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.

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.

*SWEETWATER TRAIL*Came up here around 8am on a Sunday and there were only 2 cars in the parking…read morelot...by time we left it was still only less than half full. I've never been here so here's a heads up for those that are new. Every time I googled the pin would drop on Salmon Falls Rd. So I looked up Salmon Falls Bridge and zoomed in. There is a sharp left turn right before you get to the bridge itself. This turn will take you up to two parking lots, both with their own bathroom (four stalls total). There's also a boat ramp but this area is shallow. The trail starts at the lot to the left as you enter. The pathway is not too narrow but in some areas it is and it's used for both walking/biking and there is POISON OAK everywhere. I suggest wearing long socks/pants. If you do wear shorts be cautious! There are plenty of trails that lead off to the right and take you down toward the lake. My boys and I packed up our coolers and spent some time down there for lunch. When we went it was beautiful and sunny with just a light breeze. This is a nice trail to get in a good walk/run. We will definitely be back as it's beautiful up here...enjoy!!

This review is specifically about Darrington trail that leads to Salmon Falls trail. It is a tiny…read moreparking area past the Salmon Falls entrance, over the small bridge. Get there early for parking and make sure to always lock your car and leaving nothing visible. This trail is known for break-ins. I come here once a week for trail running. It is always so peaceful and quiet. The trail begins with a short and easy incline to get the heart rate started. It is very popular with bikers so be mindful of them and try to keep on one side. Some of them are great about using the bells to alert hikers but not all. Luckily I have my bear bell hanging from my bag as well that helps for the same reason. It is usually pretty empty early mornings when I typically arrive and even by 10am it is not to bad. Be aware that it does get fairly warm because there is not much shade. It is more of a creek than a lake but at times it does get more full, usually at the end of Spring. I have spotted a couple of bobcat cubs so keep an out for wildlife. Overall my fav close spot to hike or run. The walk back in the mornings is best for pics. Enjoy and please keep it clean and safe!

January 27, 2026 - El Dorado Hills, CA…read more Not much to recommend unless you have watercraft. We walked along the shoreline, but it was mostly rocky and muddy, and we didn't really see a defined trail. A few people were fishing, there were maybe five boats out on the lake, and a helicopter was practicing water drops, which was interesting but unexpected. Entry fee was $12. Overall, probably better for boaters than for walking or hiking.

Brown's Ravine is marketed as a great spot to bring dogs, but it wasn't quite what we expected…read more There isn't much of a true "beach" area to sit out and relax, so if you're looking for a sandy shoreline to spread out with your pup, this probably isn't the best fit. We did find a little spot to set up, but it was right where boats were constantly going by, which made the water very choppy. On the plus side, there are real bathrooms on site, and if you're looking for a place to drive up, park your car, and have more of a beach picnic vibe, it could work. Overall though, it didn't quite meet what we were looking for with our dogs.

Great outdoor area always something beautiful to see! It does take a bit of hiking and you need to…read morewatch out where you are stepping! Not only because of steep areas but there's rattlesnakes in this area as well.

There's a trail here which can be found a bit to the right after you cross over the Fair Oaks…read moreBridge; it's on the side opposite from the Sunrise Recreation Area. While there isn't any parking on the side of the bridge where the trail is, there is some which costs $10 at the Sunrise Recreation Area. Once you reach the trail, it takes about five minutes to get to the top, and then maybe another ten minutes to hike to the fence at the end of the trail. The views once you get to the top are pretty good :-) Tip: Each of the lookouts from the top are on a very steep cliff-edge, with an unprotected drop to the river down below. It isn't possible to see straight down the cliff because of deep errosion at the bottom, but you can see both the bridge and the river. Note that this area seems fairly safe during the daylight hours, but there are a lot of homeless people around the bridge and in Sunrise Park, so I'd suggest avoiding the area when it's dark.

It was so fun!!!!…read more Would come again!

My favorite hiking location and my go-to option when I need a break from everything in the city…read more Beautiful wildlife and scenery makes me want to come back here every chance I get.

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.

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.

Chasing (roadside) waterfalls…read more.. This is a pretty decent roadside waterfall off Highway 50 (between Sac and Lake Tahoe) near Pollock Pines. It is pretty during spring as snow melting gives the waterfall a good amount of flow with a drop of 80-ft. Nice stop to stretch out the legs at the same time. The waterfall grabs your attention whether you're driving to or from Lake Tahoe. The falls is to your right as you head to the Lake. I suppose you can pull over on the opposite side of the highway to get a full view of the falls but I wouldn't cross the road as it is dangerous because there are blind turns, sometimes cars and trucks whiz by fast and furious down this road. Easy access where you literally just pull over into a very large pullout right in front of the falls. This waterfalls is about 60 miles from our place. It is worth stopping to look at, at least once, on your way to Lake Tahoe. Review #2106 updated

Worth the quick stop to get out, stretch and check it out on the drive to Tahoe or back! Very cool…read morelittle falls on an easy pull out.

We enjoyed exploring the powerful waterfalls and roaring rivers of Coloma, CA!…read more We did the Dutch Falls Hike Length: 2.5 miles Type: Out and back Level: Moderate Elevation gain: 272 ft Be sure to bring hiking poles, hiking shoes and get ready to get a little muddy (worth it, I promise!)

This trail is pretty well reviewed on Alltrails and Google but I could not find it on Yelp. As is…read moretypical, reviews on other sites can be short and quite limited so from what I read I was excited to try this trail. It is lovely right now, but you can tell it is on the precipice of drying up for the year and turning brown and dusty. Speaking of precipices, there were many areas where the path was unstable of the cliff face had collapsed. The trail was just not well maintained and there were tons of bugs, especially mosquitos due to the sitting pools of water and long grass. Even being coated in bug spray, I found dead bugs in my shirt when I came home and my hiking partner had bugs go in his mouth and eye. We saw poison oak and although I checked my dog thoroughly for ticks after the hike and found none, she is good at staying on the trail so I would be cautious with wandering pups. Overall, the trail is moderate and if maintained would be spectacular. However, the blatant disregard for the trail is a solid reason to take away a star. The other reason is that there is no parking in the area, with the exception of the museum parking lot and we paid $10 to park over a half mile away from the trailhead on a hike that will take you an hour max. Still, while this trail was disenchating, we did drive past a few other parks and trailheads in the area with free parking that we were previously unaware of and will most likely be back another day to try those.