Weber Creek to Kanaka Valley Hike
	Trip Date:  12/31/2014 Distance: 4.8 Miles Vertical Gain: 1000' Group Size: 4 Hike Rating:  Easy   Moderate   Hard   Strenuous	GPX for this trip
	Start Coordinates:   Not available -- on private property     End Coordinates:   N 38 44.797, W 121 01.309 This is the parking area for Kanaka Valley, and is where this hike should be started from to not cross private property.  Enter the Kanaka Valley preserve and head toward Weber Creek from here. Car Shuttle Req'd:   No Parking Directions:   Take Green Valley Road to the Deer Valley road turnoff in El Dorado Hills.  Go north on Deer Valley road for a couple of miles until you reach the intersection off to the left of Kanaka Valley Road.  Take Kanaka Valley road for a couple of miles to the parking area on the west side right before a 90 degree bend in the road. Hazards of Note:   Rattlesnakes, ticks, mountain lions. Crowd Factor:   Negligible.  There might be one or two others in Kanaka Valley at some point, but you will see nobody along the Weber Creek route.  In the summer, the river will we flooded with rafters. General Notes: The hike follows old mining access roads along the Weber Creek section, actually encountering one active (Boulder) mine along the way.  There are numerous branches off the trail down to the water, but once you reach the junction where Weber Creek flows into the South Fork of the American River, you can take Kanaka Valley road back up and then head to the west when you near the private parcels to enter Kanaka Valley.
	Headed out early along the old mining road.
	Looking across Weber Creek canyon from various parts of the trail.
	Our group making its way up toward the still active claim at Boulder Mine.
	The well hidden entrance to the Boulder Mine, plus a look into the open cave that is no more than 3 feet high as far back as we could see.
	Water source for the miners not too far from the opening.
	Our group checking out the small creek that would flow into Weber Creek further down the trail.
	First look at the confluence of Weber Creek and the South Fork of the American River.
	Our hike leaders at the confluence.
	Looking back down on the river as we quickly climb up and away from it.  In the far distance you can just make out the South Fork American River Trail that leads from Cronin Ranch to Salmon Falls bridge.
	My son Tristan and I high above the South Fork on our last bit of today's journey.
	A helpful map we found of the Kanaka Valley Preserve right at the end parking area for the hike.
	GPS Track of the full hike.