Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Folsom Lake adventure.
Have fun on water–and on land–at this massive Sacramento-area park.
A short jaunt from Sacramento, this massive recreation area encompasses nearly 20,000 acres. While the lake is the star attraction, offering ample opportunities for fishing, non-motorized boating and water sports, and swimming, there's also plenty to do on land. The park has around 95 miles of trails for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding, and is directly connected to Sacramento via the 32-mile Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail (American River Bike Trail). It’s a very popular spot for RV and tent camping, and visitors with self-contained boats are welcome to camp in mooring areas.
Folsom Lake State Recreation Area and its campgrounds are open throughout the year, but it’s at its busiest between April and September, when temperatures are at their hottest. Weekdays outside of the summer vacation season, which runs from mid-June through August, are your best bet for avoiding crowds. Late fall and winter bring with them cool temperatures that are less than ideal for camping.
Your North Fork of the American River camping trip will be one for the books. Nestled within the Sierra Nevada mountains, the pristine river and surrounding wilderness offer endless outdoor activities. Rafting, fishing, or simply relaxing by the riverside will fill your days with joy.