Folsom Lake State Recreation Area 7755 Folsom-Auburn Road Folsom, CA 95630 (916) 988-0205

Our Mission The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and Folsom Lake education of the people of California by helping olsom Lake’s to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological F State Recreation Area diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities miles of shoreline and for high-quality outdoor recreation. waterside trails attract millions of boaters, equestrians, cyclists,

California State Parks supports equal access. and hikers each year. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (916) 988-0205. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact [email protected].

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service

www.parks.ca.gov

Folsom Lake State Recreation Area 7755 Folsom-Auburn Road Folsom, CA 95630 (916) 988-0205

© 2008 California State Parks (Rev. 2016) F olsom Lake State willow, redbud, tule, milkweed, sedge grass, Recreation Area offers and native grapevines. PLANTS AND WILDLIFE scenic panoramas After the 1848 gold discovery, most of Blue oaks, interior live of open grasslands, the Nisenan lands were given away as oaks, foothill pines, and rolling hills, the Sierra Spanish land grants. The native people annual grasses dot the Nevada, Sacramento were overwhelmed by the loss of their food open woodlands. In the Valley, and the Bay sources and by diseases like smallpox. The spring, blooming wildflowers Area’s Mount Diablo. Nisenan people were nearly decimated, include Indian paintbrush, Folsom Lake State but today their descendants live in nearby Scenic views larkspur, lupine, brodiaea, fiddleneck, Recreation Area communities or on reservations. dutchman’s pipe, and monkey flower. covers 19,500 acres. Its two reservoirs, Black-tailed deer, raccoons, skunks, FOLSOM DAM Folsom and Natoma, attract about two opossums, gray foxes, and coyotes are often million visitors annually. Folsom Lake was created in 1955 by the seen in the park. Mountain lions and bobcats The climate is typical of Sacramento area. construction of Folsom Dam, a concrete may occasionally be spotted. Beavers Hot summers require a sunhat and sun block. dam flanked by earth wing dams and dikes, and river otters live in the Mormon Island In winter, fog brings a chill. Spring and fall with a total length of about nine miles. The Wetlands, a perfect area for bird watching. offer rainy or warm days with cooler evenings shoreline extends about 15 miles up the Nesting egrets, herons, and cormorants forks of the American River. Lake level and nights. may be observed from the Willow Creek normally varies from 460 feet in early access. Year-round residents include Canada PARK HISTORY spring to less than 400 feet by summer. geese, blackbirds, scrub jays, quail, wrens, Downstream, behind Nimbus Dam, smaller Native People bushtits, and towhees. Wrentits and California Lake Natoma has about 500 surface acres of For thousands of years, the land near thrashers sing in the chamise-chaparral. Look water. Built by the Bureau of Reclamation Folsom Lake belonged to the Southern for kingfishers and grebes near the water. as part of California’s Central Valley Project, Maidu or Nisenan (“from among us”). Red-tailed hawks, kestrels, ospreys, and Nimbus and Folsom Dams control the waters The Nisenan lived in temporary summer eagles might be seen soaring over the lake. shelters made from peeled tree bark. In of the American River and provide flood winter they dwelled in permanent villages protection, household water supply, on the American River. These villages power, and irrigation. had community buildings, including kum THE FOLSOM POWERHOUSE ceremonial and guest structures. Nearby Folsom Powerhouse was built The Nisenan traded with other native to harness the water power of the groups, exchanging local acorns for black American River at the original Folsom oak acorns, manzanita berries, and sugar Dam, completed by Folsom Prison pine nuts. Coastal people traded with the laborers in 1893. The Powerhouse Nisenan for oyster shells, shell beads, and landmark, listed on the National basket materials. The Nisenan are still known Register of Historic Places, is a state worldwide for their woven baskets made from historic park. Folsom Lake and Dam RECREATION from the town of Pilot Hill on Obtain a map of the mooring areas when Fishing — Folsom Highway 49. registering for boat camping at the Granite Lake waters hold Beals Point Campground Bay entrance station or the marina at Brown’s trout, catfish, Just north of Folsom Dam, Ravine. If no one is available when you arrive, largemouth and Beals Point has 49 family contact park headquarters. Your boat must smallmouth bass, campsites and 20 RV hookup have self-contained sanitary and gray-water perch, and kokanee sites for trailers and motor systems with sleeping accommodations salmon. A valid homes up to 31 feet. A for all aboard. You may camp ashore at the California fishing sanitation station, piped Peninsula Campground only in a designated license is required. drinking water, and wheelchair- campsite. Beach the bow of your boat Lake Natoma’s accessible restrooms with hot and anchor off the stern. A secure tie-up accessible pier and showers are available nearby. is essential, as the wind may rise during fishing platform is at the night. Boat camping is limited to two Nimbus Flat. consecutive nights. Boating — Launching Picnicking — Family picnic sites are located Photo courtesy of Sacramento State Aquatic Center facilities are located Windsurfing on Folsom Lake at Willow Creek, Nimbus Flat, and Negro Bar at several places on Lake Natoma, and at Beals Point, Brown’s around the lake (see map for details). Ravine, Granite Bay, the Peninsula area, and The marina at Brown’s Ravine also features Folsom Point on Folsom Lake. Beals Point, boat slips, a towing service, a gas dock, and Nimbus Flat, and Peninsula have accessible snack bar. picnic tables, CAUTION: Boaters should be alert for restrooms, floating debris. Watch carefully for and parking. underwater hazards, especially when the All sites have lake level is very low. Observe speed limits. Horseback riding trails at Folsom Lake barbecues; Camping bring Peninsula Campground— A hundred family Negro Bar Group Campsites — On the north charcoal. campsites—some accessible—accommodate shore of Lake Natoma, three group campsites The group trailers up to 18 feet and motor homes up to are available. Two can hold up to 50 people picnic area at 24 feet. A sanitation station is provided. No each and one can accommodate up to Granite Bay site hookups are available. Accessible flush 25 people. holds up to toilets, hot showers, and piped drinking water Reservations— Reserve campsites at all 200 people. are available. Two launch ramps and a day- campgrounds by calling (800) 444-7275 or Reserve by use area are near this secluded campground visiting www.parks.ca.gov. calling (916) at the end of the Peninsula between the north Boat Camping — You may camp overnight 988-0205. aboard your self-contained sailboat or and south forks of the American River. Reach Lake Natoma accessible the area by boat or drive ten miles south powerboat only in designated mooring areas. picnic area Darrington Trail is a popular mountain bike NEARBY STATE PARKS trail on the south fork of Folsom Lake, near • Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park Salmon Falls. 9980 Greenback Lane Beach / Shore Access — Call ahead to reserve Folsom 95630 a beach wheelchair for two hours at the Beals (916) 985-4843 Point or Granite Bay day-use areas. • Auburn SRA 501 El Dorado St. ACCESSIBLE FEATURES Auburn 95602 Accessibility in California State Parks is (530) 885-4527 Nimbus Dam continually improving. For specific details, visit www.access.parks.ca.gov. Horseback Riding — Horse trailers can PLEASE REMEMBER unload and park at several equestrian staging EXHIBITS / PROGRAMS • Grass, brush, and trees become tinder- areas. Granite Bay has hitching rails, a water The American River Water Education Center dry. Wildfires are a serious threat. Fires trough, and chemical toilets. Other staging interprets water conservation and the are allowed only in the camp stoves or areas are located at Negro Bar, Rattlesnake American River Watershed. For information, fire rings provided. Bar, Brown’s Ravine, call (916) 989-7100; for • Poison oak is present throughout the park. Even Old Salmon Falls, tours, call (916) 989-7132 when dormant, poison oak Falcon Crest, and or see www.usbr.gov/ can cause a serious rash. Sterling Pointe. mp/arwec. Trails — The park • Rattlesnakes, mountain lions, has 95 miles of AQUATIC CENTER or bobcats may be present in trails for hikers, The Sacramento the park. Do not walk alone in bicyclists, runners, State Aquatic Center isolated areas. Report Poison Oak and horseback offers boat rentals sightings to park staff. riders. The trail and boating safety • Floating debris, an uneven lake bottom, and system includes the classes. The facility is rock outcroppings are hazards for boaters Pioneer Express cooperatively operated and swimmers. Swim only in designated Trail, which is part by California State Parks, areas. No diving is permitted. of the 50-mile Photo courtesy of Sacramento State Aquatic Center its Division of Boating • All cultural and natural features are Western States/ and Waterways, and the protected by law and may not be Pioneer Express Canoeing at Lake Natoma Associated Students disturbed or removed. National Recreation of California State Trail. Oaks Nature Trail is accessible. University, Sacramento. For schedules, A paved, mostly accessible bicycle trail call (916) 278-2842 or visit loops around Lake Natoma, linking to Beals www.sacstateaquaticcenter.com. Point and the American River Bike Trail. 1400’ Auburn Dam site to AUBURN Truckee 1200’ 400’ 193 800’ 600’ 1400’ d Maidu oa R 49 1200’ m Drive 800’ so AUBURN ol F 80 - STATE n r u b RECREATION Folsom Lake u A Coloma State Recreation Area 600’ AREA

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