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    Lake Natoma Waterfront Access Trail

    5.0 (9 reviews)

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    Behind Lake Natoma Inn
    Jennifer S.

    Lake Natoma Waterfront Access Trail is a beautiful, mostly shaded ADA accessible trail that runs along Lake Natoma behind Lake Natoma Inn in Historic Folsom. Since there is no trail parking allowed in the hotel parking lot, the best places to park are on Gold Lake Drive, Leidesdorff, or Sutter Street. The trail can be accessed from either Gold Lake Drive (across from Mike's Bikes), or from behind Lake Natoma Inn. The trail ends where it collides with the Lake Natoma Trail, which can also be accessed from Leidesdorff near Gold Lake Drive. Altogether, it is less than a mile long. After descending to the river, the trail runs along Lake Natoma, under blue oak and fig trees. Blackberry brambles abound, and it is not uncommon to see beavers or river otters early in the morning. My favorite reasons to visit this trail are to see the Canadian geese drift by just before sunrise, and to see the sunrise over Lake Natoma underneath Folsom Lake Crossing. I also love seeing the turkeys and the wildflowers behind Lake Natoma Inn, and the ducks that rest on the tiny beaches down there. Overall, this is a beautiful, accessible, family friendly trail by the river. Pro tips: Mosquitoes are living their best life right now. Did you know that they are attracted to perfume and scented body products? Wearing a little lemon eucalyptus oil will help keep them away.

    Mr Turkey and his family!
    Joyce W.

    Paved bike and dirt hiking path that run semi-concurrently along the river. My plus here is the turkeys, Hawks, warblers, swallows, doves, geese, lizards, squirrels and wildlife that display themselves to you. I also enjoyed the mulberry, sour cherry and grapes plants that dot the trail. The cherries were tartly thirst quenching. The river looked so beautiful in the setting sun. **Use bug spray, for mosquitos, etc. during summer months!!

    Ted F.

    Loved this bike, long , but paved and peaceful. Saw some young bald eagles in a nest, lots of nature. The only negative is difficult navigation with few signs directing

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    7 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Made it out a few times last summer, was worth making the drive! I will go again this coming season

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    6 years ago

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    Black Miners Bar - Chilling

    Black Miners Bar

    4.5(118 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    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.

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    Black Miners Bar - It's tranquil on the lake no matter who's around. Best $125/yr gym/bar, ever. Go alone or go with friends. Poppy Pass - buy one.

    It's tranquil on the lake no matter who's around. Best $125/yr gym/bar, ever. Go alone or go with friends. Poppy Pass - buy one.

    Black Miners Bar
    Black Miners Bar - Matthew made sure I didn't sink!!

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    Matthew made sure I didn't sink!!

    SUP California - Stand Up Paddle Board Store & Rentals - Great selection

    SUP California - Stand Up Paddle Board Store & Rentals

    4.9(111 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    My paddle board was leaking. The young man on the phone quoted me a small fee to repair. I brought…read moreit in. Jamie repaired in 3 minutes. She showed me what to do if it's leaking from the valve and didn't charge me anything. She said she was just educating me for the future :) Super great service and value!! Thank you Jamie!!

    I made an online booking and called throughout the week to ask questions since it WOULD HAVE been…read moremy first time paddle boarding. Great customer service over the phone. It made me excited to rent from this business. My booking was for 4th of July and even before I booked I did speak with them about booking and they gave me their advice. Day of, I called to let them know I'd be running a little late past my booking time, I spoke with Jamie and she said thank you for the heads up, we'll see you soon." I arrive for her to tell me that all state parks are full and she blocks bookings off after 11, knowing that I booked for 11:30. I do understand that it's a holiday and a weekend, so state parks being at full capacity is out of her hands. What I do not appreciate was her tone and attitude with us versus other customers, her not giving us a heads up knowing we were running late, and she still gave people more of the options of getting their rentals and where they can try versus what felt like she was simply dismissing us. May try to come again, but for a 2 hour drive and to receive customer service like that in person versus whoever I previously spoke to on the phone- to be determined.

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    SUP California - Stand Up Paddle Board Store & Rentals - We're ready to bring you the best paddle boards in the area!

    We're ready to bring you the best paddle boards in the area!

    SUP California - Stand Up Paddle Board Store & Rentals - New Year's Day Paddle

    New Year's Day Paddle

    SUP California - Stand Up Paddle Board Store & Rentals - New Year's Day Paddle

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    New Year's Day Paddle

    Anchored Eats

    Anchored Eats

    4.5(35 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    If you're ever looking for a fun time in the water but worried about meals, Anchored Eats has you…read morecovered. From amazing prices, THE BEST COSTUMER SERVICE, to a bundle of options in drinks & meals ! BELIEVE ME, they have you covered to stay cool this summer ! Shoutout to Asher, Miles & Nicole, we felt like we're doing the most & being extra when it came to returning our paddle boards an hour early & worried about wasting our money, due to no refunds. However, these fantastic team members assured us that not all was lost & that we were able to exchange it for food! YES, you read it right ! EXCHANGE for food ! There are more options in exchanges, such as changing it for a different rentals but WARNING prices may vary. ‍ in the pictures below is what we chose & it was all under $20!!! We thank these team members for a wonderful experience, making us feel welcomed & for the patience they had! SHOUTOUT to ASHER, whip cream on a slushy is FANTASTIC! We will definitely be back! Hope to see you there

    We're so happy that there's real food at Folsom Lake now! We came over Memorial Weekend. Their…read moremenu includes burgers, fries, hot dogs, snow cones, and shakes. We got a regular burger, the yeehaw burger, and truffle fries. The burgers were a little pricey but good quality and huge. We couldn't event finish them between our family of 4. They were cooked well and loved all the toppings on the yeehaw burger. We also got snowcones after and those were a great treat after being in the sun. Other than food, they rent out different stuff for the lake like giant floats. They're definitely a great addition to the lake!

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    Anchored Eats - Floaties for purchase!

    Floaties for purchase!

    Anchored Eats - Folsom Blues Dog

    Folsom Blues Dog

    Anchored Eats

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    Sacramento State Aquatic Center - Plenty of Kayaks.

    Sacramento State Aquatic Center

    4.1(236 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    My husband and I rented a tandem kayak early on a Saturday morning, and we had so much fun. The…read morerental and launch process was straightforward, which I appreciated because this was only my second time kayaking. We did not make reservations ahead of time; we arrived right when the center opened. We explored about two miles at a leisurely pace in just over an hour. We went north across the lake to the pond area and felt like adventurers as we wove in and out of the watery passageways. We saw many swans and even a beaver. It was beginner-friendly, but it still felt novel and cool. We brought our own life vests, but they have plenty available for anyone who does not bring one. All the college-age students working there were very friendly, and they seemed genuinely happy to be there. The parking lot became busy later in the morning, so we were glad we had arrived early.

    Heaven for watersport lovers!!…read more This is the nicest and biggest aquatic rental facility in the Sacramento area. Parking: $10 if you don't rent their equipment, with plenty of spaces in the complex. Otherwise, you can park for "free" at the State Park area if you have the Golden Poppy Annual Pass ($125). The park also has plenty of picnic tables and a small beach area for sunbathing. Restrooms: Women's (5 stalls), Men's (5 stalls), plus 2 unisex restrooms. There are plenty of rental options, including single/tandem kayaks, SUP boards, and canoes. If you are in a group, all renters must sign in at the same time because the rental period starts once you sign in. They also have CREW and CANOE clubs! All rentals must be returned by 8 PM or you may be fined. No cycling or weight training on the premises, but there is a basketball court on the side. All life jackets, equipment, and docks were clean and in good condition. The payment line moves quickly. If possible, print the waiver at home to save time. You also need to create an account on their website before they can place your order; otherwise, you'll need to create one on the spot when purchasing tickets. After purchasing, you leave your driver's license and car key with them. There is a 15-minute courtesy buffer deducted from your total rental time for walking to the dock, restroom breaks, setup, etc. Service: friendly and efficient. If you change your mind: for example, from a SUP board to a kayak: they simply call the front desk and let you switch at the dock. Lake Natoma is perfect for kayaking or paddleboarding because it starts wide and gradually narrows. The current is almost nonexistent until around 4 PM. It's about 2 miles to the small island near Willow Creek Recreation Area, which makes a perfect scenic picnic spot.

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    Sacramento State Aquatic Center - SAFETY FIRST!  All Renters and students must wear a properly fitted Life Jacket!

    SAFETY FIRST! All Renters and students must wear a properly fitted Life Jacket!

    Sacramento State Aquatic Center
    Sacramento State Aquatic Center - Photo of the Aquatic Center from Nimbus Flat State Park

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    Photo of the Aquatic Center from Nimbus Flat State Park

    Lake Natoma Paddle Rentals

    Lake Natoma Paddle Rentals

    4.0(7 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    Just enter Black Miners Bar in your GPS to get to the rental location…read more Parking: $10 California State Parks parking fee. Kayak Rental: $15 per hour. You'll need to complete the liability waiver online before renting. There are two unisex public restrooms nearby. Service: Fast and efficient. No wetsuits are provided. The rental includes only a kayak, paddle, and life jacket. Bring your own water, snacks, hat, sunscreen, swimwear, and water shoes or sandals. Dress expecting to get a little wet. Swimsuits or shorts work well in warm weather, while lightweight layers are better on cooler days. Avoid cotton since it stays wet and can make you feel cold. Rental Policies: Cancellations made within 48 hours of your reservation or no-shows are charged the full rental fee. Rescheduling is allowed between 14 days and 48 hours before your reservation. We paddled from Black Miners Bar to the Folsom Prison water boundary ("the wire") and back. The round trip was about 5 miles and took us around 2 hours at a moderate pace. One nice surprise is that if you return your kayak before your reserved rental time ends, they refund you for the unused time.

    I've rented here a few times and had really good experiences. I recommend reserving online before…read morehand as it makes it much easier when you check in. To get into the kayak you will have to get into the water a bit then sit in the kayak. I've been to other places where I have to get into the kayak off a dock and I find getting in the water is a lot easier.

    Photos
    Lake Natoma Paddle Rentals - Prison water boundary

    Prison water boundary

    Lake Natoma Paddle Rentals
    Lake Natoma Paddle Rentals - Finish line

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    Finish line

    Lake Natoma Waterfront Access Trail - mountainbiking - Updated September 2026

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