Good points guys- I figured he was already familiar with Carson Pass being from Tahoe, so I was thinking more low country.
Okay here is one low-country hike/scramble that I've done lots, but proceed at your own risk. I happen to like the foothills a lot. This hike is, strictly speaking, in El Dorado Co., but barely. I haven't been down this since Fall of 1982- maybe big changes. For those in the know the geology is absolutely spectacular, and it is a beautiful canyon..
Drive north on 49 past Plymouth until you come to the main Cosumnes River bridge. It may be hard to imagine but BITD the area around the bridge was all *flat* and had a huge parking area. The State brought in mountains of dirt and built huge berms to remove parking, and posted no parking all along the shoulder. So finding a place to park is problem number one. It is a longish walk (mile or so?) from the private resort/store (Gold Beach Resort) north on 49 on the river.
But imagine you have parking- drop down to the north side of the river from the west side of the bridge and start walking downstream. May be a bit of barbed wire. As you travel- depending on water levels you may have to do some scrambling- being mindful of poison oak. Eventually you will come to a big waterfall (called Old & Gray by hard-shell kayakers). Surprise! Right about at the waterfall- just downstream but up on the north bank, you will see the start of a flume embankment.
Walk along the flume which will stay well above the river with great views. I seem to recall one tricky spot where the flume went along a cliff, but the old flume boards were gone. Bit of a nail-biter. After a bend or two the flume ends at a big meadow/gravel bar by the river that had a few old shacks. Today there is probably a mega-mansion, or it has been washed out. Retrace your route back.
Heck it just occurred to me that you can see this on Google Earth- you can see the flume in places and it looks like there are some small roads back in there now. Anyway great walk in wildflower time, or in late-Winter early Spring when the river is cookin'.
Here is a description based on a kayaker's perspective with a few pics:
http://www.cacreeks.com/cosumn-1.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;