Love Lake Natoma. Lots of water loving options for fun. Beach, picnic areas, connections to trails,…read moreand shade. No current is family friendly swimming for all. Love to take in a sunset on our stand up boards. You've got to check this place out for yourself. I am eager to return soon. Great place to beat the heat.

I love coming here in the mornings to go paddle boarding. I've already been out twice this week,…read moreusually arriving between 9-10 a.m., and there are hardly ever many people out on the water at that time. The water is calm, making it perfect for beginner paddle boarders. I even brought my mom out with me yesterday she was a little nervous about falling in, but since the water was so smooth, we had no issues. We ended up paddling for about an hour and a half, and it was such a relaxing experience. Since I've been coming out so often, I went ahead and bought a Poppy Pass for $135 online, which covers parking at parks all over California. It's a much better deal than paying the $10 parking fee each visit. If you're a beginner paddle boarder, or just want a peaceful lake to enjoy on a weekday, I definitely recommend Lake Natoma.

Love that this hiking trail is within 5 minutes of my home. Having the parkway available throughout…read morethe Sacramento area makes it Sacramento an even more disrespectful place to live. My husband and I go here for shorter rehabilitation walks (he is relearning how to walk after a spinal tumor was removed), I go here on my own for connecting back to nature and exercise, and the last two days I enjoyed taking a 6 mile hike with brother who was visiting. I have visited all up and down the parkway, at different entrance points, and different times of year. It never disappoints. I have had a yearly pass and it is well worth it for all the enjoyment I get from here.

I spent the majority of my vacation in Sactown along the American River. Just beautiful!…read more Loved this particular spot with wonderful views. I am assuming they get super busy when it is warmer but was nice to be here without a lot of folks around.

Great Kayaking scene!…read more Location: near the Sac State Aquatic center and right at the Dam is Nimbus Flat! Lake Natoma has a lot of different areas to jump off from but I think this one is the most popular. The spot is great for bringing family as there is a lot of open beach and lots of clear water to hang out with family on. Across from the flats is a nice rocky shore, shallow water and turtle alley. Activities: Located right next to Sac State Aquatics and just off Hazel, this place can be VERY busy. Quite often if you are coming here later in the summer the lot is full. I highly recommend coming early. There isn't a rental place right off the beach like Black Miners bar but I think this is due to the aquatic center where you can rent quite a bit of equipment. They are actually a separate parking lot from the Nimbus Flat parking Lot. The area also connects to the trails that run along the entire lake and connects to the overall American River Bike Trail. This makes it even more popular. There is a nice boat landing (non motorized boats) and restrooms as well as some picnic tables and good tree cover on site. The only issue is that beach quality can be so-so but great for water sports and not having to deal with motorized boats like Folsom Lake. It's such a great gem to have a space like this. Folsom Lake and Natoma are both great depending on what kind of vibe you are looking on the water

This is a great place to rent kayaks, boats and paddles boards. The staff is very friendly and…read moreknowledgeable. Great way to beat the summer heat. I have since purchased my own paddle board and go to the lake every summer. The park is clean and is easily accessible

Small parking lot at the beginning with restroom. Nice grassy field to picnic. Once you head out…read moreyou have three choices when you get about a 100 yards down the paved bike path. (1) Stay on the bike path (2) take the dirt trail towards San Juan Rapids which is what me and the fur baby do or (3) take the dirt trail on the left. All three choices end up at a nice picnic area with tables and benches. You can cool off in the river or cross Jims Bridge and continue the trail. Its fairly level on all three paths. There is some shade but be aware of occasional rattlesnake in the brush on hot days and coyotes.

I grew up near bannister park! It's a wonderful place to play with your kids or bring friends to…read morespend time together. You can ride bikes along the path or take a long walk to enjoy the scenery. There river access for you to float on the river or go fishing. There's tons to do at bannister park!

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.

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

I had a very disappointing experience. The inspection tag was placed on the boat rather than around…read morethe trailer, which resulted in additional inconvenience and expense. When we brought the issue to the attention of staff, Christian was dismissive and laughed at our concerns. He also refused our request to speak with a manager. Instead of helping resolve the situation, we were told to pay to have the boat cleaned. I expected a higher level of professionalism and customer service.

I can't believe I've NEVER gone white-water rafting! Came here with a group of friends while on…read morevacation in Sacramento in the dead of summer. Got a 12-person raft for 8 of us or something like that. My friend was the main coordinator so I didn't deal too much with the booking side, but it seemed smooth. Parking here is kind of a nightmare (though they have a pricey shuttle) but the key is to arrive early, especially because it gets super hot in the middle of the day. The whole journey takes a few hours, as fast or slow as you want to go. Love that the American River is pretty chill. A little too much sun exposure for me but super fun!

If you're looking for a fun outdoor activity in Sacramento, American River Raft Rentals is the way…read moreto go! Such an easy and smooth experience from start to finish. The staff was friendly, organized, and gave clear instructions, which made everything stress-free. The float down the American River was the perfect mix of relaxing and fun--great views, good vibes, and perfect for a group hang. Definitely one of the best ways to enjoy a sunny day in Sacramento. I'll for sure be back!

Char: "Daniel, why haven't you taken me here, sooner? I don't even feel like I'm in Sacramento…read more 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!!!

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