Lake Natoma
Lake Natoma
4.5
About
Nestled in Sacramento County, this 500-acre recreational lake is a watersports hub and a great place for a day out. Locals usually go sailing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding here, since equipment rentals are readily available at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center. You can also stroll or jog around the scenic paved trails, have a picnic, or unwind with a good book in the many open spaces. Weekends normally see higher lake activity, so it’s better to come on weekdays when it’s less crowded and more peaceful. You might also want to head to the Folsom Premium Outlets nearby for some solid bargains after. – Tripadvisor
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
106 reviews
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Claudia S
Oakland, CA1 contribution
Jul 2022 • Family
I really wish the park rangers would regulate on people playing ridiculously loud music. My family and I were at the lake yesterday (07/02) and there was a couple on the beach absolutely BLASTING music ALL. DAY. LONG. Their speakers were facing the rest of the beach for some reason. We asked kindly several times for them to turn it down and they refused. We all had to yell over each other the entire day and it was awful. It really impacted our experience.
We saw the park rangers in boats and trucks but no one said anything to them.
We saw the park rangers in boats and trucks but no one said anything to them.
Written 3 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
willynellson
Reno, NV100 contributions
Apr 2021 • Family
Now this was something hidden from me !! Not expecting such a peaceful and beautiful environment.
Even the ducks and animals are so comfortable to be around you, close! Really peaceful and good for family and specially for kids to swim! I would suggest coming here in June so you can enjoy the water and BBQ . but its also nice to walk around and see the beautiful trees and plants sway in the awesome weather!
Even the ducks and animals are so comfortable to be around you, close! Really peaceful and good for family and specially for kids to swim! I would suggest coming here in June so you can enjoy the water and BBQ . but its also nice to walk around and see the beautiful trees and plants sway in the awesome weather!
Written 29 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristin
El Cerrito, CA372 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
This lake has a 5 mph speed limit for motorized boats which makes it great for kayaking and stand up paddle boarding.
Nimbus Flat Area nest the dam - There’s a $10 parking fee and no launch fee or inspection fee and it’s really easy to launch your own kayak or SUP. Launching is really easy there is a launch ramp you can use, or there is an area where you can pull up and unload easily with a very short walk to the water about maybe 25 feet.
Little current on the lake. We saw a bald eagle fly overhead, and wild turkeys near the lake. Great smaller channels to explore by kayak on the north shore of the lake.
There are picnic and swimming areas and restrooms.
Nimbus Flat Area nest the dam - There’s a $10 parking fee and no launch fee or inspection fee and it’s really easy to launch your own kayak or SUP. Launching is really easy there is a launch ramp you can use, or there is an area where you can pull up and unload easily with a very short walk to the water about maybe 25 feet.
Little current on the lake. We saw a bald eagle fly overhead, and wild turkeys near the lake. Great smaller channels to explore by kayak on the north shore of the lake.
There are picnic and swimming areas and restrooms.
Written 31 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
erv t
Sacramento, CA18 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
I think I hold the world record for amount of time on Lake Natoma. In my 30+ year career at Aerojet and Intel, I would swim, bike or run around the lake at lunch. For a few seasons I would also play volleyball at the Aquatic Center at lunch. It’s beautiful, peaceful and the bike and jogging trails are great. The water is cold but refreshing. In my free time I kayak up and down the lake. I am retired now and I still get ther 3-4x/week. I am sad they are not repairing the bike trail on the north end after the min landslide. If they took up donations I would give a couple hundred $
Written 5 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
porsche74s
Granite Bay, CA442 contributions
Nov 2013 • Couples
Lake Natoma was created by placing a small dam downstream from Folsom Lake Dam on the American River Parkway, and it's a fantastic place for kayakers to test their flat water endurance skills over a fairly long distance. To the east lies old Folsom and if you continue up river going under and past the two Folsom bridges (Folsom Crossing Bridge and Rainbow Bridge) you'll eventually see a steel cable strung over the river with a sign saying "Do Not Enter" as you approach Folsom Prison's grounds. Nobody is allowed on the river past that cable point, and if you keep going, the armed guards in the right side tower on the river canyon at the prison will show you his rifle, get on the bull horn, and tell you to turn around and go back the way you came. Don't press your luck! You won't get near enough to see anything.
The Sacramento State Aquatic Center is entered at Hazel Avenue, and they run many programs from that facility on the lake, including competitive oaring. They also rent various types of watercraft. The east end of the lake at Folsom is best entered at the launching ramp located at the State Park entrance at Negro Bar. This pay entrance ($12 for a car without any trailer) entrance is just west of Folsom-Auburn Road on the south side of Greenback Lane. At this location there is a new boat docking ramp where small boats may be launched, although power boats are rare. Also located at Negro Bar is a broad curved dirt beach that has kayak rentals in the summer months only, with picnic tables and barbeque areas, a typical State Parks set up that families enjoy because little kids can play there in the shallow water. Parking can get crowed in the summer months, though. There's a 5 mph speed limit on the entire lake, and there's rocky areas where you wouldn't want to take any power boat. We love going here on bicycles, the American River Parkway bike trail runs here along the river.
The Sacramento State Aquatic Center is entered at Hazel Avenue, and they run many programs from that facility on the lake, including competitive oaring. They also rent various types of watercraft. The east end of the lake at Folsom is best entered at the launching ramp located at the State Park entrance at Negro Bar. This pay entrance ($12 for a car without any trailer) entrance is just west of Folsom-Auburn Road on the south side of Greenback Lane. At this location there is a new boat docking ramp where small boats may be launched, although power boats are rare. Also located at Negro Bar is a broad curved dirt beach that has kayak rentals in the summer months only, with picnic tables and barbeque areas, a typical State Parks set up that families enjoy because little kids can play there in the shallow water. Parking can get crowed in the summer months, though. There's a 5 mph speed limit on the entire lake, and there's rocky areas where you wouldn't want to take any power boat. We love going here on bicycles, the American River Parkway bike trail runs here along the river.
Written 29 November 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Codex B
Clayton, CA48 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
We visited in early June and it's a great little lake. Rented kayaks right by the lake. There's plenty of parking. It wasn't overcrowded. A lot of water fowl to entertain us. Just a perfect way to spend a summer afternoon.
Written 13 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janis L
109 contributions
Apr 2014 • Family
Lake Natoma is home to the CAL STATE SACRAMENTO Aquatic center which serves both its students and the greater Sacramento community. You can rent kayaks, paddle boats or bicyles mounted on a catamaran-type thing for an hour or more. They also offer a multitude of sailing and jet ski lessons as well as specialty boating camps for kids all summer. Lake Natoma is a local gem.
Written 8 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve R
Roseville, CA578 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
This is a downstream lake fed by Folsom Lake with quite a bit to do.
This lake has some of the best flat water in the country so they have many rowing tournaments there. Fun to go to when teams from around the country come to compete.
There's also the CSUS Aquatic Center that has a big grassy area for picnicking and you can rent rowing skulls, paddle boards, jet ski's and sail boats/ boards. In addition they have lessons for all the above.
And did I mention excellent fishing? Trout and bass. A young kid some years ago pulled a huge trout from under the Folsom Bridge. He was about 4 feet tall, and so was the trout.
Lastly, the Natoma Fish Hatchery is there where the Salmon come to spawn. Really fun and interesting. Just that is worth the price of admission, which is free.
Not big beaches but plenty of fun sunning areas.
This lake has some of the best flat water in the country so they have many rowing tournaments there. Fun to go to when teams from around the country come to compete.
There's also the CSUS Aquatic Center that has a big grassy area for picnicking and you can rent rowing skulls, paddle boards, jet ski's and sail boats/ boards. In addition they have lessons for all the above.
And did I mention excellent fishing? Trout and bass. A young kid some years ago pulled a huge trout from under the Folsom Bridge. He was about 4 feet tall, and so was the trout.
Lastly, the Natoma Fish Hatchery is there where the Salmon come to spawn. Really fun and interesting. Just that is worth the price of admission, which is free.
Not big beaches but plenty of fun sunning areas.
Written 23 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zackary S
Sacramento, CA109 contributions
Sept 2014 • Solo
Lake Natoma is a lake near Folsom, California. The lake lies next to Old Folsom and along the American River bike trail. The entire lake is encircled by an oak lined paved bike path about 12 miles around. Near Folsom a good place to enjoy the lake is at the Lake Natoma Inn, the New Folsom Bridge and Negro Bar. Negro offers swimming. From Gold River at the Hazel/Hwy 50 exit has the state park entrance with great parking and an amazing beach. The hazel site also has the Sac State University Aquatics center offering boat, kayak, paddle boat and many others, and the Lake Natoma fish hatchery. They also offer many classes and lesson throughout the year. This is on of the places that make me TRULY love the Sacramento area.
Written 1 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Frank E
Oakland, CA292 contributions
Jun 2014 • Family
I love Lake Natoma for swimming. You can pretty much go anywhere (no constraining boxes here) and the water is nice and refreshing. There are no powerboats or jet ski hazards; no gasoline, diesel, or noise pollution, although there can be a lot of "traffic" on the lake in late afternoon. There are great picnic spots and you can run or bike along the American river trail.
Written 8 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Where is the tunnel or culvert that I have seen pictures of at lake Natoma? Can I kayak there?
Written 16 February 2021
There is a sign that says "no dogs on beach'. However, I have seen dogs on stand up paddleboards with their owners on the lake, so it depends on what you will be doing with your dogs.
Written 22 June 2020
Yes, at the park. But not just anywhere.
Written 2 September 2019
Folsom Lake, but that might not be considered "near by"
Written 11 September 2019
Yes I believe. Not sure if you need a license
Written 30 August 2018
Also sailboats, sailboards, canoes, kayaks and more
Written 20 July 2018
No. Pretty sure there's no place on the lake you can.
Written 2 July 2018
tlauer13
Newcastle, California
Can we bring our 27’ motorhome just to have a place to change, eat, rest, cleanup? Not to stay overnight
Written 9 June 2018
I can't see why not. There are 3 parks on Lake Natoma: The Fish Hatchery (CSUS), Negro Bar and Willow Creek (I think is the name). All 3 have plenty of wide open parking with bathrooms (Willow Creek being the smallest of them all). I don't believe any of them have flush out capability. You might even be able to spend the night but I am not positive about that. The 3 parks all close after dark. Since you are staying just for the day makes me all the more certain.
Written 10 June 2018
susanmorrar
Elk Grove, California
Is there place for kids to swim. And what's the address
Written 19 July 2017
One entrance is at Hazel and 50 at Nimbus Dam Recreation area. Yhe Hazel side also has Sac State Aquatics Center woth swimming and other water sport lessons. Another is at Negro Bar State park on the Folsom and Greenback Blvd side. You may also park in old Folsom and walk down to the water from Folsom and avoid state say use fees. I see hikers, cyclists, canoes, kayaks, etc year round on the lake, and I also see families enjoying picnics year round. As for swimming, look at Nehrk Bar and Nimbus recreation area sites for more info.
Written 19 July 2017
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