Char: "Daniel, why haven't you taken me here, sooner? I don't even feel like I'm in Sacramento. Everything is so lush and green!" This was my first impression as soon as we drove into Ancil Hoffman Park. I didn't realize that the golf course and park combination was so big and separate at the same time. It's truly a hidden gem, hidden behind such beautiful, large, custom homes and huge, gorgeous trees - after all its nestled in The City of Trees, Sacramento! I really enjoyed my first time visit. To be clear, the half dirt/half cement trail is a little over 3 miles (per Apple Watch) that outlines and circles the golf course. It's nice because most, if not all of the trail is shaded! You can hear so much birds and sounds of nature, but you're not somewhere in the center of the woods, you're literally just in the suburbs of FairOaks and Carmichael- it's crazy! Adjacent to a huge part of the trail is the American River. There are parts of the trail that lead you to the river where you can lay out by the water and just listen to the water, so Relaxing. The pro is clean, safe and has so much space. Great place to run, walk, ride your bike and or walk the fur babe! I highly recommend this park, for it has so much to offer!!! read more

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We love Ancil Hoffman, it's unfortunate that the park rangers don't enforce the leash laws. Off leash dogs are everywhere. Forget the snakes, you're way more likely to get attacked by an off leash dog. read more

Ancil Hoffman Park - Off leash dogs at the park - Parks Near Me - Carmichael, California

I have been to this park a few times. I have walked the trails and seen deer, turkeys and a coyote as well as using this as a place to stage a second car when kayaking from Sailor Bar. read more

Great location, not a lot of people, lots of walking paths. Lots of animals. Interesting to visit with children. read more

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I love this place, I love this area of Carmichael, and have spent many years fortunately enjoying the peace and beauty and scents of this place in all seasons, as well as seeing the wild turkeys, deer, squirrels, and birds. My heart rests here, and the American River is the best. Autumn was my favorite time as the beautiful, rich, and colorful leaves lasted through Thanksgiving, and golden light was just gorgeous. I will always love this place, and am thankful I have the memories embedded in my heart and mind. I hope they keep it clean and safe forever. read more

Nice place for good workout. Trails are clean and air is fresh. Came here for run/walk training session in 67 degree warm and sunny weather with clear skies and no breeze. read more

Ancil Hoffman Park - Parks Near Me - Carmichael, California

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Tried to get a bench repaired, no luck. I used to come to this park as a child but it seams to have gone downhill. read more

Ancil Hoffman Park - Bathroom - Parks Near Me - Carmichael, California

There is a 6$ fee at the entrance. This park is beautiful & it has an entrance of the American river and man was it flowing fast. Many People were swimming & enjoying the water & it was beautiful! But it was very packed so go early. if you decide to bring your dog with you just be with you just mindful that people in big groups throw party's and such & it can get crowded. They also have grills if you wanted to grill food & they have a nature conservatory but the owl isn't there on Sundays. The bathrooms were whack tho y'all. I was disappointed in the bathrooms there was no soap, paper towels or tissue paper. You may $$ for a park entree so you would expect that all necessities would be in the park. That was pretty disappointing. read more

Ancil Hoffman Park - Parks Near Me - Carmichael, California

Great place to spend time with family! Enjoy nature and see animals! The river is cold, but children played there anyway. read more

Ancil Hoffman Park - Parks Near Me - Carmichael, California

Definitely one of my favorite parts it's beautiful, well-kept and safe and... My dog loves it too

4th of July fire works 2024 on the river was a last minute spot my family and I enjoyed very much it was a beautiful evening on the American river and the fire works was perfect view for us and everyone around us enjoyed the show from across the river. My daughter got to walk in the river and had fun. Topped it off with a spectacular fireworks show!!! Great spot for us locals. NOTE $10 entry fee and remember chairs and mosquito repellent you are on a river bank. Loved itt. read more

I love this park! There are so many different things to look at. You can walk alongside the river. You can visit the Effie Yeaw Nature Center. There is a huge golf course if you're into that. The park is like a small Nature preserve. There are paved surfaces to walk on and dirt trails as well. I believe parking is $5. Go take your kids and check out some beautiful nature. read more

Ancil Hoffman Park - One of the many deer in the park. - Parks Near Me - Carmichael, California

Amazing area you can see all kinds of animals, deer, coyotes, deer birds, coyotes etc. great for walking or large gatherings our a getting down to the river just to or swim. Effie yeah nature center is also within this park and a golf course so there's lots to do here we go here at least 3 to 4 times a week read more

Ancil Hoffman, the massive park adjacent to the river and Effie Yeaw Nature Center, is a gem that even some locals don't know about. Once you come here you'll see why. There is so much space to run, play, picnic, nap, explore and barbecue. It makes all other little parks look miniscule in comparison. We came here recently for a family picnic before heading into the Effie Yeaw Nature Center. Even on a more crowded weekend day there was plenty of space for us to find a perfect grassy knoll in the shade of a big tree to lay down our blanket. We ran, we played, we laughed, we ate. Because the place is so big there isn't a lot of audible noise from the city in the distance, so you really feel like you're in another place. I've seen complaints about parking fees, especially for large groups, but the signage is pretty clear and the fees are reasonable. There's people who come here in groups as large as 50 to picnic sometimes. read more

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Wouldn't ever record to go here no matter how much space or close to the River it is. The golf course goers are RUDE. Park rangers have ZERO consideration and parking ticket booth is shut down half the time, other half the time someone is rudely demanding payment. Today there wasn't anyone nor was there any parking papers for me to pay manually and put on my window. I received a ticket after only being there for 30 minutes. Never again, if you want to enjoy a park just park somewhere on the road for free- OVERRATED. (Ranger Cueva can go to hell) read more

It's unfortunate that I have had to write this, but management there needs to hear it. We had three tees today starting at 1100. There was a tourny in front of us between Ancil and Wildhawk consisting of multiple foursomes. Several of which were just standing around running their mouths instead of teeing off when they were supposed to. Our groups started 15 mintues late because of this. To add insult, we waited EVERY hole while the wanna be PGA pros screwed around. Our round took took 5:44 minutes to complete. There was no marshall or tourny director to get them moving, and we saw the bev cart once on 13. Without a doubt the worst playing conditions we have ever played there. It's going to be tough for us to return there. So, hopefully someone in the food chain reads this and gets the message. read more

This place used to be beautiful and well kept but it's really going down hill. The entry where you park is nice but the further you go in the trails the more overgrown and dangerous the trails become. 3 felled trees on the trails this afternoon and some of the weeds were almost as tall as me. Not to mention the crazies. The older people that come here are either snobby or nuts. The last three times I visited, I had crazy, older people yell at me. The first was a woman that was mad that I was there early like she was. Claimed she gets there early so she doesn't have to see people and was mad I was there too, like she owns the park or something. The second was an old man that yelled at me that kids don't belong here unsupervised. I am 30 years old... The last one was from a volunteer, older man too. Veered off the typical route and ended up lost. Some of the trails I followed lead to nowhere or to fallen trees and debris, somewhat desolate in the afternoon. I walked around until I found people and followed them. Finally made it near the parking area and a volunteer scolded me for having my dog. I tried to explain that I was lost and that there weren't any signs at all and he did not care. He just wanted to argue and talk down to me. To top it off, today I saw a few used condoms by the water and found a nail in my shoe. It's really sad as I grew up coming here. My old HS cross country coach would bring us here to practice. It was so much nicer back then, nicer people too. read more

We come here all the time, normally we have a good time. However we're here for a birthday party today. Never again... the bathrooms are fucking awful. Both bathroom toilets are filled with shit, flies everywhere, dried toilet paper everywhere. Absolutely disgusting. The only number available is a county number and their offices are closed. No one working the front gate. Will never recommend this park to anyone!!!!! $9 for parking and you can't use the bathrooms - what a waste. read more

It's sad how My family and friends have been coming here for years, and now, we won't be returning. We pay to come in and park inside. The bathrooms are a complete shit show. I don't understand how bathrooms could be in that state. This part hosts hundred of families all weekend long. There is no phone number and no one working up front. Rangers that drive in and out nonstop do not care. read more

Very friendly. Everyone. Food and service in cafe is excellent. Encourage everyone to use cafe.

Amazing walking trail and great view to take children for outdoors nature. Breathtaking!!! read more

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I absolutely love this park. I love to take my dogs for a good walk/run there. My daughter loves bringing her ball and kicking it in their large open park area when you first drive in to your left (1st parking lot). They have a large golf course where you might see some Canadian geese, wild turkey and deer wandering around. Also within this park are 77 acres of trails some of which lead you directly to the American River, less than a 10 minute walk. They are wheelchair and stroller friendly. No dogs or bikes allowed on trails. If you go later in the afternoon near sundown you will see a lot of deer and wild turkey. Grab a map from the Nature Center to learn more about what you see and find on the trails. Also hidden within this park is the Effie Yeaw Nature Center, which is popular among schools for school tours. They have injured wildlife that can not survive in the wild so they use them for educational purposes. They have a discovery room for kids to go explore and learn things about plants and animals that are native to California. Outside the nature center is the Maidu Indian Village that has been created to educate the public of how the Maidu Indians lived. Effie Yeaw also provides volunteer opportunities for children as young as 12-14. I volunteered there from age 12 through 18. I treasure those memories and met some incredible people during those years, some of who I'm still friends with today. Great place for a BBQ with friends and family, picnic tables in shaded areas and close to the river too. Bring a camera & enjoy your visit. read more

Ancil Hoffman Park - Parks Near Me - Carmichael, California

***** Get a yearly park pass at REI. It's around 50$ and gets you into all Sacramento county parks****** I love parks. I love this park. My family loves this park. ..... I am here twice a week during the school year and I am sooooo grateful that it exits. There are simple trails that are beautiful and happy to explore. Fields to play frisbee in and often horses. My 2 year old and I have picnics in the grass and he runs himself tired. Effie Yeaw is within and has a nature center with awesome disabled animals to look at. We often go turkey chasing as we explore the trails. Yeehaw yippee ki o ki a!!! Great place to be. There's also a golf course but we don't play ( my son's 2). read more

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What a hidden gem! I knew the American River Parkway in general had nice trails and such, but who knew Carmichael had so much park acreage (almost 400!) devoted to them? The park is dotted with ancient oak trees, and the American River borders it on two sides. The Effie Yeaw Nature Center is located inside the park (separate review to follow), as well as the golf course/clubhouse/restaurant. $5 parking fees per vehicle at the entrance. Many trails and picnic opportunities, dogs must be on leashes, open year-round sunrise to sunset. Parks Annual Pass is good at Sacramento County Regional Parks if you anticipate visiting often. Hiking trails are easy, with gorgeous river views, and even spotted deer (several bucks), wild turkeys, squirrels, vultures, egrets and ducks. There are also warnings for mountain lions, rattlesnakes, and poison oak. The trees are beautiful fall colors right now, reds and yellows, and it's great for wildlife photography, quiet moments listening to the water flowing by, de-stressing and removing yourself from the hustle and bustle. read more

I absolutely love this park. Lots of great things for children, adults, and pets. Lots of trails, great walks and lots of sitting areas. Picnic areas as well. You can even walk along the lake and it's beautiful. Also the Nature Center that's there is small but quaint and so beautiful as well. It's just a great place to be overall, great ambience and great people there. I've already been to this park a handful of times since I first went about a week ago. This is my new go to park. I challenge you yelpers, go here and not have a good time :P read more

This place is great for kids and the staff at the interpretative center are just the best people.

There is lots of shade, which I LOVE. I recently went here for a bday party and had tons of fun. It very spacious and located next to a nice little river. The river looks like a fun place for rafting, but I just settled for wading in the water. There are some little fish swimming about. The kids had lots of fun trying to catch them, although none were caught. read more

Been coming here since I was a kid in the 1980s. Effie Yeau nature center has owls animals kid stuff things like claws to touch and discover. Easy parking. Nature trails are easy and very woodsy. U dont have to walk too far to feel immersed in tranquil nature center. Walk a little further and skip rocks Into the american river. Ive spotted deer squirrels and fox coyote once. They have guided tours as well. Give this place a try you wont be disappointed!!! Only costs u to park / get u in the gate read more

Love this place. The nature center is small but has a good selection of small animals and birds. The trails lead to the river and there are deer and wild turkeys that roam the nature park. The hikes and mostly no strenuous. Watch out for snakes and bring sunscreen and a water bottle. read more

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Definitely worth a visit! Lots of open space and river access. A beautiful spot in Sacramento.

It's the best park I saw in Sacramento. It's a very nice park to go to with your family and kids to enjoy. There's a $5 entry fee which is definetley worth it. I would definetley go there again with some friends and family. in read more

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This is one of my favorite parks of all times. This park had endless possibilities for photos. It has a lot of cover and shade from the trees. Beautiful green grass and a lot of wildlife. Deer, turkeys, squires, and fishing jumping out of the water. The rocky river front is super clear, and gorgeous. I would recommend all photographers to use this park for taking nature shots, wildlife shots, and any form of portraits. (Family portraits, couple portraits, and any kind of head shot) read more

This park will always be near and dear to me since I've grown up going to it for various occasions and outings. It is a beautiful, sprawling landscape and I love driving in and seeing turkeys and deer walking around. There are 2 things I don't like about it, #1: every so often they raise the price to get in and then make no announcement about it. Send out a flyer or put it in Carmichael Times for gosh sakes! #2: This park used to be pretty secluded, it's off a street not many drive and you usually only knew about it if you were a resident of Carmichael or if you were the friend of a resident of Carmichael. The past few times I've been there it has been pretty crowded and more often than not, crowded with people who aren't there for the beauty of nature or a relaxing picnic but for the accommodating space for their parties. Having a party there is all well and good but please remember this is also a nature reserve! Treat it as such, and then add a little extra respect in case there is someone like me there who cares very much for this park. DON"T race your lil rice rocket car in and out blasting the stereo, it's so rude and I wouldn't be surprised if one of the golfers aimed their next shot at your rear windshield. TEACH your children (or any adults who may need a reminder) to respect nature, observe, but leave things as they are, and leave things as they were when you leave (i.e. PICK UP YOUR TRASH). And I promise that if I see any more kids throwing rocks at any critters I will throw rocks at them and most likely knock their little asses out cold. read more

I agree, this is a BIG ASS park. This park kicks the butt of all the parks I grew up going to along San Francisco/Peninsula area. I like taking my dog to the open field of trees and grass at the very front of the park. It's a great place to have an intimate picnic and watch people riding horses. I walked along the Effie Yeaw nature trails and did not see any mountain lions. I was able to see woodpeckers loudly peck holes into tree trunks, get up close and personal with extremely loud eating squirrels, and see two bucks fight antler to antler (it was like being in the middle of a nature channel show). The river was a nice place to relax once you avoid falling off all the rocks and pebbles. Can't wait to go here again! read more

Ancel hoffman has so man great places to go! the nature center where they have all kinds of animals so the kids can see them plus things for te kids to touch and play with so its kid friendly! all the staff are so helpful and can help tou figure out what trails u would like the best. they have a restroom in the nature center to a plus if u have small kids or elderly. its also close enough to parking that if u forgot something u can go right back out and grab it before a walk. when walking on the trails you run into lots of wild life! such as deers, rabbits, birds, squirrels and more! its also not a far walk to the river if you love skipping rocks or taking a picnic for the family! I bring my husband and our three girls all under 4 to walk an we have such a great time looking around! they also have a golf course and biking trails to! dogs and bikes are not allowed on some trails and not in the nature center but i can see why since they like the wild life protected! thank u for having this place open we have a blast and parking isnt very much i think about 5 or 6 dollars or u can buy a year parking pass thats what we do! read more

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Love this park, been coming here since I was a small child (30 years) Clean and nice. Lots of tables, river access, a nature center, golf course and more. Great place for gatherings and birthday parties outside. read more

This place is great, and few people outside of Sacramento know about it. I come here when I'm craving a hike but can't leave town for one reason or another. There are a network of nature trails through oak forest, with herds of deer and wild turkeys roaming everywhere. And the east side of the park borders the American river. It's the closest thing to a nature preserve within the city limits. A beautiful place. read more

An amazing way to enjoy the outdoors at no cost. From golf to simply walking and site seeing this place is the place to be.

This a cool get away think spot to walk and enjoy a bit of nature. It's not as municipal as nearby Carmichael park, which I like a lot too. But this one is big and spacious where you feel like you went way out of town somewhere, Very quiet with an animal sanctuary and everything. read more

wow this place is beautiful. i would have never knew about this place if i wasn't doing a field trip here. its very peaceful and quiet with lots of deers and turkey roaming around everywhere and they say there are lots of humming birds and owls as well. there are many trails to take and are not hard or steep at all. its very good exercise, and easy to walk on the trails and observe the place and see if you can spot animals on the trails. i suggest you bring a camera to capture special moments here. each trail has a sign and informs you what they have ahead and what you might see and a brief description as well. also the trails are not hard to find your way back, just always try to find the sign nature center to head back the entrance. the trails are just a big circle so it shouldn't be a problem but it is a big big circle though. one of the trails do lead you to american river and its just so beautiful you don't want to leave. also there is a trail which leads you to a pond which is filled with green algae and looks like its abandoned and nothing inside but the view of it is very nice. along all the trails there are many nice trees and logs which look very old and are protected as well. one of the trail there are many deers which as harmless and are afraid of people. they were so adorable and are eating grass and just minding there own business. there are some with antlers and those are the older and more experience and are very alert. while walking the whole trail around i did observe many photographers and people just doing their morning walks along the trails. this is a great place to capture pictures with a nice unique background. although the parking here isn't free and cost about 5 bucks but i think its worth it. great experience and it was fun and i loved the quietness nature area. read more