This area makes for a lovely walk, hike, bike, or even fishing outing! A couple of bridges and nice…read morenature with plenty of shade is great anytime

I watched the sunset at this hidden gem in the Fair Oaks neighborhood of Sacramento. The dramatic…read morebridge is what separates this spot from the rest of the nearby parks and let me tell you -- the views of the sunset depicts images that cannot be unseen. Parking is not great as I ended up parking in front of a nearby business complex lot. Not sure if there is a designated parking spot for visitors but I wouldn't doubt it -- I probably just landed on the other side of the park which has very minimal parking. There were a lot of couples and groups of friends walking along the bridge. Many stopped to take photos or to just sit and enjoy the views. Pictures do not serve this place justice. It's one of those places where you have to see for yourself so make the trip. My evening spent here was full of magic, romance, and newfound inspiration. I look forward to visiting again.

I DEFINITELY need to bring my camera out and get some shots, iPhone photos do NOT do it justice…read more What a wonderful find. I love to walk and explore, and this one is close enough to my office that I can get over after the end of my work day. Also have friends who live in Anatolia track(s), so this is a FUN group walk when you can do so. Nice to see so many birds in the wetland area, the egrets and herons are particularly LOVELY! It is a VERY enjoyable walk in inclement or UNSTABLE weather. Just wear good cross trainers, and bring your umbrella! Just a lovely little track, very enjoyable walks here!

Nice neighborhood trail. Situated between the Wetlands Preserve and the neighborhood of Anatolia,…read morethis trail is a convenient spot to visit with nature while taking a walk, jog or bike ride. In the early morning, you are likely to see rabbits and squirrels, sometimes you will see cows grazing the wetlands, and occasionally, a coyote or two. Although not a long trail, less than 2 miles, it will soon be expanded to connect with the neighborhood of Kavala.

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.

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.

If you have never been to the Lake Natoma Recreation area, you are missing out on a very beautiful…read morelake. It is the place to Paddle board, swim in the water, look at sailboats big & small. There are kids learning to kayak in classes, families setting up day tents and people just enjoying a beautiful lake. The geese just paddle in the water and ducks fly low to the water as you paddle by. Right off of highway 50. This is my first paddle boarding experience. You take out the paddle board out of the bag, Lay it out. Blow it up, put on 3 fins on the bottom and you your paddle are ready to go. Have your life jacket, hat, water and a camera. I met really great people just floating and paddling today. This lake is really big. I stayed close to the main recreational area since I am new. I heard there is a cave you can explore. Natoma recreational park is a place for picnics, families, water sports, paddle boarding, sailing and fun in the sun. I am hooked on paddle boarding now. I love this lake! See you again. Bring the family or just yourself. Have an adventure. Julie A

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.

So much to do. The park is really huge with lots of open spaces, hiking trails and picnic area…read more It's really a good place to take pictures and get away from the busy city for a while. Since the park is so big, you may need to plan to find the areas you want to visit. Parking can also be difficult when it's crowded especially on weekends.

1 Star -- The "American River Bike Trail"? Apparently, It Belongs to the Bikes…read more My family and I went to the American River Parkway to enjoy a little exercise. Some of us were jogging and some were riding bikes. We expected to share the trail with other people enjoying the Parkway. Apparently, that was asking too much. We were cussed at and treated incredibly rudely by multiple cyclists who seemed to think the entire trail belonged to them. These weren't people casually enjoying a bike ride--they were flying down a shared-use public trail at high speeds and acting like anyone who happened to be in front of them was an inconvenience. Here's a reality check: this is not the Sacramento Bike Trail, and it certainly isn't a bicycle-only trail. It's part of the American River Parkway, a public recreational area used by cyclists, runners, walkers, families, and plenty of other Sacramento-area residents and taxpayers. If you want to ride 20+ miles an hour and expect everyone to jump out of your way, maybe a shared public trail isn't the place to do it. And the irony is that some of the rudest people we encountered were the very people who were moving far too fast for the conditions. A simple "on your left" or slowing down for a few seconds would have been enough. Instead, we got profanity and attitude. I've ridden bikes for years, so this isn't some anti-cyclist complaint. I was riding a bike too. This is about basic courtesy and understanding that you are sharing public space with other human beings. The American River Parkway belongs to the community--not to the fastest cyclist on the trail. Slow down. Be respectful. And remember: the people you're cussing at have just as much right to be there as you do.

This tour was so much fun!! I just want to say Fidel was so friendly, kind and patient. Love that…read morehe he made us chose what hills to climb even though they looked so scary lol . The pictures he took are awesome! Thank you Fidel. The next time we go I hope we get him again.

Just did our ride with our guide Travis and it was amazing!!!! We had a wonderful time and a great…read moreexperience. He was patient, knowledgeable, and very helpful. Equipment worked well, worth every penny.

Space is abundant here as are the trees. The main path is paved and leads to other paths along the…read moreAmerican Rivers. The entrance is nestled in a residential area. As soon as you drive into the parking lot, one is surrounded by the green lawn and trees. There is an public restroom building that was accessible. The parking lot is a good size and easy to maneuver. As soon as one enters the walking path and tree area, it the world cuts off quickly and enjoying nature begins. The path is wide to allow spacing and/or groups together.

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.

Beautiful park in the Carmichael area, well maintained, great for hosting groups, picnics, BBQs -…read moreattended a corporate family day event here and it was great - plenty of space for multiple bounce houses for kids, shaded awnings, large grassy areas. Parking isn't free but it's also very reasonable. Park is maintained clean and the bathrooms are good. Parking can be a little tricky if there are multiple events going on at the same time, but overall manageable. Not too far from much of East Sacramento and beyond - a solid place for an afternoon walk or outing w/ the family/kids.

Great multi use park!…read more Location: Located in Carmichael off cozy side streets is this great little park with connections to the American River Bike Trail. For the longest time I did realize how extensive the roads and parking is into this area as generally my entrance into this park is off the Bike Trail. It makes a great stop for picnics or for a quick restroom breaks. Activities: There are a lot of open fields, picnic areas, and water areas to explore off the river. One thing is that I would caution exploring the waterways around here as they can be deceptively fast and dangerous. There is also a great handicap accessible fishing areas off the farthest parking lot. Great for working and watching the waterway from the Harold Richy memorial bridge. Cons: It is a self-pay park so important to keep in mind. Can be a little hard to find but is straight down Arden Way.

I fell in love with this place from the very first time I was brought here(:…read more I absolutely love this park; there is so much to do! There's a giant lawn area for picnics and gatherings, there's separate a hiking and bike trail and it has a section connected to the American river I came in the springtime; everything was so green and beautiful

One very hot day I stopped by the river this park was easy to find, easy to park lots of families…read moreenjoying trails the beach swimming and canoeing. A few people riding horses. Nice place for a picnic...