Brad updated the site and the new run course is posted.
Run: 13.1 miles
Exit Auburn Area Overlook parking lot and proceed to adjacent Western States Trail Staging Area dirt parking lot. Proceed to trailhead and enter Western States Trail. Follow undulating trail along canyon rim for 3 miles. The first 1.5-miles of this trail is single track and then it widens to fire road width as it joins the Riverview/Robie Fire Break trail. You will enjoy a series of short climbs and descents along the canyon rim.
Continue straight at the 3-mile mark along the canyon rim on fire road (the Western States trail leaves the fire break, turning right to begin a single-track descent to American River - 2003 course). You will run another half-mile to the green gate at Highway 49, then turnaround and retrace your steps. At the original fork where the Western States Trail single track dumped into the fireroad, you will stay left and remain on the fire road. Caution - a steep descent follows. You will follow the rolling Riverview Trail fire road width for about .5 miles until it dumps in the wider ‘Dam Wall’ road. Turn Right on the Dam Wall road and head up the canyon.
Climb steeply as the road turns to paved and continues all the way up the canyon. As you approach the Pacific Ave bridge, you will turn slightly right off the main paved road onto a paved access road. Climb an extremely steep 200 meter hill that deposits you onto Pacific Ave (large yellow gate). Follow Pacific Ave for 100 meters and turn into the Overlook parking lot.
Proceed as directed through finish area and continue behind finish area onto single track trail behind Overlook. Stay right at trail forks behind Overlook and follow trail cut into hillside as it returns to the yellow gate access road. Caution - cross traffic with runners. Proceed across yellow gate access road and proceed onto the main, very wide, paved road to the Auburn Dam construction site. Follow the gentle downhill and proceed towards dam construction. You will reach a 4-way intersection which you want to slice directly through and continue down the canyon. Do not turn left and do not stay high on the main road.
The road will narrow slightly and then turn into dirt for 100 meters as you cross over the ruins of the actual dam construction, about 400 feet above the river. Proceed as road returns to rough pavement and flattens out for a while. After turnaround, return up the canyon and proceed up the steep paved hill at the intersection where the equipment storage and stop sign is. Proceed uphill for a very steep quarter-mile and notice a small “Cardiac Bypass” trailhead on the left (before the road banks 90 degrees). Proceed up steep Cardiac Bypass trail, across the natural bridge over the canal and climb short, steep, rutted grade to intersection of Pony Express Trail.
Turn Right on Pony Express trail and immediate cross Maidu Drive. Caution: Auto Traffic. Proceed along Pony Express trail behind Auburn neighborhood and follow a short descent to another crossing of Maidu Drive. Cross Maidu Drive at an angle as you proceed downhill to join the water canal trail. Follow the flat, shaded water canal trail until it hits the intersection of Pacific Ave. Turn Right on Pacific Ave and proceed a quarter-mile to the Overlook finish line!