Negro Bar Recreation Area

We are fortunate to live pretty close to Negro Bar. This entrance to the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area offers a boat launch where we have put in our kayaks countless times over the years; you can either paddle towards the prison or head the other direction towards Willow Creek, the CSUS Aquatic Center and Nimbus Flat. If you don’t have your own kayaks you can rent them on a first come, first serve basis in the summer months (this is also true for the Willow Creek/​CSUS aquatic center entrances). In addition to kayaking there are many other activities to enjoy including the numerous hiking /​running trails, the American River bike trail, several bridges for great photo ops, a campground, fishing, swimming and BBQs. We have also been known to jump on the bike trail at Hazel and 50 and have lunch at Sudwerk which is right past Negro Bar (they have PHENOMENAL outdoor dining /​bar overlooking the water). I recommend checking this place out and if you live in the area consider purchasing a state parks pass, we more than get our money out of it because we have so many awesome state parks in the area.

Thanks Unilocalers for recommending this spot! I just moved to Granite Bay and this rec area is only about 12 minutes away.
I went on a Sunday afternoon around 1pm (in early August) and it wasn’t too crowded. We picnicked at a bench covered by a shady old tree, then rented 2 single person kayaks and paddled around for hours.
This place is gorgeous to kayak around & rentals are affordable (they take card and cash).

Definitely a crowded spot on a Saturday afternoon. Not overly crowded but don’t expect the lake to yourself like you might during the week. Great spot to launch paddle boards and kayaks. Still $ 10 parking though.

I love this place. Clean water. A little cold because it comes of of the bottom of Folsom Dam but that’s the way it works.
I also like to rent kayaks at Negro Bar. Ten bucks/​hour for single.
A nice melting pot of people who enjoy cooling off on a hot day.
The «nice-​ness» of the place will rub off on you.

This is a great place to spend the afternoon. Just went here on the weekend and rented a kayak for $ 10 an hour and had lots of fun! Great place to picnic barbeque and swim!

Beautiful out there, well worth $ 125. :) :) :)
Great for family of ALL sizes. Clean water, clean trails, and secured nicely best restaurants around, and a historic lil town. Don’t forget to throw a peace sign up when you cross Rainbow Bridge! :)

Nice enough place but good luck getting any help from the staff working here. They are happy to take your money but if you ask for where to hike or do anything, they just say Here is a map… of the entire Folsom lake. That’s zero help.

Amazing place to go cycling and walking. Great location, beautiful, well kept, a great place to go cycling. If you are lucky, you might run into the guy in the Postal Service jersey who calls out to everyone he passes and says really nice things. Lots of restrooms and benches strategically placed at perfect points all the way up to Folsom lake and down the other way too. We loved it. The people are so nice up there and say hi. If your bike has a problem, they stop to help! My Aussie BF was shocked at how nice people were. We have cycled all over the SF Bay Area. The nicest people we have ever met are up here.

So you visited historic Folsom and got your shopping and dining done, but you may want to stretch your legs and enjoy the natural air that we are so gifted with living in the hills. THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO.
there is something for everyone, kids will appreciate the flat and fun bike trails, hikers will appreciate the extensive trails, kayakers will appreciate the rentals and the dock ramp, photographers will appreciate the imagery, families will appreciate the shallow shoreline and the picnic area, and runners will appreciate the safety and the wide range of terrain.
Yes you need to pay a fee if you drive in, but it goes to the parks so of course i am more than happy to pay. They have nice restrooms, and great maps to easily find your way around the area. I always feel safe coming here as a woman with sometimes just my dog. Also, visitors are always impressed of the scenery!

Whether you want to relax and bask in the sun, BBQ, or do some water sports this place is perfect! Bring the dogs and the family and some beverages and enjoy the day:)))

Sit at a table in the shade and place chess. Launch your kayak, swim, BBQ, look for bikinis. All good. A nice pit stop for bike riders just off the bike trail.

Beats standing in 3 separate lines at the sac state aquatics center. Great fun, no hassle. The rental procedure is simple, which I appreciate… more time on the water!

I’d have to say this entry point into Lake Natoma is my favorite for paddeboarding as it is less crowded. Although it is a little farther away for me to get to I love coming here but there isn’t a lot parking right at the boat launch as there is only about 10 slots. Then if there isn’t any room you have to park up top which is kind of a pain if you are solo and have your paddleboard in the water already. I worry that someone will take off with it. I mean you never know these days.
There is weekend paddleboard, kayak, and canoe rentals at this entry point as well. If you want a paddleboad make sure to get here early on the weekend as my friends found out the paddleboards get rented out quickly.
I have a golden poppy pass so I have no idea how much the daily fees are but it’s worth it to buy the golden poppy pass since I am at lake natoma and folsom lake quite often.
For bike riding or running I just stick to parking at the hatchery or in old folsom. But this is my favorite for paddleboarding.

Been here for fishing, hiking, and puppy time. Its a fun little place, but it will get so packed over the summer so we’re enjoying the quiet time now. I just hate the parking price that we have to pay, even if we’re only there for half an hour.

This park has a great area for having a family picnic. The beach is extremely family friendly and there is a no alcohol policy, and the rangers are very strict about it. During the summertime out on the beach/​picnic area there is a kayak rental that you can rent from up enjoy fun out on the water. The scenery is beautiful, and the water is extremely calm on the lake always. I recommend this park to anyone.

This is a great little beach on upper upper lake natoma. There is a rock-​encircled cove which is perfect for kids to get out and swim around inside as it provides shelter from the gentle current in the middle of the lake. You will be sharing the space with kayakers, paddleboarders, and large Canadian geese who all tend to pull into this area to relax. I take my little raft out there with a few brews to sit back and relax to beat the summer heat.
Definitely a good spot to check out. It is worth the drive.

I used to visit here with my step-​dad and is a great place filled with nature and history.

Ever want to go on a hike or bike ride, but didn’t have the time to run all the way up to Auburn or out to Rumsey? Well, we’ve got a little gem right in nearby Folsom.
Access via Greenback Lane EB, just east of the Madison/​Greenback split. As you drop down the hill, the park is on your right. You’ll find a road at the west end of the parking lot; this leads to additional parking and a shorter walk to the trailhead and picnic areas.
What you’ll find: Lots of parking, a boat ramp, shaded picnic areas along Lake Natoma, bike path between the bluffs and lake, and paths winding along the bluffs with occasional views of the lake, city of Folsom and the «new» Folsom bridge. Kids will enjoy the easy biking along the lake.
Springtime is probably the best time for the hike, as the wildflowers are in bloom and the highs haven’t yet hit 100 degrees. Either way, you’ll be glad you got out of the house and lost that sofa-​dent in your backside.