Who knew Elk Grove was so full of wilderness in the midst of a small city. We had an amazing…read moremorning with our dog on this trail. Started and parked behind Leatherbys across from Five Guys off Laguna Springs. Walked to Ca Phe Haru to have an amazing iced americano. Definitely recommend

This is a nice path for walking, bike riding, jogging, etc. there are signs along the path about…read morethe trail and the animals around. There is a short trail and a longer trial. For the longer path, you would cross the street. The short path is less than a mile (about 2/3 of a mile). There's a view of the creek and a few buildings. I saw a few herons on the trial and ducks. The trail begins by Peet's Coffee/Leatherby's.

The seasonal sheep mowers are getting started. They are at the trail near the big horn crossing…read more The wildflowers are fading away but the recent rain brought more water to the creek and there is a resurgence of many many birds enjoying the space.

The walk area was clean, not a trash in sight. There wasn't much to see besides goats. The creek…read morewas decent too. There were different signs to let you know where you'll be heading. We were led to a dead end or into a neighborhood. This area to walk was shorter than expected but decent. Elk grove is still better in my opinion.

Cosumnes River Preserve is a peaceful, beautiful place. We saw lots of birds, plus cottontails,…read moredeer, and even beavers. The big oak trees are absolutely breathtaking. The trails are easy, the signs are helpful, and the visitor center is full of fabulous displays and hands-on learning. Perfect for families. Be sure to stop by the visitor center to learn about volunteer days and upcoming events, which is a fantastic experience. We can't wait to come back!

Great place to explore! We hardly saw any birds mid March, but a friend told me when they went they…read morecould barely hear because the birds were making so much noise!! So depends on the season I guess. Beautiful and green. Weren't too many people on a weekday around 10. Really nice paved paths and also a flat dirt trail. I was able to take my toddlers stroller bike just fine. I would come back! I would avoid summer though because I could see it getting hot! Bring bug spray!!!!!

Going through life, you tend to overlook and take for granted the things you casually enjoy in…read morelife, like Elk Grove Park. I don't know why it's taken me so long to write about EG Park, but after the past visit, it was such a nice experience that I just had to tell the world. This park is huge and has everything - trails, picnic tables, duck pond, frisbee nets, dog park and bike park. The bike park is across the parking lot of the dog park, with plenty of dirt hills for practicing jumps. I've never seen a free bike park before. The dog park isn't separated by big/small dogs and the grass is spotty, but there are some training obstacles and the area is big. I'd rather walk my dog in the actual EG park instead. The weekends are always busy with birthdays, photoshoots, and other parties, but they are spaced out so there is privacy and even low noise when walking around on the path. On rainy days, the canopy of trees keep the path dry in most parts. I love the large pond and watching the ducks, geese, and squirrels. There's always something interesting to look at every season. In the spring you can spot eggs on the island and lots of adorable baby ducks. You used to be able to go on the island, but the bridge is now gated to allow for bird breeding. On this particular day, it was sprinkling and the rain softly falling on the pond with ducks, geese, and their babies' pitter pattering along were just so zen. The majority of the park is lush with green grass and hardly any trash around. There's plenty of trash bins along the path and benches to relax on. If you're lucky, you'll spot a unique bird or two. My favorite is the cormorant that dives for fish on the pond. Whether it's a stroll in the park, a party, doggy play date, or a zen place to run away from your problems, EG Park is my go to.

Huge park that is well maintained with tons of space to spread out and experience some fresh air…read more Lots of picnic table areas, large grassy knolls, large parking lots, sports fields. Came here for an event that was hosted in the parking lots area. Well staffed, plenty of law-enforcement partners around to ensure everyone's safety. Park is clean and tidy, would bring families here again.

Bend Park is a great, well-balanced park with something for everyone. The open fields are perfect…read morefor tennis, soccer, and all kinds of field play, and there's a nice playground area for kids. One of the things I really appreciate is the shady tree areas that make it comfortable even on warmer days. What really makes this park special, though, is its access to the river. There's a convenient boat ramp and a beautiful walking, biking, and running trail that runs along the river behind some truly gorgeous homes. It's my favorite exercising trail in Sacramento! It's a peaceful place to get outside, stay active, and enjoy the scenery.

Came for the shady pickleball court around 4pm. I hate playing in the sun on a 80°+ day but there…read moreare 2 shady courts. There's 8 pickleball courts. Plenty of parking. Wasn't too busy when I came but I know it gets busy here. I saw a flyer posted here the that says there's pb for beginners & intermediate here on Weds 8a-12pm says it's free which is awesome!!

The trail starts at Franklin Blvd /Elk Grove Blvd and continues on to Whitelock Pkwy and ends at…read moreWolf Pack Lane. The walking/ bike trail along Franklin Blvd is made of concrete. As you continue your journey through different neighborhoods along Franklin Blvd , the trail eventually turns to asphalt along Whitelock Parkway. Depending which end of the trail you start on, parking is available on either ends of the trail. Raleys Center on one end and Bartholomew Sports Complex on the other end of the trail. Trees along the trail are still fairly young so shade in limited. No rest area or bathrooms along the trail.

I enjoy walking/jogging this trail and it's nice and quiet especially early morning. There's…read moreoccasional bikers but mostly folks taking a nice walk. Overall it's clean.

Established in 1992 by the U.S. federal government as a flood detention basin. It also serves as a…read morehabitat for local and migratory wildlife with a natural lake and riparian wetland. The entire National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is close to 6000 acres. But the area open to the public is a much smaller with ADA walking trails (some concrete paved and others are packed gravel). Roughly 2 miles of trails. The paths have information boards along the way. I do luv an information board. Pretty neat to learn more about the history, land, vegetation, and wildlife. My favorite time of year to visit is in the late Autumn through early Spring. I don't go alone and advise you don't as well. Also I don't go around dusk or dawn due to the bugs. A few days ago I was walking about out there and a skunk crossed my path. I lucked out and he/she scurried away. Danger averted! Plus taking about lucky... I was fortunate enough to see a variety of birds, a rabbit, plus an outrageous large flock of loudly chatty migratory geese flying above. Well I think they were geese. That was unexpected. It was a secular sight. Luckily I was near a sign shelter and took cover. I thought to myself, a hat and slicker to be wearing about now wouldn't be such a bad idea. However these are rare sightings, but a hat and change of clothes to have handy may not be a bad idea. There is no shade out there. So I don't go there in hot weather months. The NWR is open daily, year round. No fee. Free! It has a paved parking lot and it's free access. It has a non flush toilet. However there is no running water, so it's advised to bring your own hand sanitizer. 1624 Hood Franklin Road.

The birding at stone lakes wildlife refuge is outstanding. I arrived a little too early but was…read morelucky enough to see several brown quails with a fledgling of chicks, a violet tree swallow, a brown swallow, several towhees, snowy egrets, jackrabbits, lizards, and I beards a deep growl of a bullfrog. I'll definitely return to see the wading birds collecting food for their nested fledgling.

I DEFINITELY need to bring my camera out and get some shots, iPhone photos do NOT do it justice…read more What a wonderful find. I love to walk and explore, and this one is close enough to my office that I can get over after the end of my work day. Also have friends who live in Anatolia track(s), so this is a FUN group walk when you can do so. Nice to see so many birds in the wetland area, the egrets and herons are particularly LOVELY! It is a VERY enjoyable walk in inclement or UNSTABLE weather. Just wear good cross trainers, and bring your umbrella! Just a lovely little track, very enjoyable walks here!

Nice neighborhood trail. Situated between the Wetlands Preserve and the neighborhood of Anatolia,…read morethis trail is a convenient spot to visit with nature while taking a walk, jog or bike ride. In the early morning, you are likely to see rabbits and squirrels, sometimes you will see cows grazing the wetlands, and occasionally, a coyote or two. Although not a long trail, less than 2 miles, it will soon be expanded to connect with the neighborhood of Kavala.

We booked a rafting trip with Mother Lode River Center in June of 2024. None of us had ever done…read moremuch more than easy trips on calm water, so it was a pretty new experience for us. Our guides were Erin and Lauren. We had an absolute blast; it was the most fun I've had in years. My sister-in-law was visiting from the UK and she said it was the highlight of her trip. Yes, the rapids are fast and wild and yes, there's a possibility you might fall out of the boat. If you're not a big adrenaline junkie or you're older and this worries you, don't let that keep you from doing this. I'm also not a big adrenaline junkie. Three of us on the raft were over 50. We all had a fantastic time. I never felt like I was in danger and I was never scared. The guides are great at showing you what to do, easing your fears, keeping you safe, and making sure you have a good time. Highly recommended experience, especially if you have a visitor and you want them to experience the best of Northern CA recreation!

I decided I wanted to take the kids I nanny (11 & 13) to do something fun and unique and thought…read morewhy not finally cross off whitewater rafting from my bucket list?! We were gifted a beautiful day on the river with multiple sightings of wildlife including fish jumping, ducklings, geese, and even a bald eagle! The best part was getting to see the kids do something, get scared, have a blast doing it, and then ask to come back for more intensity next time. I really appreciated the guides for their hospitality, humor, and kindness. However my main piece of feedback would be a friendly reminder that nature and outdoor recreational activities are a form of escape and respite from our every day life, so being more mindful of the topics of conversation brought up during the ride is very important to the atmosphere.