Camped over the 4th of July weekend. Was perfect weather at nighttime but got a tad bit warm during…read morethe day. Great man-made lake that is around 4 miles to go all the way around, half of the path is paved so bike appropriate and good for jogging. When we went a portion of the trail was washed out and closed off but we were able to bypass it anyways with our dogs. Trail can start at the day use park then keeps going through the camp sites till you make the full circle. We regretted not bringing our swimsuits. We reserved campsite #5. All the campsites are all pretty secluded and spacious, but when we passed by #10 we were jealous in that it was the end of the culdesac and walkable to the lake and very secluded. Dog friendly. Vault toilets (no lights, bring headlamps). They have a potable water faucet. I thought the fire pits were well maintained. If you are bringing a RV/Trailer and coming from the South, make sure to take the Forest Hill route (slower route when it shows up on Google Maps). It is much better maintained and spacious. On our way up we went the quicker route and had no trouble as we just had one truck but the trailer in front of couldn't make a sharp turn and was stuck and actually damaged a portion of it, we were able to guide it through thankfully but go at your own risk.

Fellow campers. My family and I have been going to Giant Gap campground for 35 years. That's where…read moremy children spent every vacation. We grew together as a family there. Covid brought hordes of people many disrespecting nature. Ok I get it. You can't go on your cruise. But what I found today devastated me. Yes they took down infested trees a few years ago and left them EVERYWHERE. Yes are familiar path and beach were blocked now. Ok. But when I drove to our campsite today I cried like a baby. I was in shock. The amount of trees that had been cut in the entire campground was shocking. Not a few, not 50% - more. Although I am grateful for our time there and our memories that will never be forsaken - I am sorry new campers will never know it former beauty. Maybe you can see the lake now. May be that was the point. But our slice of paradise is gone.

On a recent mild sunny winter weekend afternoon, I visited the Halsey Forebay fishing access area…read more It's a water reservoir that's occasionally stocked with trout and crawfish. It's managed by PG&E. The reservoir is a lake with shallow rocky edges. It's just for casting fishing, no humans or animals should go into the water. The access and parking is FREE. And as always, anglers 16 and older need a CA fishing license to fish. I didn't fish here. I looked about and soaked in the sights though. It was rusticly beautiful. However the perimeter doesn't have any shade trees. But vibes were super quiet, I call it library fishing. Shhhh. As I walked about the perimeter of the lake, I noticed folks were quiet even amongst their own groups. Even the elementary school age children there were super quiet. An incredible feat. QuietPlace. And about the fishing situation, not much luck with the anglers that day. Stock was low. Near the parking lot is a short concrete pier with fishing rod holders. This is closest to the water shed. The picnic area is across the watershed. To get to the area from the parking lot, you will have to walk, on a narrow steel grate walkway, over the watershed. The rushing water provides for a dizzying visual effect. The picnic area is set back enough from the lake so if you bring the kiddos, this is the area where they can go about hooting n hollering. The area has 3-4 concrete picnic tables and a several bbq pits. It's first come, first serve. This area is not paved, dirt packed; shaded with big growth trees. Plus let me tell you I learned the hard way that the walking path doesn't connect fully around the lake. I don't recommend attempting the mythical loop. The path is mostly gravel with the other parts being dirt. Watch where you step; there was a lot of poop along the trail. There is a stretch of the path that ends and funnels you out to the narrow bike lane on Christian Valley Road near Bancroft Road. There is no adjacent room to the side of the bike lane, only a chain link fence. Cars are going 50plus miles a hour inches away from you; and they are on a curve. So wait until traffic clears for a significant distance to hightail yourself across that stretch which runs about 50 feet. Don't try to walk with cars coming at you; don't risk getting impaled by a side view mirror or worse. There is a paved parking lot and a public restrooms with vault toilets. Sorry ladies, I can't provide any additional info about the restrooms. As always, I try my best to avoid public park restrooms. But at least they have a restrooms. And to add the landscape of area doesn't provide for any natural discrete spots to answer the call of nature.

It's gorgeous out here…read more.. We've been fishing at Halsey Forebay Picnic Area quite a few times now. We've caught trout and crawfish! Along with some gnarly mosquito bites. You can pull in and park in a parking space where it leads right up some picnic benches. Just beyond that, a l is a fence with holders for your pole. About 10-12 of them lined up. If you are fishing here, this is where having a 2nd and 3rd pole comes in handy - just be sure to get your license for that!! The water current starts off strong over here and, depending on what you are using, could float downward towards our into the next person's line, so use wisely! Figure it out! On this cool evening, we were catching them left and right. Everyone fishing here is so friendly. It's fun to meet people and see what they're using. When the sun goes down, and most of the heat goes away, Halsey Forebay becomes a sight for sore eyes... as I said... so gorgeous

On AllTrails app search "Western States Trail to Calcutta Falls". Parallel Parking on the street…read moreClose to the trailhead - get here early otherwise your parking will be part of your hike. It's early spring. There is lots of wildflowers - lots and lots of butterflies to see. Got to see many reptiles - skinks and a variety of lizards. Many hawks flying overhead. Lots of amazing views of the river. And a couple of small waterfalls. Walked further than the posted trail on All Trails just to add some extra mileage.

We stopped by on a Friday afternoon and the sun was peaking in and out from the clouds. The…read moreopening to the trail can be easily missed so just pay attention to the signs. The address on Yelp is not accurate so I would suggest using Google for directions. Parking is limited so if you don't get lucky with snagging one of the parking spots in the front then just park down the corridor and make the walk back up. The entire trail itself is flat with very little to no incline. We had my three younger nieces with us and they were able to physically complete the hike with no complaints. As you reach the bridge, walk across it and keep going to see the end prize of a gorgeous waterfall. The hike will amaze you with some scenic views of beautiful mountain backdrops with clear waters roaming down the stream. It was a very peaceful and therapeutic experience. We were able to have conversations without the disruptions of life, and we had a chance to soak in nature without the nuances of digital connectivity. So -- bring some water, snacks, and maybe a light lunch to enjoy the short and yet breathtaking experience with your loved ones. P.S. you will pass a few mini waterfalls before getting to the grand prize. Even if you don't see or hear anything for a while, just keep going because once you turn the corner -- it will all have been worth it. Although I'm an avid hiker and have walked through many trails throughout the state, this trail will remain my favorite trail in all of California.

We kicked off our 4th of July bright and early with a fishing trip to Rollins Lake before heading…read moreto Ripley to catch the parade--and it couldn't have started the day off better! The whole fam-bam was out there by 7 a.m., lines in the water as soon as we could get them in. About 30 minutes in, our middle child--who ALWAYS seems to be the first to catch something--reeled in the first fish. Not long after, our youngest caught one too, literally right after releasing the first! Then I got in on the action, followed by my husband. Our oldest was getting tons of bites but just couldn't land one. With only about 30 minutes left before we had to pack up for the parade, my husband gave him a tip and sent him to his go-to spot. Boom--fish on the line right away! He let that one go, cast again, and caught another within minutes. It was a perfect ending to our morning. Rollins Lake is such a fun spot to fish as a family. Bring chairs, sunscreen, hats, and don't forget snacks and drinks. The port-o-potties weren't bad at all, and there was plenty of parking too. We had a blast and will absolutely be coming back soon!

100% not the lakes fault but the way this lake is described in a paddling California book is almost…read moreexactly opposite of what it really is. Idyllic paddling and nice beach shores-no Abundant wildlife-no Loud music-yes Loud Harley like speed boats-yes Even louder jet skis-yes Overly crowded shores-yes Tons of wake making kayaking next to impossible-yes Do I think it's worth going? Sure but go as early as possible

The campground looks like it is permanently closed. They put huge boulders in the campground…read moreentrance area. The day use parking lot is open. The river is very pretty here, and clean, and there's a big gravel bar. We did not have to pay to park. We went gold panning and found zero gold flakes or nuggets. It was a weekday and there were only 4 cars in the parking lot.

Beautiful and I had a great time. We had 17 people a group and it was the best Camp Grounds we've…read moreever been to.

Gorgeous landscape! I recently completed the Quarry trail and it was a beautiful walk. The entire…read morepark is great for enjoying nature and exploring the outdoors for various levels of activity. For the Quarry trail, I recommend parking along the main road if you find a parking spot. The parking lot at the trailhead is tiny, and always full. This trail has plenty of portable bathroom stalls and is paved.

I luv hiking the multitude of trails in the Auburn State Recreation Area (ASRA). The area covers 40…read moremiles of the north and middle forks of the American River. Lots of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding. It is a beautiful area with hills, Foresthill bridge, lake, and the river. I am not an avid hiker. More of a leisurely stroller. There are various trails with different elevation gains, distance, and difficulty. Most of the time that I came out to this area is to just hike near the confluence and sit along the river bank and take in the sights and sounds. If you go in the summer, just be aware that the temperatures can hit triple digits during the day and there can be very little shade on the trails. There is no potable water stations on the trails. Parking is limited to what is available along the side of the road near the trailheads. The spots fill up quickly on the weekend. The fee is $10. But from April 1- October 1 on the weekends 9am-5pm, there is a transit bus rides from designated areas in Auburn to the Ranger station at the confluence crossing (near Highway 49 and Old Foresthill Road). The rides need to be reserved though, details on the ride program (cost, reservations, route) are on the state parks website. The ASRA is managed by the State of California Parks Department.

Made reservation for campsite 16 for 5/26-5/28. Was a little bummed that the weather was going to…read morebe shoddy (raining the whole time), but I was still stoked to be able to spend a couple nights solo camping. Night one went fine, lots of rain but kept a nice fire in the provided fire pit where I was able to stay warm and mostly dry. However, a Ranger showed up on 5/27 around 2pm and told me there was a fire ban in effect and I needed to extinguish my fire. In the rain. In the provided fire pit. I went to the Mineral Bar website- nothing but instructions to use provided pits. Went to Reserve California- ditto. Decided I couldn't make a mid 40 degree night with no fire in the pouring rain so I quickly packed up and left- but not before being absolutely drenched in the DOWNPOUR. I called Reserve California and she said "there's a ban every year 6/16-10/15" to which I said "great! It's May" Finally googled "fire ban mineral bar campground" when I got home and they posted a ban 5/26 (the day I got there). No notices displayed at campsite. No information given but ruining a camp trip I so desperately needed for my mental health. Will never return, even for day camping. This was a favorite spot before that.

We love it here! Such a lovely spot. We come several times in the summer. Pay for parkingread more