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Located at the base of the Sierra foothills, the 18,000-acre 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. Visitors can also see the Folsom Powerhouse (once called 'the greatest operative electrical plant on the American continent'), which from 1885 to 1952 produced 11,000 volts of electricity for Sacramento residents. 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.
For a full listing of hours and facilities click Folsom Lake.
Current Water Level
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Wildlife
Valley oak, blue oak, black oak, and occasional oracle oak, as well as digger pines dot the open woodlands around Folsom Lake and Auburn SRA, and toyon and California buckeye are everywhere. In addition, poison oak is present in many parts of the park. In the spring, there is a wonderful variety of colorful wildflowers including Indian paintbrush, California poppy, larkspur, lupine, bordicaea, fiddleneck, dutchman's pipe and monkey flower.
Black-tailed deer, ground squirrels, raccoons, skunks, opossums, gray foxes, rabbits and coyotes are often seen in the park. Mountain lions and bobcats are seen occasionally. Beaver and muskrat live in the Mormon Island Wetlands, which is also a wonderful area for bird watching.
Canada geese usually winter at Folsom Lake and there are heron rookeries on Anderson Island Nature Preserve and the south shore of Lake Natoma. In spring several kinds of ducks can usually be seen. Year round residents of the area include blackbirds, scrub jays, quails, bushtits, wrens and towhees. Flycatchers can be found in the dry chaparral. Look for kingfishers, grebes and gulls near the water. Red-tailed hawks, kesterls, eagles and other raptors can often be seen soaring over the lake.
Rattlesnakes can be found in this area. They are important members of the natural community. They will not attack, but if disturbed or cornered, they will defend themselves. Give them distance and respect!
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Wakeboarding School
P.O. Box 1895
Folsom, California
95763-1895
916 532 9253
Launch Wakeboarding School was started by Ryan Fraser in 1999. Since then, Launch has been successfully teaching people of all ages and all abilities about the sport of wakeboarding. Launch even introduced a first time boaters coarse that is the first class of its kind. This course is designed to help those that are just getting into the sport.
website
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Parasailing
For rentals on Folsom Lake, call (530) 333-1348
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Hiking Biking and Horsetrails
Folsom Lake State Recreation Area's 32-mile long paved bicycle path links the lake with many other county parks along the way before ending in Sacramento. Beginning at Beals Point at the lake to Discovery Park in Old Sacramento, the trail goes by the southwest corner of the lake, the west shore of Lake Natoma, and the American River. The bike path is considered to be one of the finest of its kind in the nation.
Trail Map
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Folsom Lake Yatch Club
P.O. Box 156
Folsom, CA 95763
916-208-4894 (webmaster)
Folsom Lake Yacht Club was organized in 1956 to foster and perpetuate the sport of sailing, to conduct sailing activities, to conduct and encourage the growth and development of sailboat racing, to conduct social activities among members of the club and mutually interested organizations and to uphold the principles of good sportsmanship and the highest standards of the sport of sailing. Folsom Lake Yacht Club is a non-profit organization and is a member of SBRA, PICYA, US Sail and YRA
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Fishing
Fishing is very popular on Folsom Lake. Fish in the lake include trout, catfish, large and smallmouth bass, blue gil, salmon, kokanee and once upon a time there were sturgeon. A valid California fishing license is required.
Fishsniffer Online
The Angler Net
Northern California Bass Fishing
Fisher's Net
Bass Tournaments
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Boat & Watercraft Rentals
(916)223-8129
Folsom Lake Boat Rentals is the only ski, pleasure boat and waverunner rental at Folsom Lake. We are conveniently located near the Granite Bay boat launch ramp. We have beautiful Ski, Patio, Fishing Boats and Seadoo waverunners ready and waiting for your boating fun.
Boats come fully equipped with ski ropes, life vests, ski vests, ski flags, depth finders and stereos. To add to your boating pleasure you may also rent water skis, tubes, wake boards, knee boards, chairs, umbrellas, and more...
website
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Camping
Camping Reservations
1-800-444-7275
Beals Point and Negro Bar Campsites:
Reservations 04/01 to 09/30 each year.
Beals Point Tent section is closed through 3/31/04
Beales Point RV section, 1st come / 1st served through 3/31/04.
2004 Peninsula Campsites
Closed until 4/30/04
Reservations 5/24/04 through 09/06/2004
Online Reservations
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Marina
P.O. Box 125
Folsom, Ca. 95763
(916) 933-1300
Folsom Lake Marina, which is one of the largest inland marinas in California, is located in Browns Ravine at Folsom Lake State Recreational Area. It is the only Marina on Folsom Lake and is open year round. The whole Browns Ravine area is operated by a concessionaire for the State Park System.
The marina offers something for everyone. It has 685 wet slips and 175 dry, which can accommodate boats up to a 26 ft boat. There is currently a waiting list for all size slips of three to six years, depending on the size of the boat
Its snack bar offers a large selection of candy, chips, soft drinks, ice cream as well as heat and eat sandwiches. Beer in not sold in the Park. Located within its snack bar area, the marina also has both a small bait and tackle shop and a marine supply store. It offers most the items required by law to keep both you and your boat safe and legal. A good assortment of ski ropes and a variety of other boating supplies our offered. The bait shop, while small, does have worms, night crawlers, a various assortment of lures and basic fishing supplies. The marina does not sell fishing licenses.
Marina Live Cam
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Mountain Biking
The Salmon Falls ride, also known as the Darrington Mountain Bike Trail, is a classic ride outside of Sacramento. Fast and fun with short climbs and technical descents. This ride starts off on the South Fork of the American River with a short climb that takes you along a cliff overlooking the river. After riding about four miles in on the trail you get some great views of Folsom Lake.
For those riders who feel like challenging themselves, there is a great climb about six miles in on the ride. This service road will provide a challenging uphill and a fast long descent. Take Hwy 50 to El Dorado Hills Boulevard and head North, follow this road for about eleven miles until you reach the Salmon Falls Bridge. The trailhead is on the left hand side and there is parking on both sides of the bridge.
An excellent trail runs from Sweetwater Creek to the Salmon Falls Bridge, where you can connect with the Darrington Trail on the North side of the bridge. Directions to Sweetwater Creek - Take Hwy 50 to El Dorado Hills Boulevard and head North, follow this road 7.8 miles until you reach Sweetwater Creek. The trailhead parking is alongside the road. From Folsom, follow Green Valley Road to Salmon Falls Road. Turn left on Salmon Falls Road and go 3.7 miles to the trailhead.
Dike Eight Trail - Take Hwy 50 to El Dorado Hills Boulevard and head North, follow this road for about 5 miles, turn left on Green Valley Road, continue for about a mile until you see the dike, park on the right side. There is a fire road that takes you up to the lake and you can hook up with the single-track from there.
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