Beautiful scenery - hike was a pretty steep one about 5 miles but hopping in the lake after is…read moresomething to look forward to . Paddle boarding here is also a MUST

I bike on Salmon Falls Trail normally and was pretty excited to read about this trail opening and…read morewas finally able to try it on 05/01/11. This trial is an ass kicker. It starts you off with climbing then when your legs are about to fall off....you climb somemore. About an hour of climbing you finally reach the top and you are rewared with a nice view of the South Fork American River with the happy rafters riding down it. Look to your right and you get a really nice view of Salmon Falls bridge and Folsom Lake. Unlike the Salmon Falls Trail you share this one with equestrians so look out as you're flying down that hill. Definitly an advanced trail for mountain bikers. I couldn't find a good website for this trial so I linked the Sacbee article please feel free to update that if you find something better. http://www.sacbee.com/2010/09/30/3066300/south-fork-american-river-trail.html I want to thank American River Conservancy and the federal Bureau of Land Management and all those that donated for all their time and hard work and for providing us with this new trail for our recreation.

Had a pretty good time here with my mom. Was able to go the museum there. The museum was pretty…read morenice. There are some trails there as well. There are signs that are by the structures that has information. It's a pretty outing if you're looking for something to do for the day.

This is a great little state park with lots of things to explore. It's the home of Sutter's Mill…read morewhere gold was first discovered, and it's really close to the American River. There are lots of little trails and structures to explore. We hiked up to the John Marshall monument, not too far from the base. We didn't get a chance to see the museum but I'd love to come back again sometime. Definitely worth the $10 state park parking fee.

The Eldorado National Forest consist of nearly 600,000 acres with lakes, streams, and rivers;…read moremeadows and mountains; and campsites and picnic areas. There are over 400 hiking trails that pass through various terrains ranging in technical difficulty. The terrain ranges from meadow, oak foothills, to the 10,000 foot Sierra Nevada. Some hiking trails require reservations for day use permits. There are also campgrounds. Some areas, such as the areas affected by the recent fires, are off limits. For up to date information, It is advised to check out the fs.usda.gov website. The area is beautiful. Gorgeous alpine backcountry. Old growth forest. Pristine streams. There are access roads that will drive into the area. But most of the access roads are ruff, not paved, and could be hard to maneuver without a SUV.

Where do I start?! I absolutely love hiking here. It's a long drive for us, but it is so worth it!…read moreIf you love Yosemite, then you will love it here as well. We hiked Horsetail Falls Trail, and I can't even explain how magnificent this place is. It is a 4 mile hike surrounded by mini waterfalls and rock formation throughout the hike. Your reward is getting underneath the main waterfall at the top of the hike. You will do a lot of rock climbing the further you hike, and it gets really steep. There are absolutely breathtaking views at the top. I love it! I recommend this hike to everyone. My tip for this hike is to bring lots of water because you will need it. Come early to snag a parking spot because it fills up fast and there is a $10 fee for parking. ENJOY!

Great spot to paddle board!!! Very lowkey but if you don't get there early enough you won't find…read moreparking!

Downgrading my stars on this spot because the rangers do not enforce access fees for parking and…read morethe last two times I've come here I could not find a parking spot and most of the people parked do not have a pass. As a golden poppy pass holder who pays his annual fees, this is becoming increasingly frustrating.

The way they run their swim lessons has become terrible. Over the last 3 years we have dealt with…read moreterrible instructors, missed classes with no makeups, and forcing us to change our times because they didn't fill the class which isn't my fault or problem. This is the last year that we will use them for swim lessons! It is absolutely ridiculous!

It would have been nice of the CSD to give us a heads up on their "no dog policy". It wasn't in the…read moreflyers and there were no signs put up along the entrances. This is unacceptable and I will never pay for the summer spectacular again.

Hours: 6 AM-9 PM daily Entrance/Parking Fee: $10…read moreKayak/Paddle Board Rental Hours: 9 AM-6 PM weekends https://www.lakenatomapaddlerentals.com/ Solos: 1st hr $20, each hr after $15 Tandem (2 people): 1st hr $30, each hr after $20 I had a very hard time finding info about this lovely spot, so there you go. Hope it helps! Entrance is accessible from Greenback Ln with $10 fee required per vehicle. 2 Parking lots available - 1 closer to boat launch area and another further lot that's more convenient for picnic areas and tables. Plenty of tables and area for lots of families to enjoy some water festivities! Have a big party or just want to lock down a few tables? Highly advise to come early. If you just need some space to place your mats down, it should be just fine. Incredible trails alongside the water for walking, jogging, and bike riding. Dogs are welcome but just make sure you pick up after them (I noticed a good number of dog poop near the water edge). Want to take a dip? Feel free! Quite cold but more than welcome to. Biggest reason why we came here? To see how the Kayak Rental system worked. Scan the QR code or visit the site to book your rentals and sign waivers. I was told they rented daily by a worker (young ones) but their online reservations just show weekends and random Wednesdays.. so good luck. Honestly Rental prices are higher than another spot we've been to, but this spot was much closer to home and easier to access. Price for convenience! We didn't go kayaking on this particular day but definitely plan to return with our own paddle board/Kayaks since it just makes sense to invest and go whenever we want versus rent a few kayaks with high rental feels. Who wants to return within 1 hr?! No way, you gotta stay out in the midst of nature for at LEAST a few hours! Pathway Tip: Walking or jogging? Stay on your left. Biking? Stay on your right. Standard Placer County rules. Great spot for families whether you want to picnic, swim, paddleboard, kayak, go for a nice walk, jog, or bike along gorgeous river waters scenery. Have fun!!

Went out to Black Miners Ravine to get on the paddleboard and just decompress a little. This time…read moreof year out there is hard to beat... good vibes, calm water, and a chance to shut the brain off for a bit. Nothing super exciting in this review, just one of those peaceful days you appreciate more as you get older lol. Now fair warning... that water is COLD cold when you first step in but once you're out there it's worth it. Even the ducks were just cruising around being friendly and minding their business. Sometimes you don't need much, just a board, some fresh air, and a little quiet.

Folsom Lake is a nice recreation state park. I've been coming here since as long as I could…read moreremember. It's one of the closest lakes in the Sacramento area where you can come to for outdoor water sports, or just to relax on the sand and be near water. There are multiple entry points to the lake, depending on your purpose. Beal's Point is nice if you want to come and chill or hang out, lay on the "beach", barbecue, or play in the water. It's great for families, friends or solo. You can also bring your paddle board or kayak too. If you have a boat, or jet skis, there is another entrance for that so that you can unload them into the water. There's 3 separate lanes for you to back up and unload into the water and everyone is usually mindful of each other's watercraft. I like the fact that they have a shop there onsite for last-minute items (tools, etc.) that you need for your boat or jet skis, including snacks and refreshments. There are also bathrooms onsite with a few stalls. There's plenty of parking also. It's nice to spend a whole day or 1/2 day here. We spent a good amount of time on the water and I loved it - nothing like soaking in the sun and playing in the water in hot days. I can't wait to come back and spend more time on the water.

First time time at Folsom Lake! Entered through the Folsom Lake-Granite Bay Entrance, on Douglas…read moreBlvd. Staff at the gate was nice and friendly. Parking is $12. Came here beginning of May to check out the lupine flowers. I parked at the Beek Bights parking lot as I was told that is where lupine flowers are at! Of course I came too late into the season as most were wilting. Was able to get a glimpse of some at least. It was a nice day out. Since I came on a weekday morning, it wasn't crowded at all. Peace and quiet. Walked around to check out all the wildflowers. After, did some hiking around the trails. Took a break to see the amazing view of Folsom Lake! Thanks to all the rain we had, the water level looks so much better! There is restroom located at the Beek Bights parking lot. Super convenient. There are multiple parking lots and spots. Folsom Lake is a great place to hike, camp, explore and more! Definitely coming back next year to catch all the lovely lupine flowers.

Forgot to post this from almost a year ago…read more It was so great. My daughter and I went for a day trip and it really lived up to its standards. Food was delicious and the rental service was great. I believe coco was the attendants name. She was awesome

Folsom Lake offers some of the best paddling experiences imaginable along its 75 miles of…read moreshoreline. Visitors will discover sandy beaches, secluded coves, and crystal-clear waters that reveal the lake's scenic depths. Nestled at the base of the Sierra foothills along the American River, Folsom Lake is surrounded by panoramic views of rolling hills that burst with wildflowers in early spring. I can get busy here, especially on summer weekends. https://www.paddlingcalifornia.com/Folsom_Lakes.html

Very clean and although it's crowded, it doesn't feel overwhelming at all. The only downside for me…read moreis that outside food and drinks aren't allowed. But thankfully, there's a nice little cafeteria with affordable prices, okay for lunch or snacks. We'll definitely be back tomorrow! It's a great spot both for families with kids and for adults without children. There are slides, inflatable toys, and even an Olympic-size pool. There are plenty of lifeguards around, and one big plus for me: they play music! It really lifts the mood. We loved it!

Pretty fun place, not that expensive. Restrooms were relatively clean and there are a lot of…read moreswimming options for all levels and ages. I only have two gripes (yeah, here we go). First, I really think it is tacky on their part to charge a separate $4 fee for the obstacle course which requires a wristband. Especially given that you then have to queue up just for a turn. While it is a cool feature it is annoying that you have to oay an entrance fee then this additional fee. I suggest they Just up the fee a couple of bucks and let anyone use it. Gripe number two, the lifeguards. Bros... chillll the F out! While I admire and respect their commitment to safety, they are a bit overzealous in regards to their enforcement of the rules. I wonder if because there are so many of them that they need to find any little thing to jump on to but the vigor that they use to address even the most minor violation such as kids running or hanging on the swim lines is so out of proportion that it is a bit absurd. I can't help but mess with them a little bit just out of spite. Aside from the issues mentioned it is a pretty cool place with a variety of options (waterside and kiddie area) that make for a fun way to beat the heat.

Amazing trail in scenic the Folsom SRA…read more Folsom lake gets a lot of attention as Lake Natoma is technically part of Folsom Lake's Recreation area but it couldn't be more different. Location: Lake Natoma is located downriver from Folsom damn and is held back by the Nimbus Dam. The major difference is that there is no motorized boats allowed on the lake and the water level is pretty consistent. This makes it much better for kayaking and paddle boards. It also make it great for waterfront trail that runs around the entire lake. Activities: With the recent renovations this trail is great for biking, walking and jogging. With the scenic view of the water and the scenery. Vibe: Besides the main trail, there are side trails and single tracks that run along the man trail. Lake Natoma has many activities and the multiuse trail is just one part. It's great to have something so great in Sacramento's backyard

Like it or not, the Lake Natoma waterfront and trail enhancement project was completed several…read moreyears ago. The result is the Lake Natoma Waterfront Access Trail. It provides ADA access to Lake Natoma area that's next to the Folsom historic district. The trail is a loop that cuts a path down closer to the river's edge and connects the current American River trail. It was my first time exploring the waterfront access. It was within a hour before dusk (in the winter) so I didn't venture far out. There are no lights out. I used the Gold Lake Drive access point behind Lake Natoma Inn that's also near the Lake Natoma Bridge Crossing pedestrian walk. The upper path is an ADA trail. The trail loops in an oval. It's shared with cyclists and pedestrians. So if you have mobility issues and/or children, please be vigilant and watch out for those cyclists. The lower trail hugs the river which the body of water is called Lake Natoma in this particular area. Not to be confused with the Lake Natoma recreation area off Hazel Avenue. There is a variety of foliage and wildlife to observe. Nearby parking maybe hard to find. You might have to park further away and walk over. But the plus side is that parking is totally free in and around Historic Folsom. Just be aware of the posted time limits.