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.

Have now done this hike/loop a few times now and it's definitely worth the drive and parking…read morefiasco. The trail is about 4 miles long and takes just a couple hours to do at a slow/medium pace. The trail is pretty wide, there were people with their dogs, a few little kids, and lots of groups enjoying the beautiful day. The majority of the trail is shady and covered by beautiful trees, some spots are under the direct sun so bring a hat or sunnies. You'll see tons of butterflies, wild flowers, birds, and of course will see the spillway. Parking is $10 cash paid to the park. This most recent time that I came it was very difficult to find parking, so if you plan to come on a weekend plan ahead and come early. I would also recommend bringing bus spray and being cautious of the poison ivy along the sides of the trail. Overall it's a beautiful hike and I'd recommend it!

Beautiful hike!! Highly recommend! There is a $10 parking fee. The fee grants you access to…read moreMULTIPLE trails for the ENTIRE day, take advantage and check out different areas to explore the scenery. More info on their website! The hike was moderate. Pretty straight forward, some steep elevation here and there. But worth the experience! As we hiked I was greeted by the buzzing bees at work, different species of butterflies, and watched the birds glide above me. The trail is filled with trees that provided shade, accompanied by drafts of wind. Hearing the water crash as we got closer to the dam was the best motivation to quicken our pace. So stunning! There's a small bench where you can sit to enjoy the view before your hike back. We were wiped because we went at peak heat level, rookie mistake. So definitely check the weather to go at a cooler time to thoroughly enjoy this wonderful scenic hike!

The best spot to spend time in quiet and fish, they got picnic areas to be there with your family…read moreand spend some quality time.

This is a bequtiful little trout lake About an hour above…read moreloomis ca. Ive taken my kids here for many years and now take their kids. Grrat plave for a picnik. Some casu a l float or bank fidhing with no noise and few people on weekdays. Easy access but not much parking.

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!

We love it out here, and are repeat camping visitors. They have some nice tent sites along the day…read moreuse area and some quiet and large sites at the top of the hill. They do have some plug in sites, but we just dry camp it with a generator and water jugs. There's a nice boat ramp and the place always feels safe enough to leave our kayaks on the beach between days. Fishing is too notch and the lake itself is beautiful.

My first time camping here and our experience was fabulous!…read more Our site was gorgeous offering lovely lake views. The grounds are kept quite clean. The day use area was right near our site which we used each day to paddle board and enjoy other water activities. The waterfall hike was so pretty- we all took the cold plunge!

We wanted to go hiking and found the Joshua M. Hardt Memorial Trail, which circles around the…read morereservoir. The loop was a bit over 4 miles. I'm glad it was mostly shaded and flat. The water was nice and clear. There were several benches along the way. Best of all, it wasn't crowded at all when we went. Bring cash- $5.00 per vehicle.

Beautiful reservoir and meandering trails. This is a great place to visit. We visited the Manzanita…read moreDay Use Area and walked a short distance on the paved trails. We also stopped at the dam to soak in the view. My only regret is that we didn't have more time to spend there.

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

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

This is our families favorite camping spot that we have our annual trip. Great place to even fish…read morefor a daily trip. They stock the lake often and we can see some huge fish as well as catching some also. The store is filled with friendly staff and we love hitting their ice cream up nightly. We cannot wait for next year.

25 of us camped at the Waters Edge group campground. Supposedly it would accommodate 40 people…read more It was extremely rocky. You had to hike up a rocky incline to reach the porta potty. They were cleaned each morning. The lake was nice but very rocky. Water shoes are a necessity. They had a nice boat dock that also had rentals available. There is a very nice playground that even has a zipline. Tokens are required for the showers. The store is very well stocked with necessities and souvenirs. The hand scooped ice cream cones are yummy and affordable. Order a small because the scoops are the size of a grapefruit. The employees are very friendly

Right off of I-80 in Truckee this is one of the coolest…read moreplaces of the Sierra. Donner Lake is a true mountain getaway for activities from boating & fishing in the summer to snowshoeing in winter. Although it's a fraction in size to its bigger sibling Lake Tahoe, it offers a more relaxed alternative and just as many options of things to do on and off the water. Don't miss Donner State Park while visiting the lake. It is a giant part of local history.

Backround On Donner Lake: Named after the Donner Party, a group of pioneers who became trapped in…read morethe Sierra Nevada Mountains during the winter of 1846-47. The lake was originally known as Truckee Lake, but was renamed in their memory. The Donner Party's ill-fated journey and subsequent struggle for survival has made the area a place of both historical significance and tragedy Background On Visit: Reading articles about things to do near Lake Tahoe, we decided to visit this place. Location/Parking: Located along Donner Pass Rd.. Free parking on the west end of the lake. Ambiance: The views of the pine trees and water are very nice when you drive along Donner Pass Rd.. Probably be more enjoyable as a passenger. Perhaps next time. Entertainment: 1) Boating and Water Sports: Rent boats, kayaks, paddleboards, or hydrobikes at Donner Lake Watersports. 2) Fishing: Donner Lake is known for kokanee salmon and various trout species. 3) Swimming: Enjoy the lifeguard-staffed West End Beach Park or swim at the public piers. 4) Hiking Trails Donner Lake For Thought: Choose Donner Lake for a more serene and accessible experience with a unique history and warmer water. :)