Variety of activities here. Part of the State Park system, there is a fee for parking. Which there…read moreis plenty of, but it can fill on summer days. Couple different places to put in a kayak or paddle board -- including a small beach area with restrooms, tables, vendors and more. Adjacent to that is a large grassy area with picnic tables, more restrooms and grilling areas. Access to the paved bike trail and many dirt trails network through the area as well. Summary: great location for recreation or relaxation.

This is my first time here. Usually I would go to nimbus flat or folsom lake to paddle board. But…read morethis spot was recommended by my sister. I like that it has a boat launch areas but also beach front area for paddling or kayaking. I especially like that they Jane paddle board rentals and life jackets nearby. The beach are is shallow in which kids can play without parents worrying, however there is a life guard. Its a pretty big park, as there are bbq areas to picnic. Would definitely come back here to picnic or just paddle board.

There are numerous hiking trails to discover and each one is just as breathtaking and beautiful!…read moreParking has never been an issue with our yearly state park pass we park at the parking lot however before we had the state parking pass we parked near the gas station across the street and simply walked to the trails. There's also camping grounds at the lake which we have yet to explore however drove to the location and the views are gorgeous! Excited to go camping in the years to come!

Our family has had a boat at Folsom for over 35 years and it has always had its home at The Marina…read more With sizable slips at a relatively reasonable rate we keep coming back year after year. The big knocking Folsom and Not Cal is their lack of water and most times the boat is dry docked by July 15th. The recent rain has allowed us to have access to the boat in late August and with a last minute summer vacation I returned to my roots and we went out on the boat. Ample parking available Marina with gas, snacks and ice Easy access to the lake Lake life is a good life!

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.

Lake Natoma is a wonderful place to paddle on some calm flat water in the Sacramento area! Bring…read moreyour paddleboard, kayak, canoe or pool floatie-thingy out to the lake (it's really a reservoir), tote along some food and friends and don't forget your sunscreen!

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.

We have come here a handful of times now for fishing. Not only do we always have a blast, but it is…read moreabsolutely gorgeous here. We haven't been here at sunrise, but the sunsets and stars are so beautiful... you can't help but slowly walk out when it is time to go. Lake Theodore is right off the road and not too hard to spot the entrance. For parking, you can park on the side of the road, right up to the entrance. There is a park & route below about 50 yards away, but that's quite a walk. You do go through a swirly gate and down a path, and there is a trail that leads to the back of the lake. There are spots you need to really pay attention to because of rocks and tree roots. Some trees are growing into the path. There is also some scat along the way, but hey! It's nature. What else do you expect! I have yet to take the path all the way around the small lake, but I have gotten halfway. It's easy to get stuck casting in spots because you'll see some big fish swimming by, or we start catching. In this small lake, you can expect to catch big mouth bass, small mouth bass, lots of blue gill, green sun fish, and a few extras swimming around. For us, the most popular bait we use is the natural big earth worms and night crawlers. For the big mouth bass, the seenkos are pretty popular... 3"-4" long (and we use the watermelon ones). I do like to head back to the front before it gets dark. You can see random spiders building their webs as the sun starts to set and heaven forbid I walk through those trees and go through a web and end up with a creepy crawly! I love bugs and fishing... but a random bug will make me shriek bloody murder, lol! When the sun goes down(on my side of town), there are so many stars to look at. Planes mostly fly over from the backside of the lake and those are fun to watch, too. I think we sat one night until 11pm casting and watching the stars. It was nice the moon was not out this particular night because it made it nice and dark and the stars shined so bright... As precautions, I suggest bringing bug spray and sun block. Bring some small collapsible chairs. Stock up on some water or whatever you drink. I easily spend 4+ hours at a time here admiring the beauty of nature. For those of you that know... tight lines!

I drove here today with a friend. We did not mean to come here...just found it by accident…read more It is located off his 80 a little above Auburn ca. As you drive up...there is a small parking area. You cannot drive in...there is a gate...so you park on the outside and walk in. There is a dirt path you can walk or ride a bike. By the water you will find places to put a chair and fish. This is a small lake. It is not for boating...or swimming.. There is a sign that clearly states no boats. It is so beautiful here. Peaceful. It would be a great place for lunch or just to sit for a while. I saw some ducks...and birds but no other wild life. It would be a nice place to walk your dogs. Don't wear new shoes...lots of red dirt.

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

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.

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

Beautiful park. Nice playground area and a large field/baseball field. A great spot to picnic and…read morelook out onto El Dorado Hills. There is a nearby restroom, a small area with a picnic table and parking is limited, probably 10 or so spots.

It was beautiful but they close sooo early and it would be nice if they weren't so pushy and rude…read moreabout leaving right after the sun sets.

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.