Mouthwatering Hiking in Sacramento

Johnny Cash Trail

★★★★☆ 4 (31)

"Finding the trail is a little confusing but if you park in the library lot its pretty much a few hundred yards down the hill through another parking lot. Once there you can go left to see the bridge and eventually get to Folsom Prison. Along the way you will likely see squirrels, turkeys and lots of deer. If you take the trail to the right you will be in old town within ten to fifteen minutes. We went left to the prison returned to our starting point and then went right to hsve brunch in Folsom. The trail is a great way to get some exercise and wind up in old town for a drink and a bite."

Aj's Outdoor Adventures

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"I was dragged into this because of my sister. I didn't know what to expect. Man!! I was in for a surprise. Met new friends, was zen with rocks, dunked my head in freezing cold water and even tried scaling the walls like spider man. Sooo much fun!! Totally worth it!! Food is great, company was amazing and awesome pictures. Recommend x a billion!!! Can't wait for the next adventure!!"

Deer Creek Hills Preserve

★★★★☆ 4.3 (10)

"Challenge yourself and set your own pace to an open mountain bike ride every MondayNite from 4:30pm-Sunset, June thru Oct.Explore a mountain bike course set-up on ranch roads and technical single-track cattle trails. Bring your friends, or ride solo on 4,400+ acres of open space preserve, nestled in eastern Sacramento County. It's the best kept secret of Sacramento!This expanding, rolling landscape will be marked for your enjoyment to ride. As the season progresses, the route will be re-marked letting you see more of the preserve by bike.Cell phones, bike helmet, toe covered shoes and water supply are a must! Cell phone numbers will be exchanged with SVC staff working the event. No dogs allowed, unless service dogs.Gates open at 4:30pm and will be locked at Dusk."

Enjoy the Mountain ATV Tours

★★★★☆ 4.2 (12)

""Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." Ahhh, what a great place to write about for my 500th review!Going on an atv extravaganza was a last minute idea. From mountain biking, surfing, skydiving, diving, hiking, driving out of state, motorcycle riding, it was time to add another to the list: Atv off-roading.Booking an activity with Enjoy The Mountain was easy. To book an activity all you need to do is select an available date, provide your info, and do all of three things: provide a picture of your last 4 digits of the cc, drivers license, and a selfie of yourself with 3 fingers. A selfie with three fingers you ask? Well, that prevents frauds booking an activity when they steal your card. They e-mail you with a link that has exact coordinates of the place. It was nice reassuring touch especially since we were driving from afar. When you arrive you are offered to purchase insurance for the atv, get fitted for your helmet and gloves, and are given instructions on how to operate the atv.Our guide, Jorge, was very patient and funny. I got stuck in a few places and wandered off (pushed myself off I'd say lol) the trail and he was able to get me out safely and start going again. 2 hours of atv madness was exciting, fun, and totally worth it. There were so many different trails and sights to see while riding. I had trouble in some areas while my S/O picked up really well and quick. From steep hills, rocky areas, sharp turns, and sandy hills it really is an outdoor wonderland! Soooo approx. $180 per person for a 2 hour atv adventure? Totally worth it. Happy Adventursizing everyone! :)"

Salmon Falls Mountain Bike Trail

★★★★★ 4.5 (16)

"Even with the water being more of a creek than a lake, it's still a great place to come out & hike around! The Mormon bridge (which usually is submerged) is completely above water & looking as beautiful as ever! It's quite depressing to see California's drought in full effect, but the sky was a gorgeous shade of its brightest blue & there are sooo many different trails to explore that you kind of put the absence of water to the back of your mind. It's amazing to see the stone foundations of buildings that once stood there & fun to walk up/ down steps that, God only knows who, once took those same steps! Salmon Falls is a gorgeous place to stretch your legs & take some great pictures. Just be careful when jumping from rock to rock over the creek like river that remains... It's icy cold!!! I should know... I kept finding loose rocks to walk on & slipping into the freezing water lol."

American River Bike Trail

★★★★★ 4.6 (196)

"Love this place...The American River never disappoints. So much hiking, fishing, treasure hunting and the beauty ... Live the American River Bike Trails...."

Black Miners Bar Recreation Area

★★★★☆ 4.4 (91)

"Great rec area on the north end of Lake Natoma. It is much smaller than the Southern dam end of the lake. Nice parking areas, good amount of picnic tables, and clean restrooms. There are paddle board and kayak rentals here too. We brought our lunch and rented a couple kayaks for the morning.This part of the lake is calm and easy to navigate. There were a lot of people and families out on this hot day, but not like further south."

Fair Oaks Bluff/Park Reserve

★★★★★ 4.6 (16)

"I watched the sunset at this hidden gem in the Fair Oaks neighborhood of Sacramento. The dramatic bridge is what separates this spot from the rest of the nearby parks and let me tell you -- the views of the sunset depicts images that cannot be unseen.Parking is not great as I ended up parking in front of a nearby business complex lot. Not sure if there is a designated parking spot for visitors but I wouldn't doubt it -- I probably just landed on the other side of the park which has very minimal parking.There were a lot of couples and groups of friends walking along the bridge. Many stopped to take photos or to just sit and enjoy the views. Pictures do not serve this place justice. It's one of those places where you have to see for yourself so make the trip. My evening spent here was full of magic, romance, and newfound inspiration. I look forward to visiting again."

Gibson Ranch Regional Park

★★★★☆ 3.6 (114)

"Had an amazing experience at the Water Lantern Festival. The vibe was positive. The organizers did a great job putting on this event. Registration was quick and simple. The restrooms were clean. They had a few vendors selling food and jewelry. I had a great time with my famil"

Stock Ranch Nature Preserve

★★★★☆ 4 (11)

"Did you know that there is a Nature Preserve behind Costco in Citrus Heights? It's a 47 acre open space nature preserve that is bisected by a long elevated wooden walkway/bridge that doubles as a wildlife viewing platform. At the Costco end of the preserve is a small demonstration garden for native and drought tolerant plants. There are a few benches here so take that Costco dog outside and enjoy the quiet. If you head out across the long bridge you'll cross over a wetlands preserve and eventually end up at Van Maren Park.The paved portion of the park is not very long, however there are dirt trails in the wetlands area that you can access for exploring more of the park."

Stevens Trail

★★★★★ 4.6 (80)

"About a 50 minutes drive from sacramento. Very easy to get to. Get there early to get a parking spot. Note at the time I went (end of May), the bathroom was closed and taped off.There were some parts of the trail that were narrow and other requiring you to cross small streams. I would rate the hike intermediate to hard.There's plenty of shade and shelter but there's long stretches where you are exposed to direct sun. Weather forecast said 20 chance of precipitation so of course it poured. But the view was so worth it. Last time i went it snowed unexpectedly so be prepared for adventure!"

American River

★★★★★ 4.5 (25)

"I think it's hilarious that I'm the Duchess of the American River. Sounds like some Game of Thrones title. However I suspect after this review goes up, I won't be Duchess for long. Anyway, I grew up on this river. Back in the day (I'm dating myself now) I would get on my bike, meet up with friends, ride the bike trail, explore the river, skim some rocks and cruise back home in time for dinner. (Then again I read an article about how the Gen X set was the most "neglected" generation in recent history which is why they over compensate with helicopter parenting - but I digress...)I usually go rafting once a year, I own a six-man raft, and I grew up rafting down this river. Believe it or not, it used to be just families. Now anything goes. Yes, I even witnessed a guy with Mardi Gras beads who got women to flash him. My favorite areas are close to the old Fair Oaks bridge. You know, the one off of Bridge Street where no one is allowed to park anymore? The same bridge where they filmed scenes from The Stuntman featuring Peter O'Toole - yes I saw him in person - and Black Dog with Patrick Swayze. If you want to launch a raft, you can hoof it from Bridge Street to the boat launch across the bridge. You have to be in good shape though and have a lot of people to help. This way you won't have to pay the launch fee! Some excellent trails that go alongside the river are at Bannister Park. Take the horse trail and get lost. Eventually all trails lead to the American River.Fall is a beautiful time of year to watch the running of the salmon. Don't know why they "run" -- easier to say that instead of "swimming upstream" I suppose. And then in winter through early spring, the river smells pretty fishy from those that didn't make it to the hatchery. The American River runs colder in the summer ironically due to the snowmelt that gets released. Just watch out for areas notorious for undertow. Generally speaking, I haven't heard of anyone drowning by the old bridge. And I don't care if your friends do it, don't jump from the footbridge! It's not worth severing a vertebrae."

Oak Parkway Trail

★★★☆☆ 3 (2)

"Oak Parkway Trail is located in the City of Folsom , California. This is an 2.2 mile asphalt trail that runs East to West. It runs through a electric utility corridor with huge power lines and towers, crossing streets in residential neighborhoods/ and connecting to a neighborhood park(B.T. Collins Park). The trail is relativity flat but does have some areas with moderate rise in elevation as it winds through rolling hills. I did notice very little shade along the trail so be prepared with a hat and plenty of water.There are two main entry points on the trail. One being on E. Natoma Street and the other on Blue Ravine . Also there are many neighborhood connecting points along the trail. I would suggest parking at Elvie Perazzo Briggs Park off of Blue Ravine , and walk a short distance on Arrowsmith Drive to one of the trail entrance. The trail can be walked/jogged/bicycle/ and is wheelchair accessible. Enjoy !"

Creekside Nature Area

★★★☆☆ 3 (6)

"Not an easy place to get to but worth it if you make it back here. Just follow the other yelpers review on how to get here and you'll make it just fine."

Hinkle Creek Nature Area

★★★★☆ 4.4 (9)

"Hinkle Creek Nature Area is located in Folsom, California. The nature area consists of a nature center as well as walking trails. These can be seen just prior to entering "Lew Howard Park. For those visiting the nature center or the walking trails, a small gravel parking area in front of the nature center can be found.The history of "Hinkle Creek" goes way back to the early 1800's. This area where the nature area is currently located used to be open space area which was between housing developments and Lew Howard Park. But due to a rash of burglaries and motorcycle vandalizing the landscape, the developer decided to transfer ownership to the City of Folsom in late 70's. Today you will find an converted fire station which now house classrooms and educational material for the public as well as schoolchildren to learn about the environment, and the history of Hinkle Creek. One of the trail is paved and the other one is dirt. Both trails wind through natural habitats and nature areas. There are also educational material along the trail explaining the different habitats and plants found along the creek. The Nature Center hours are normally 8am - one hour after sunset. I found the dirt trail to be quite wet and muddy on my last visit. So be prepared ! Always be aware of your surroundings and be safe when walking the trails ! Enjoy !"

Arcade Creek Park Preserve

★★★★☆ 4.4 (31)

"Arcade Creek Park Preserve is a much needed slice of nature in this urban area. It's an enjoyable place to take a walk and in the early morning it's particularly peaceful.Whenever I've driven past this park on a weekend afternoon it's always buzzing with families and birthday parties in the large covered picnic area. There's more than one play area and even a zipline for the kids. Other amenities to the park include a guided sensory audio tour that is separate from the multi-use path, an array of calisthenics equipment, and a large deck area shaded by the oak trees with information about the native plants in the preserve. There's also a restroom and drinking fountains. The park preserve appears to also be well-maintained. On the handful of occasions so far that I've taken morning walks here it has been really clean and there's usually a park employee blowing leaves and emptying trash cans. That said, the main path isn't illuminated and the park closes at dusk, so not exactly a place I would do an evening walk. If you're in the area, this park preserve is worth a visit."

Folsom Powerhouse State Historical Park

★★★★★ 4.7 (28)

"This park is on the edge of the beautiful Lake Natoma on the American River. We stopped late in the day and the power station was not open. I was disappointed I could not tour the historic power plant buildings. I still enjoyed the park. There are several trails leading down to the lake. The one I wandered down had a large native grinding stone at the edge of the lake. I watched people fish and other people in kayaks slowly cruising around. There were no water-skiers in sight. It was a very peaceful place. I am planning on going back to explore old Folsom and the power plant. It is only open for guided tours. I am fascinated by the history of the Sacramento area"

Cronan Ranch Trails Park

★★★★★ 4.5 (30)

"Cronan Ranch Trails Park became a very busy trail for all the people wanted to have some exercise or just some fresh air. Many families come with their kids or their dogs. The main trail in the park is so wide and makes it easy to have the social distance.When we are there at around 11 am. The parking lot is completely full. We have to park our car on the side of the road. The trails are very easy and comfortable. Good for the whole family, any age with or without your dogs. So many kids with their families walking and they are happy. One of the good thing about this COVID-19 situation is it help families close together!"

Capital Park Loop Trail

★★★★☆ 4.2 (5)

"My wife and I have been to the Capital Park in Sacramento, California many times in the past. But until recently discovered that walking around the perimeter of the park is actually a loop trail called " Capital Park Loop Trail". The loop trail is approximately 1.1 miles in total length and can be walked, jogged, and is wheelchair accessible. Only dogs on leashes are permitted on the trail. The cement walkway goes totally around the park. What makes this loop trail so special is the Capital Garden itself. It is filled with numerous varieties of plants and flowering trees. Some specimens are more than 100 years old ! WOW ! What's another interesting thing about the trail is that it passes by different memorials along the way. You are able to get off the trail anytime and stroll down one of many walkways within the park. Some of the special places to stop and see in the park are ( Veteran Memorial/Firefighter Memorial/ Rose Garden/ just to name a few.This is a very popular trail during the week. State workers take the opportunity to use the trail during lunch or breaks. I would highly recommend coming during the weekends if possible. The park is less crowded and you might even find street parking. Enjoy !"

Browns Ravine

★★★★☆ 4.4 (7)

"Love this place! We come here a lot during the summer time. We have already been twice this Spring season. There are plenty of places for shade, sun, sand and lakeside. This place is great for picnics, there are picnic areas and tables all around. There is plenty of parking. Even when it's extremely packed, I've never had an issue parking my car. We have a boat and this place is perfect for boating. The spot is so convenient and set up perfectly. The parking area is longer for hitches, and the ramp is really easy to lay your boat right in. This is a perfect summer spot, and a great place to meet up with friends and or family. My suggestion is to go early, bring a pop up tent, bring food, bring digging toys if you have children, and last but not least- bring CASH. The entrance only accepts cash. It's about $20 for boats and $12 for cars, as a warning. This is a must, I definitely suggest it!"

Harrington Access

★★★★★ 4.8 (4)

"Great place to launch a kayak from, go downriver and then back up. Parking lot is large. Has pit toilet-style bathroom. Also good hiking to see deer other animals."

Madrone Tree Hill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (10)

"My bf found this camping spot through Hip Camp. We went with a group of 13 and stayed at 2 different campsites that were somewhat next to each other. We liked the fact that the campsites were far enough apart from each other that you could be loud and not disturb each other. Quiet hour starts at 9pm, but people were still loud and nobody seemed to mind. The dirt was red and dusty and got on everything, but we just went with it lol. There was a fire pit w/ a grill to use, a bucket for water and a picnic table. There were 2 portapotties that were a decent walk from our campsites (13 & 20) across the open field. There was also a sink & mirror outside of them. Keep in mind there was a campsite right behind the toilets. Also, you are to take all trash with you as there is no dumpster on the property. Basically, this was the perfect place to be surrounded by nature and stargaze because you could really see every star possible to the naked eye (my opinion, not factual lol). Me and my bf saw a shooting star together and it was truly magical!"

Folsom Point

★★★★☆ 4.2 (9)

"This is where you may obtain a panoramic view of Folsom Lake; the view is spectacular despite the surrounding area is very despairingly parched. Currently, Folsom Lake's H2O level is decreasing drastically day by day so, it's imperative saving H2O is imminently key!Still, Folsom Point is one of the key attractions for Folsom Lake!"

Lake Natoma Trail

★★★★☆ 4.1 (7)

"Natoma Lake Trail stretches from Gold Country Blvd at Hazel Avenue to the American River Bike Trail in Old Town Folsom. The trail total length is around 6 miles and follows the East side of Lake Natoma.There are actually two separate trails . One is a paved trail mainly for bikers, walkers & joggers. The other is a dirt trail used for mountain bikes. Both trails follow the same course of the trail around the lake. This is a very busy trail, especially during the weekend and holidays.The trail itself curves along Lake Natoma .There are a few flat areas, but mainly go up and down with the terrain. One goes through meadow areas, oak woodlands and crosses two creeks (Willow Creek & Alder Creek). The trail also curves around mounds and mounds of river rock. Remnants of the Gold Rush Era. Picnic tables can be found all along the trail overlooking the lake. Educational material can also be found along the trail describing local vegetation & wildlife . I personally encountered a turkey and a family of geese. Always be alert for rattle snakes, especially during summer season. Halfway through the trail is Willow Creek Recreational Area. Here you can find restrooms as well as shaded picnic areas. Relax here and enjoy the view of the lake before continuing on your journey. Parking can be found at either end of the trail as well as feeder entry points all along Folsom Boulevard. Enjoy !"

Black Hole of Calcutta Falls

★★★★★ 4.6 (38)

"Wow! I think I've found my new favorite hike in the area! This is a relatively easy hike, we hiked four miles round trip. There were several waterfalls when we went, but that may not be the case depending whether there was much rainfall that year. Aside from the waterfalls, the trails have subtrails that lead you to the beautiful American River. The river is usually a dark blue to emerald depending on what season you visit. Presently, it was brown due to the amount of rain and it's February. The entrance is at Gate 150. Do not use the map provided by Yelp. This isn't a fault of Yelp, but by users who pinned it to the specified location....and it's about a half mile off. The gate is located on your right hand side after you drive past the bridge. Although we hiked four miles, we could've gone further. There are endless marked trails here! All of the paths are at your discretion. You can take the high or low road. The trails are shared by hikers, trail runners, and horseback riders. Dogs are allowed as well, with or without leashes. I recommend with. I also recommend that if you have the slightest inkling that you gots to pee, go at the port-a-potty at the foot of the hike. There isn't one available, as I found out the hard way! Pack snacks for energy, water for hydration, binoculars and cameras to capture the beauty, and make memories!"