trail ahead is!
	The feature for which this trail was named.
	Your truly at the stonewall along the Stonewall Trail.
	A good view of the old stone quarry across the way, just above the Quarry Trail along the south side of the Middle Fork.
	Foresthill Bridge from the Confluence Trail trailhead.
	Looking down at the Confluence Trail start area and the parking along the road further in the distance.
	GPS Track of the full hike.