Ever since moving to the Sacramento area back in 2001, I have yet to conquer all the hidden trails,…read morecreeks and nature surrounding it. This takes me to the city of Folsom where I stumbled across "Hinkle Creek Nature Area", a place I had not even heard about until making an actual visit. Located in a residential part of Folsom alongside Baldwin Dam Rd., this park/nature preserve is closest to Oak Ave and Folsom-Auburn Rd while being just west of the American River. I came here with my lady during the afternoon of Sunday 2/1/2026 at around 1:00pm. Much to my surprise, parking was free and easily accessible. What I particularly liked about this nature area was that you may enter through either a paved or unpaved trail as the entire walk stretches in just under a mile. And much to my surprise, the 36-acres that accommodates this park actually made me feel as if I was more in the open air wilderness. Since we came during a comfortable day, we witnessed a ton of fresh green grass and the absence of leaves on many of the trees. During my walk, The overall nature area is the perfect spot for relaxed, leisurely walks that even the most non-skilled person can do while it is stroller and pet friendly. I also wanted to add that the trail can also be used for mountain biking and even horseback riding even though we did not witness that on our walk. I also encourage everyone to pay a visit to the actual Hinkle Creek Nature Center that offers useful information and educational programs to children. All in all, this is an excellent and well-maintained nature center that caters to all walks of life. My rating, a unanimous five stars.

What a find! I have to say that the Hinkle Creek Nature Area is one of our most favorite suburban…read morenature areas in the Sacramento region. The one-mile loop, partially paved and all easily marked, truly makes you feel that you aren't in the middle of a neighborhood. For the most part, it's quiet, and serene -- even when homes are nearby. The only real noise is when you walk beside a road for a few 100 feet.The small creek and pond provide a beautiful setting to walk by or sit and relax. Dog are allowed, but keep in mind that if your dog is a barker or not totally canine-friendly, there are few places to let others pass when you are on the unpaved portion of the trail. Go in the spring time when the grass is green and lush. This is a gem of a find.

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.

I was in the area for a California state park lead height. We started at 6:00 a.m. the trail was…read moremoderate. Happy to walk through a very much carved out Trail no issues or problems. Parking is easy but I could see how parking could fill up here it's a moderate size parking lot. I was just as true if you're looking for a moderate hike it does have some areas that are not shaded of course.

*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!!

My regular walk for many years. Very scenic. Up and down…read moresteep hills then it flattens out. It's through the backyards of fabulous houses in American river park. There are great stairways to add to your workout. Shader walk in late afternoon and evening. Jody

Beautiful, shady little loop. One of my go tos when I want to get a quick walk in. Very peaceful.read more

The trails in this area can be as easy or hard as you make them. The particular trail i took had…read morealot of rock. This area is near the bike trail.

Super busy but it was Fourth of July weekend. We got there around 9am and the rangers had closed…read morethe parking lot by 10am. The trail is nice with separate lanes for bikes and pedestrians. I think this is fantastic since there are always rude cyclists speeding on the American River Trail.

Great beginners trail for toddlers! My daughter is 16 months old and did this walk. We got there at…read more10 and left at 1. We saw only a few people on the trail on a week day. Saw only a handful of dinosaurs. Wouldn't recommend a stroller, you'd have to pick it up at some points, but is maybe doable. Really nice river spot to relax at maybe half way, 3/4 of the way. It's an easy loop to follow. Starts at one side of the parking lot and ends at the other.

This is a nearby nature haven for families. Lots of free…read moreparking right off the road. Pit toilet in the parking lot. Down an accessible path about half a mile is a nice beach on the river. Sandy. Rocks to sit on and throw! The path is wide and mostly poison oak free. Along the path your kids will find small toys hidden on the rock walls, in the madrone bushes, hanging from the puzzle-bark pines. Nice picnic areas have been cleared of brush and poison oak and have picnic tables. Our four-year old loved the walk, enjoyed the beach, and managed the return hike, too! We could have stayed all afternoon if we had thought to bring a blanket and sand toys. Next time we will also bring small toys to add to the fun of the search! This is a loop trail, a little over a mile, but only the first half mile is wide, accessible and clear of poison oak. We returned via this trail because the rest of the loop narrows and poison oak was everywhere. Older kids might like it.

Was an Amazing Trail beautiful scenery. I made it all the way through 8 miles yayyy I just kept…read morewalking and talking to Jesus makes everything alright

I enjoyed this paved trail immensely. It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon. Going over…read moretiny bridges, along the creek and there was even a railroad. Lots of trees, birds, squirrels and toads in the creeks. Definitely had the sights and sounds of nature. There was only a handful of bicyclist on the trail and was one of the main reasons I gave it 5 stars. The American River Trail bicyclist act like they own the road and will run you over, lol.

Beautiful Blue Oak ecosystem. They sponsor hikes with themes: fungi & mushrooms, native Indian or…read moresettler history, yoga, geology,etc. Self guided hikes of 3 to 6 miles. SacramentoValleyConservacy.org

We attended the first docent-led hike of the year on Saturday, 2/1/2020. It was a "history" hike,…read morefocusing on the Deer Creek Gold Rush. We learned about the gold in the area, the miners, the mining district, and the fate of the local natives. The leader, David, was very knowledgeable. We enjoyed a beautiful 3-mile hike over gentle hills. It was an easy hike, although some of the terrain was rocky and uneven, and we had to find a path through a couple of small streams. Not a problem for most, but some older folk were glad they had their hiking poles. I was glad I had my waterproof hiking shoes. The Preserve is open to the public on Saturdays from Feb - May, and then again in the fall. Check the website for access hours. You can hike on your own, or register for one of the docent-led hikes. Also, the road to access Deer Creek Hills is not paved, and there is a small stream you have to drive through to get to the hiking area, so a four-wheel drive is a good idea. Those without high-clearance vehicles parked their cars along the side of the road before the stream, and hiked to the trailhead.