Folsom Lake State Recreation Area Reviews

We rented a jetski and set up camp at Folsom Point for the day. The water level this summer is low, as is now usual, and required a small 1/4 mile hike from the car. The shore is rocky and not beachy, but the water is quite warm on the surface. Fun on a hot day, but the decreased lake size makes for a crowded day on weekends. On a weekday it was perfect before 5:30pm.

There is a lot of space to relax and enjoy on the beach and the lake itself is quite beautiful. It was a good fun experience.

Folsom Lake Recreation area has tons to offer: from boating, to biking, horse back riding to hiking. It is a beautiful and diverse area to have fun!

It's one of the finest State Recreation area but they charge a lot for parking but ion the other hand t's not as maintained as other parks in other states like MN, NY, MA, RI as such. Not sure where does the money go...?

But It's natural and it's the beauty of it. 100% one should visit it.

Nice capmgrounds. Located in-town, good place to stay and jumping point when visiting the local area. The traffic is a bit noisy due to locations. Biking is popular but fishing is very challenging despite regular stocking. The campground still gets full in spite of the high fee.

The drought is a shame but the views down the fingers of the forks of the river are very picturesque. Great place to spend a hot afternoon rafting, kayaking paddle boarding or rafting.

Beal’s Point is an area at Folsom Lake with a campground and a day use area. We have only used the day use area. There is a nice grassy area with covered picnic tables, BBQ grills and restrooms, as well as a nice beach area with lifeguards. It’s a perfect place for families to spend the day swimming and having a BBQ. There is a designated area for swimming and kayaking that is safe, because there are also other areas of Folsom Lake that allow boating. There is also a bike trail that leads to Beal’s Point so you can ride your bike as well. It tends to get very crowded on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day, because this is a popular place to spend a summer day if you live in the Sacramento area, so get there early if you go on a weekend. On weekdays, you can pretty much find parking at any time. Overall a nice place to visit and a nice way to beat the heat.

The Best thing about this campground is the proximity to Folsom (3 miles) & Granite Bay (3 miles). The campground itself is decently kept up, the bathrooms;not so much. Wild Turkey's roam the park which is cool but if you're afraid of squirrels, this is NOT the place for you! (I asked the lady if they're a problem & she assured me they weren't. However, they are very aggresive towards the end of Oct. & I think it's due to the rush to get ready for hibernation. They'll even get in your car if you leave the doors open!) The biggest problem we encountered during our 8 day stay, was the parks reservation system. If you're set up in your site with your tent & someone makes an online reservation, the park will kick you out of your site & you'll have to move to another one; provided it's not been reserved! So, my recomendation to you would be to do all your reserving online because these customers get preferential treatment.

Great place to come hang out with family. I just hate the number of dogs runnin around and jumping in the water. Not fond of swimming with Fido.

A lot of nice open space for picnics, hiking, and bicycling. I suppose Folsom Lake would be a great place for recreational boating too, although I did not try it out. Don't come here to see the damn, because Folsom dam is not like Shasta Dam or Hoover Dam. This damn can only be viewed from afar, but you can enjoy the lake right up close.

Your entry fee covers multiple entry points. Don't be discouraged if you pay the $12 and find yourself at the boat launch which is relatively boring unless you got a boat. Drive around to Beals point and you'll be much more satisfied.

Folsom Lake has access at different locations around the perimeter. I took my old friend to Brown’s Ravine because it’s one of my favorite areas. The water is a little low but the trails are still open and ready for fun. Never too crowded. Guys at the entry gates are courteous and very helpful. I love this part of Folsom. Boat access. No restaurant. Some public restrooms. Worth a drive for fun.

Go there for the views, if you want to see lovely things. Go to this spot for a random day, for a random time.

We enjoyed our stay at Folsom Lake very much. Although the lake waters were low, the bike paths were wonderful! Had we more time, we would have ridden around the whole lake. However, we really liked what we saw and would certainly visit again!

First time in Sac and wasn't sure what I thought of it until Folsom Lake! For a second, I felt like I was in Africa or the middle east. The lake area was quiet and beautiful this time of year (fall). Nice place to relax and meditate. Saw some with their dogs and some on picnics. Not crowded when I went this past weekend.

Folsom Lake provides year round entertainment for our family. We have a state park pass so that we can visit as much as we want. We take the kids out there to walk the waterline and look for sticks and fool's gold (and wading). It is a great place for families, especially in the off season.

We visited the lake for a sporting event. The area is beautiful, the staff at the gate was helpful and friendly and the area was well maintained.

The north fork and south fork empty into the lake with a peninsula between them. Hiking around the peninsula is great but requires a boat or a long drive to Rattlesnake Bar Campground then a few mile hike from there. There are a lot of hiking and biking trails on both the north and south sides of the lake.
We enjoy sailing there and have scuba dived there several times. The bottom is pretty barren but we frequently see large catfish, bass, and carp.
When the lake is low hiking across the bottom of the lake is pretty interesting.

I am sure better weather, a different time of the year, not in the middle of wildfires and other spots on the lake could make for a better time, but we got what we got.

It was hot. There was not shade. The walk from the parking lot to the lake was long and with three kids it was a struggle. Once we settled on a place the water was full of large rocks, gross bugs and dirty water.

We left after about 30 minutes as no one was having fun.

There were some park rangers doing some landscaping that were very nice. When that is the highlight of a trip to the lake though...

This place is amazing. U can spend hours and hours of endless fun without getting bored. But be sure to get there early to get a spot with shade. I go here every year and it is something u would not want to miss!

Folsom Lake offers a variety of activities for most everyone. This is a very large Northern California reservoir supplying water and recreation facilites to large regional population base. Here's the description from their website: "Located at the base of the Sierra foothills, the lake and recreation area offers opportunities for hiking, biking, running, camping, picnicking, horseback riding, water-skiing and boating. Fishing offers trout, catfish, big and small mouth bass or perch. For cyclists, there is a 32-mile long bicycle path that connects Folsom Lake with many Sacramento County parks before reaching Old Sacramento. The park also includes Lake Natoma, downstream from Folsom Lake, which is popular for crew races, sailing, kayaking and other aquatic sports.

Day use fees are $10 to $12 depending on the access location. With 75 miles of shoreline, the lake has multiple entrances into the park.

Although the obvious focus of a lake is on boating and water sports, I like this area best for it's hiking and running trails. There are still remnants in some historical areas of flumes and waterways supplying water to early California mining camps along the now-dammed American River.

There is some potable water at campgrounds and established access points, but if hiking and running on trails you must carry your own water as you may not come across water for several miles.

Folsom Lake is down many feet at the present time due to the severe drought in California. For boating it may get very bad by the end of summer, but right now there is enough water to launch boats. In normal years it's beautiful and is used by millions of visitors.

Rented a boat here over holiday weekend and had a great time. Water is pretty clean and very warm. Ample parking and clean facilities.

Get that boat or jet ski or both out and have some fun. This lake is LARGE. Tons of places to set up picnic on a beach. Early morning up river is good for fishing. Once sun is out, the fun begins.

We camped at Beals Point Campground. We appreciated how there was shade and space between campsites. It felt very private. The bathhouse could be a little bit of a walk depending on your site. The showers take quarters; 2 minutes per quarter ($0.50 minimum). Our biggest issue was that our site was closely surrounded by poison oak which our daughter ended up getting a rash from. A warning, or signs, or even removal of the plants would have been nice since they outlined the pavement of our campsite.

We have boated there, swam and just had great family fun...clean! Great for riding horses as well....

What do you do on searing Sacramento day or even a mild one? Find water and where's the best water? Folsom lake.

Cool thing about Folsom is how many different things there are to do and kinds of water you can find.

There's two big beaches with lots of sand, big grassy areas, bar-b-cues at Beale's Point and Granite Bay. Excellent for families, picnics, easy swimming and parties. Or get out on the water and boat, waterski, sailboard, jet ski or sail. It's a good sized lake with plenty of room to play. Also, there are lots and lots of private coves, picnic spots that you can drive or boat to with big placid water. There's excellent and beautiful paddle boarding and kayaking spots.

In addition, there's great biking, hiking, excellent horseback riding and yes...of course...fishing.

Folsom Lake is in our backyard,we fish,go boating camping,hiking bird watching, wildlife sightings,all water sports.It has hundreds of acres of open space just to do what fancies you.They have a swim beach with floaty toys,kyaks they have lifegards in the summer time.They have 3 campgrounds 2 on the Granite Bay side and one on the Salmon Falls side of ther lake.Boat launches at 5 different areas on the lake.Easy access for handicapped to get by the water camp fish.We come here at least 4 times a month all year round.Fees are taken at the front gates

We had a wonderful afternoon at the lake--you could BBQ, fly a kite, take a walk, ride a bike or just sit and enjoy the view.

It is a nice place if you get lucky enough to go on a day when there are not many people, which pretty much never happens during the boating season. I would rather take my chances with the strong current at the river than deal with the idiots who boat here.

We've hike, boated and played all over this area. There are great trails with nice views, wildlife and nature. Unfortunately, during drought conditions, as we are experiencing now, the lake is very low, so water recreation is limited. There are still plenty of land-based exploring around the lake. Some areas have free access. Others require an stake park entrance fee.

This is a wonderful lake and highly visited by boaters, including fast boats and water skiers. There are still upper reaches of the two branches of the lake that are 5 mph, so its quiet and peaceful up there. Tons of public beaches and lots of place to spread out. Great place for a picnic and swimming in summer.

Spent 4th of July at Folsom Lake with about 50 thousand people and it was a great time. The park is well maintained and the staff does an exceptional job of keeping everything in order.

We went Boasting on the lake. Very rough in the middle so we went up towards Salmon creek bridge. Water was great

On our return journey from Eldorado we spent half a day here.The lake is very big with beaches on three sides.It has designated shallow swimming area where kids had a great time.Life jackets for kids are available.Very good camp ground with clean camp sites.Enjoy the long walking trails.Good place for cycling.You can try water sports like kayaking,rafting and canoeing.while driving we observed people enjoying water sports at the southern tip of lake,where there is small parking area.You have beautiful views.Nice place for family picnic.Display your parking tickets on windshield as some parking tickets are valid in other slots of the area.

Amazing spot for a walking along lakeshore- in Fall, Winter, and Spring, and wonderful boating lake! Fun beaches for kids with swim areas (Beals Point). I ❤️Folsom Lake!

This is actually a reservoir but is still quite scenic. Especially as you get into northern parts of the fingers, where the rivers enter the lake. Granite bay is probably best beach. Beals is very nice too. The boat slip @ Browns ravine is very convenient.

This lake was peaceful and quiet when our family visited it in February. It's a nice place to just sit around for a picnic away from the busy commercial centers. A great place for people who enjoy nature, though it may not be a famous touristy place, nor it is known as a beautiful picture perfect scenic location.

I prefer Folsom Lake in the Winter - it is so fun to walk out on the lake bed - amazing landscape to explore. Water is clearer in winter than in the summer which is great for the dog but the lower water levels make the chance for cockle burrs more prevalent which are very hard to get out of dog fur.
This is a multi use area so if with dog beware of fast bike riders and horses.

You read that right. Right in the city. So any trails around picturesque Folsom Lake. Trailheads are easily accessible. Whether it's a short or long run this is tops. Swim, kayak, paddle, sail or just hang by the beach. Water level is great due to a wet winter.

Year-round this place has something to offer to anyone who wants to be outside and re-charge their batteries. Hiking, biking, swimming, boating, beach, lake, river, photography, wildlife, camping, nature...whatever it is- if you look, you will find it.

This review is solely for Negro Bar State Recreational Area within the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area.

This is as good as it gets for family/dog friendly recreation areas. There's picnic tables, shade, beach, clean public restrooms, and water fountains.

We usually head towards the right after entering the main parking lot. Follow the narrow road and signs towards kayak/SUP rentals and you'll get to another lot with port-a-potties. Keep going! There's a third, swing-around parking lot with a few picnic benches to the right and a restroom. These have awning and grass for the kiddies/furbabies to play in all day. Get a game of cornhole or frisbee going, or soccer. There's BBQ grills available first come, first served.

This is just the start of it; to the left, down the wooden stairs, you get to the beach area. THIS is the star of Negro Bar. Here, people can use the picnic tables in the shade of the big trees or bring their own canopies for a shaded spot right on the sand. The water is icy until about June, but that doesn't stop people from jumping in. There's kayakers/SUP-ers/tubers/swimmers, you name it. Everyone is having a good time. There's a separate bathroom down below that's just as clean, so no need to trek up the hill to use facilities. There's also BBQs down here, though many opt to bring their own grills.

You can see squirrels, bald eagles, wild turkeys, and lots of other wildlife around, so it's quite picturesque. There's even an island with wild blackberries in the summers that you can paddle/swim out to!

All-in-all great recreation area in the Sacramento region.

Parking is $10, and yes, they do take credit card.

Good for walks, watch poison oak. The lake is always enjoyable

The hiking is awesome right now, see things that have been under 50 feet of water for 70 years. As I wright this (July, 2015), the drought has caused the water level to drop so far that they are wondering if they will be able to deliver water. The upside is the opportunity to see things that have been hidden for many years.

The photo attached is a screen shot of a GPS tracking app. Of our walk. We were still nearly 100 feet from the present shore line. The geology is super cool and there are artifacts of 70 years of human water sports and inundation. Right now, you can explore the formerly submerged ruins of a small settlement and find interesting tools, debris and materials that had been lost over time.

You can still boat, swim and fish in the lake but I think the real draw is the chance to explore the effects of submersion on the land and plant life.

operated my california state parks, has everything you would want in a lake recreation area. excellent boating, kayaking, sup ing, sailing, skiing, mountain bike trails, camping, geocaching, lots of parking, several entrances. even has old ruins to explore when water level is down. bald eagles spotted here several times!

The place is excellent for boating. We went on a Sunday afternoon and the place was not crowded. The place is picturesque. The admission fee for the whole day was 12$ per vehicle. It is free for pedestrians and cyclists.

We spent a short day at Folsom Lake at Beal's Point. The beach was clean, beachcombers were nice, the water was refreshing. I liked the rental area where one could rent floaties for one or big enough for 10!

We're used to the Dunes in the Midwest and found the sand at Folsom to be rocky and tough on the toes. Suggest beach shoes for walking

If you're into trail running or hiking this is the place. The area is surrounded by many beautiful and connected trails. The lake is dried up of course but the trails are in very good shape. We were in the Folsom area for an organized running event and were so impressed we are planning a return trip. Our event had us running all over the Folsom Lake area all the way to Auburn. A very scenic area. Really enjoyed Rattlesnake Flats.

Well I'm very partial to this place because I grew up around this place. It's a great place to camp or hike or swim in the summer.

Folsom lake is a beautiful place to go camping and hiking. Watching the sun rise in the morning and the sun setting at night. Sleeping under the stars. It is very peaceful. Easy access to the water if you have a motor boat. Kayaking on the lake is fun too.

This SRA covers about twenty different areas, there are boat launches, picnic areas, swimming areas and river walks. Check with the rangers to find what you are looking for, as you could wander for days through all the different park areas they have!

it;s okay, but it's really OKAY if you are in a boat water skiing, or even jet skiing. Fun. Other wise, pretty, but boring.

We actually have a lake in Sacramento!!! Dam-made, and right in the middle of the burbs. Easy access, lots of water (til mid July when they lower the level). A great place for boating, picnics, and hiking. A good place to cool off during Sacramento's summer days.

Visited here in the summer, it is a nice quiet place to relax by the shore, read, sun and swim I. The water. It is quite a walk from the parking down the the waterfront yet worth it. There is a fee for admission into the park for parking. Just purchase the yearly pass if going often, that will give you your money’s worth.

With low water, the lake is muddy. The surrounding area has no grass, no tree, no sand beach. Hard to find the right word for what it is. Chaos?

Good place to hang out with family or solo. Lots of activities to do like hiking, swimming, barbecue, walking, running, biking. There are lot of picnic areas to grill. Just beware that there’s $12 day parking fee otherwise worth to spend a day with family!!

I go to Folsom once per month. One time, my flight out was very late, so I took time to park at the recreation area and go for a run parallel to the water way. What a welcome and refreshing break.

I must visit Folsom Point at least several times a week so I can find gorgeous sunsets or bright and cheerful sunrises. I can literally spend hours there! There is solitude and a chance to rejuvenate just by being around all the lovely oak trees and the still water. Waterfowl are consistently resting there, especially geese. Taking photos near the boat ramp (when it is not being updated) is my favorite. Check it out!
You will need to pay for parking unless you have a parks and rec pass. Usually I have no problem hanging out there without a pass if I am there when most people are not using Folsom Point. I do plan on getting a parks and rec pass since I seem to be there quite often.

Popular multi use recreation lake area, miles of trails, State Park, biggest lake local to Sacramento area.

I just love nature. Nice paths and trails. I do get upset at the Lance Armstrong wannabe's who race through and disrupt nature.

The great drought has impacted our ability to enjoy Lake Folsom. Its one of those lakes that makes one realize how important water conservation is and how dire our current drought is.

We need rain.

In terms of current conditions, its not that fun to visit

When we have lots of rain and a full lake, it is a fun place to go for picnics, boating, and water play. We have been there for couple's romantic picnics, family outings, and large relative gatherings and they all have been great.

Balancing the current conditions of the lake and the superlative times we have had in the past, I am rating it currently an average experience.

If we get over this drought and the lake gets full again, the rating would definitely improve as a fun place to go.

This was well worth the entrance fee ($12) for us because of the serene beauty, clean facilities, and large area to ramble with our dog.

I only wish we had our bicycles with us - there were lots of cyclists having fun!

We love to float the American River in Rancho Cordova. There is 20 of us, we decided to camp at Beals point this year. We booked the campsites through a website. Upon arriving at the campground, its pretty much smack dab in the middle of town, not quite out ruggedly in the forest. We had 3 campsites, they were actually very nice. Off in the distance they are working on a water treatment plant, not on the weekend but weekdays, you could hear the equipment. We didn't realize that you have to pay extra for your second vehicle, you can have 2 per site. If you have more than 2 cars you have to park far from the sites in the overflow. The staff decides that cleaning the only one bathroom at 8:00 Sunday morning, therefore leaves a very long line.......bad scheduling. The lake access is close enough, however if you have a water vessel there is no place at Beals to launch, you have to go out of the park close to maybe 3 miles or better to find a launch ramp. PS make sure your food is put away.....the squirels got yogi bear beat!!!!!

This is a great place for mountain biking and hiking. Bathrooms were under construction last time we were there and we had to use porta potties. Otherwise everything was great!

The trails on the south side and the the north side of Folsom Lake are great for trail running. Stunning views of the lake and variety of terrain. On the south side you can run from Folsom Point all the way to Salmon Falls Bridge. That is over 30 miles of trails. Easy to follow trail. Great for hiking too.

Love the lake!

We live 15 minutes walking to the dam!

Great place for dogs and family ♥️

Clean too !!

We visited this lake on the way in from Lake Tahoe into Sacramento. Looked like an ok lake to take a boat out. Better signs would have enhanced our experience as looking at the map they give you at the entrance and trying to find the places for real being our first time was a little frustrating. We did not manage to go fishing which was our main objective. $12 entrance fee. Ended up fishing by Negro Bar which was not fruitful. We were probably in the wrong spot as it was shallow and rocky.

Fire the people that let all the water out! We've had a drought for the last 4 years, and finally we had enough water to fill the lake, they didn't fill it all the way to the top. Half way though the summer they let the water out so you couldn't take your boat out. poor water management.

Our first day in California fighting jet lag, we took a long walk and got our first experience of California flora and fauna. Turkeys wandered through the picnic area while we strolled along ooing and aahing at familiar (but slightly different) flowers, trees and pine cones.

Nice trails, pretty beach, plenty of parking. Lots of people walking/biking on the trails, or out swimming/kayaking/paddleboarding on the water.

This is a pretty cool little river access area/park. There's a $10 per vehicle entry fee. Visiting on a holiday weekend (hot Memorial Day weekend), it was packed upon our late morning arrival. It was even more packed when we left appx 3 hrs later.

We just came out to just paddle around the the river for a couple hours. There were a lot of people on the river this holiday weekend...kayaks, canoes, & paddleboards. There's a loading ramp where you can back your vehicle to, to load/unload your equipment. My buddy went to the rental facility and rented a canoe ($25/hr).

We headed upstream toward the prison. At times, paddling my kayak against the current was a challenge...but it's not too bad. There's a sign above the river warning about your limit of travel because you'd be getting to close to the Folsom prison. Don't go beyond the sign. Paddling back is much easier as you're now moving with the current.

Clean park with plenty of overflow parking locations. There's also camping and hiking, but we didn't participate in these activities.

This hidden gem is hidden within Rattlesnake Bar. There is a parking area, but note that there are no restrooms at this location. Avery's Pond Trail is a 2.7 mile hike perfect for those who are looking to enjoy the outdoors without travelling too far from home if you live in the vicinity. This trail offers the relief of being removed from noise and traffic. I would not recommend wheelchairs for this particular trail. Blackberry bushes surround you on this rugged trail, along with beautiful views of Folsom Lake. There are a couple picnic areas as well. The trail loops around Avery's Pond. There are plenty of hills that give one satisfaction for exercise. I used Google Lens to explore different trees/plants. I found a persimmon tree. I will surely be back!😉

Folsom Lake has a variety of recreation opportunities. I like fishing best, but best done early in the morning and on upper reaches of the lake. Many species include crappie, bluegill, bass, kokanee, catfish and trout. The skiers chop up the water before long. Best way to beat the valley heat.

If you are searching for a location where the entire family unit can enjoy themselves, Folsom Lake Recreational area surrounds Folsom Lake and is situated in the foothills of Sierra Nevada. It spans across three counties and the City of Folsom. Experience a simplistic, down to earth day of relaxation. This is a perfect setting for everyone of all ages. Plenty of sand and water for young children in which to play. School aged children, boogie boards, rafts and fun blend in the sun. Don't forget to bring and frequently apply broad spectrum sunscreen as the summers are hot and dry. Teenagers, rafts and paddle boarding are just some of the fun, energetic activities. Adults enjoy swimming among many other leisurely ways to relax. The environment is eco friendly to natural wildlife. Hike, bike along trails, picnic or relax. Kick back and watch the families of ducks, Canada geese, row boaters and canoeists glide along without the noise of motorized engines. Take in the serenity of this peaceful environment. Folsom Lake State Recreational Area is wonderful for horseback riding, bike trails, hiking and camping. Spend the entire day the way we were designed to live.

While driving around lake for photo-taking, I saw some families bringing their kids swimming or boating at the lake side, some just rest under the tree shade, some trees somehow are under the water by the lake, a special view you don't see elsewhere.

Dog loved it, though occasional ranger will give ticket if dog not on leash. Lake water was clear along edges (not like in summer when boat wakes churn up mud). Rock formations to climb (boulder) on near North end of road from Douglas Blvd entrance.

The Folsom PD is AWESOME, HOWEVER every since the park rangers became a police force and allowed the carry guns it is just too much. They spy from miles away for hours on end. You don't really see them when you need help because most are hiding in the bushes with their binoculars or nailing campers for literally being 1/2 inch off the pavement, no it was not me or anyone I knew I just saw it happen. The "offender" offered his apologies and moved to park it better and the ranger pulled his gun!!!! No joke, sick. NOT SAFE FOR FAMILES especially if you park incorrectly. Plus they close off all the off road areas when there is NO need and I mean NO need for it. They just seem to lazy to open and close the gates as they should be.

So much to explore all along the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. We love the picnic tables at Lake Natoma.

We have been to the lake many times over the years. Boating, waverunners, paddle boards or just picnics and playing with the Grandkids. Always a fun time!

Actually owned a business in Granite Bay. Before starting my day, I would stop by the equestrian center, sipped my Starbucks while feeding an apple to a horse and then picnic at lunch at a beach. It raised its fees to $10 a day because California State is broke.
ay

Not far from Sacramento lake Folsom is a scenic place worth spending a weekend getting water from tahoe mountain range this lake is situated near Folsom city presenting u light blue color scenic surrounding bet green n brown hills n around r posh residential villas

I live in Folsom, so I visit Folsom Lake often. This State Recreational Area (SRA) covers a vast expanse around the lake, so it encompasses many different facilities.

1. Folsom Point. Folsom Point is on the south end of the lake. It features a boat launch and picnic areas overlooking the lake. From here you can see Folsom Dam to the west and dikes on the south end. This is a hilly area preferred by boaters, dog walkers and off-road biking. The trails are dirt paths, but the dikes to the south are paved and provide connections to good biking routes.

2. Beals Point. Beals Point is on the west side, accessible from Douglas Avenue in Granite Bay. This area features a large beach, boat launch, camping, equestrian trails and several bike paths. As a geocacher (geocaching.com) there are quite a few hides on this side of the lake, but you face the danger of poison oak patches if you go off the beaten paths. Again, views of the lake and the dam are enjoyable. There are many picnic areas and hiking trails. This area is popular with bikers too.

3. Browns Ravine. Brown's Ravine is a gated boat docking area with relatively modern boating facilities. Many boats are docked year-round and there is a popular boat launch here too. Good strolls and views for the whole family. There are many back-woods hiking trails here too, including geocaches. Again, watch out for poison oak if you go off the trails.

4. North area. Folsom Lake is fed by the American River flowing south from the Auburn area. As you go further north the terrain become more hilly, approaching canyon-like features. Most activity here is from boats and kayaks on the the water, as the trails are rugged and rocky, and it's a long hike from the Auburn entrance.

All-in-all, the lake area is relatively wild and undeveloped except for the beaches and boat launches. By far the most popular activity for locals are the boat launches and the extensive network or trails, both pave and dirt paths. The lake trails provide many good hiking trips, some up in the hills and some beside the lake itself.

Folsom Lake recently saw some historic lows in the water levels, but in the winter of 2015/2016 we had enough rain to bring the levels close to normal, allowing water sports to resume. Being large and mostly rural there are plenty of opportunities to see wildlife and to find secluded corners where you and rest and simply enjoy nature. There are hundreds of oak trees in the SRA and animals such as wild turkeys, geese, all sorts of squirrels and rodentia, deer, and even a coyote or two.

I give it 4 stars only because it is best suited for bikers, dog walkers, outdoorsmen and athletes, as opposed to the easy strolls preferred by senior citizens like myself.

I like to bike ride and kayak I have a small RV and this is a great place to go the bike trails are about the nicest around easy getting to the lake if you want to enjoy the water your not way off in the country so lots of stuff to do I stayed at Beals Point camp RV ground its very clean has bathroom & showers full hook up very clean and well run campground there are two sides to this camp ground one for RV and one for tents I did not stay on the tent side

My wife and I did an 8 mile hike from Negro Bar to the Folsom Dam and across the Folsom Crossing Bridge and back! We didn't intend to walk that far, but as soon as we saw the dam from the trail, we decided to walk all the way there. Well marked trails, both paved and dirt. Water fountains and clean restrooms could be found along the path. LOTS of cyclists on the trail but the trail is marked for walkers to stay left so you can see the bikes coming toward you. Great sights to see: the river, kayakers on the river and Folsom Dam.

We came Folsom Lake to do SUP. We entered at Beals Point Recreation Center. We paid $12 to get in only to realize the waterline was too far to haul all of our gear down to it. It was at least 1/4 mile away from the LOT! We used the bathrooms, then decided to go to Lake Natoma. Fortunately, we didn’t have to pay again to get into Black Miners Bar. This place would be fine if you want to come for a picnic or swim (without a ton of gear). Don’t recommend it for any kind of paddling activities! I didn’t take any pictures.

Had a lovely day here. I hited a bike at nearby Folsom Bikes and spent the morning cycling along the many cycle and walking paths. You can also swim in thr lake and there is a nice beach area by the car park.

This year the lake is full of water, to the point that you've got a significant amount of vegetation under water, and that hasn't been the case for the previous four years. If I could give a rating for having the lake full again, it'd be a 5+, fer shur!

But since I must rate everything, including the State Recreation part of it, that drops it to a 3. Why? Old, out of date, and not maintained very well. The access has been cut back tremendously by the State installing gates and moving in humps of dirt (then seeds planted on them), to prevent the use of certain vehicle-boat launch and parking areas. The grass on the verge is not being cut well, the shrubs and trees are getting to a point where they can damage vehicles that drive to close to the edge of the road. Oh, yes, the road surfaces are rapidly failing in most areas, with patches only haphazardly applied, creating a bit of a bouncy-jouncy roadway that can shake apart even a Hummer. Lazy, or just out of money (because of incompetence)?

Still, it's great to get out into the water again, and in a naturally beautiful area.

Enjoyed the two nights we stayed here. Clean, spacious, well maintained, nice friendly people staying here as well. Huge pinecones we're using as table centerpiece on our travels. Fairly priced, easy to get to sights around town... We eye liner we're lucky to have good warm ish weather for February. Beautiful sunsets.
Would recommend.

Spent a nice Saturday morning hiking near the lake. Not a challenging hike but the scenery was beautiful. Started to get warm in the afternoon so I would recommend early morning or late afternoons during the summer.

A great family place to go have some fun in the sun. I am partial to Beals Point because I worked out there as a teenager in the snack back which is now fully owned and operated by a very nice family

I love taking my kids to the beach here. I just wish I had more time this year. I have been going here for over 20 years & it's one of my favorite spots to hang out.

Wow, this is really a nice place to camp. You can connect to 34 (!!) miles of biking/hiking trails plus there's plenty to bike/hike within the park itself. The beaches are wonderful, there are raft and kayak trips to enjoy, birds and wildlife to watch, ravines like Brown's and Snipes Pershing to explore, and large private campsites with decent showers (bring quarters) to boot.

We particularly enjoyed the site because there's a lot to explore outside the campground too. OMG, don't miss the Museum of Wonder and Delight, newly opened in downtown Folsom (see separate review). Then there's the historic downtown area, the historic and working museums, Folsom Prison museum, and tons of coffee shops and restaurants to sample.

All totaled this was a top notch experience. Enjoy.

Ever since the drought this place is a ghost town. There is not enough water to float a boat or go swimming. Everything is closed down and over grown.

Great beaches, sunrises and sunset - full moon, new moon yoga. Didn't really have a mosquito or pest issue for yoga or journal workshops either. It was clean along the shorelines and beaches. Great friendly neighbors with the occasional party goer having a bonfire.

My lady and I went for a drive to Folsom lake. It was very nice and surprised me with the size and the lack of people there ! We had several areas all to ourselves and the Flora of the area is spectacular. The advent of being to 4 wheel on the beach was an added bonus to me ! With most places closed to that in California, being to get right on the lake side was great ! We spent about 5 hrs there and thoroughly enjoyed it

We reserved a picnic area for a group of 80 and had a fabulous experience. Easy to get to, picnic site clean, and grills and tables in great shape. Close to lake for breezes and views. Would highly recommend it.

When I visited last, the water was near record low... I walked out into what should have been lake... it was hiking trails. You could see an old settlement that had been underwater since the lake was formed years ago. Pray for Snowpack.

We go here so frequently we bought a pass. This makes our cost to use this area as well as other State parks very reasonable. We like to watch the sunset over the lake. There is ample opportunity for a variety of water sports including fishing, boating, jet skis, water skiing etc. In addition there are many trails for hiking and biking. There are many beaches with picnic areas too. I highly recommend this State park.

Great rv camping with reliable hook-ups. We prefer the sites with the table and campfire ring on the side rather than in the back. The sites are plenty big with good space between sites. Really enjoyed the bike trails both paved and unpaved.

I love getting away by coming here. The bike trails are great and its a good workout through the hills. Being near the water is also very relaxing and peaceful. It’s a great place to unwind from stress and get rejuvenated.

Not nearly as crowded during the Fall and the dogs love to walk up here. The lake is a little low now but still plenty of water and great place for a quiet walk.

Beautiful well-kept place lots to do beautiful area hot in the summer but the lake is nice and cool good for bicycle riding and hiking

Currently (as you may already know) Northern California is going through a severe drought, and no where is this fact more apparent than it is here at this once bountiful, beautiful lake. It's a shame really! This is not the lake you've heard about nor does it look beautiful at the moment. I hope all that changes soon. If there's any bright side to the story is that a once submerged city is making a reappearance. You can actually see the town and (sadly) go for a stroll in its ruins. While this is sad in way, it also offers a new feature (for the time being) that you will not normally see. Go for a picnic and see the sights, hike the trails, ride a bike...and hope that the waters return for everyone's sake.

My son lives in the area and on a recent visit decided to go to lake for a cool down and a family picnic. The water was nice and clear and cooling. That is about the only good thing I can say. The picnic area is far from water for small children. The tables were very old and beat up. Do not wear sandals as I did because there is lots of dirt to walk on before you get to the water. At the water it seems like the lake overflowed onto the parking lot because that is what you are standing on in the water all the way out to where swim area stops. Very rough on feet. Other people just drove cars up to water edge and sat in chairs in water or swim off from vehicles. It was not a pleasant venture for family.

We decided to take an afternoon and go exploring around Folsom Lake. We just moved to Roseville 7 months ago and are doing investigation for the summer. We discovered a grand place to go for swimming, boating, camping (if that's your thing), and general outdoor entertainment. Granite Beach was very sandy and we'll definitely get back as soon as the weather gets closer to 100 degrees. You can rent PWC, boats, kayaks, and all kinds of water equipment. There is a massive boat launch and tons of parking available. A $12 state park fee gets you into all of the gates around Folsom Lake for the entire day. The downside is California is in one of its worst drought periods in modern history causing the lake to drop to precariously low levels. That said, if you keep the boats in the middle, you'll be just fine. I will definitely be back and some day we'll be bringing our own boat for a day of play! I would of went with excellent but due to the low water level and a few closed attractions nearby I went with very good. Take your family and your friends for a good time by the water, you won't regret it!

Went here with my dad. Remember wishing that I could return with cash and friends for one of the lake boats they had for rent. It was hot the day we visited so bring lots of water in the summer. Not too crowded and nice water.

Folsom is a great melting pot of boaters, Jetskiers Campers, Hikers, Nature Lovers, Bycilists, Fisherman, Water Skiers, Equestrians and just about everything else. Can get rather hot in the summer, so plan accordingly and plan to get in the water. Like all of California's Wild Places, it has its share of critters, including Rattlesnakes in summer especially. Use a little caution when hiking or exploring. Beals Point RV campground is a good place to stay and close to everything.

The well maintained Folsom Lake State Recreation Area is a very good place for biking, jogging and/or walking along the well laid out trails. And, if one prefers, a nice setting for exercising and/or relaxing. In short - enjoying nature.

The beach was overrun with bird and dog feces. The bathrooms were gross and the whole place kinda smelled. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was underwhelming.

We wanted to have a picnic near the lake. The park rangers were excellent and most helpful. When we got to the picnic area there was plenty of parking, tables, BBQ's, bike trails, etc. The problem was, we are in a drought and the lake was low and quite a distance from the picnic area. We will be back when lake is full.

If you like water and boating and swimming, this is as good as it gets. I go every year... but not just in summer. It is a year-round place to be out in nature with many access points and picnic areas.

Just wanted to drive through and see a few things. Lovely trees shrubs and grasses. Good facilities and everyone seemed to be having a blast.

We are so lucky to have this gem in our backyard! Wonderful place to hang by the shore line, boat and/or wakeboard.

Been going to Folsom lake for years. Always something to see. This year there is an ample amount of water for boats and swimmers. Just walking around the lake is wonderful exercise and one can cycle around on the bike trail.

We have been enjoying Folsom Lake for years. The water is warm enough to swim in. Both forks offer a spot to tie up to other boats or anchor. Float casually in the no wake zone. Gas and snacks at the Marina make your day last from early sun to sundown. floating toilet - the SS relief - will also allow you to stay on the lake longer. Please wear a vest and keep your people safe. Oh and don't get even within spitting distance of the nets/buoys near the dam - alarms will go off (as I did find out). It is a post 9-11 safety feature. You can still get awesome views of the Dam.

This lake provides a great outdoor experience. If you bicycle, boat, fish, ride a horse, walk, sun bathe, or run marathons, you'll find that activity here. Boating from Granite Bay is one of our favorite summer time activities. Don't forget to go to the dock store at Brown's Ravine for the solid frozen ice cream treats and Doritos to feed the ever present ducks and geese around the dock area.

Folsom Lake is always a challenge. Since it was built for flood control the water level changes daily. When its full, its an amazing lake with good boat access and beaches. Right now, its low with minimal boat access and logs and brush cover the beaches. This coming summer will be one the best of the last 5 years. It will be full and the beaches should be clean. There is minimal food access so you need to bring your own. There are many camp grounds and you need to reserve early. If you are into biking you will be in heaven. There is single track cross country and paved road bike paths. It is a great place for families.

Fun place to ride horses; miles of trails, seems to be safe. Occasional crazy motorcycle riders have caused havoc with horses. Otherwise, watch for hikers and bicyclists.

The reservoirs here are huge and they are developed for water sports and recreation. A refuge in hot weather or anytime of the year.

Went for an early morning walk with friends who live nearby. They knew all sorts of little local history tidbits, without that it would still have been a nice nature walk but with their knowledge it was awesome. I gather this place gets real busy in summer, but we were there in winter and it was very quiet and peaceful. We saw a fox, several deer and lots of birds too.