American River Parkway
Managed by Sacramento County Parks
920 acres10.6 mi of trail
American River FootpathPioneer Express TrailParkshore North TrailSowind Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Black Miners Bar Parking L2
Photo: The Oaked Ridge · CC BY-SA 4.0AOutdoors
Outdoors in Folsom
18% of Folsom’s land is conserved: 3,145 acres
38 miles of mapped trail cross Folsom, 1.4 per square mile of land. 3,343 acres are parks and preserves, 40 per 1,000 residents. 92% of residents live within a half mile of a park.
Ahead of 95% of U.S. towns · #122 of 847 in California. What drives it
Conserved land
18%
3,145 acres · of 27.9 sq mi of land
Trails
38 mi
1.4 per sq mi of land
Park land
3,343 ac
40 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
92%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
165 mi
90 mi lanes · 75 mi paths
Highest peak
830 ft
Carpenter Hill
Lakes & rivers
14
6 beaches · 4 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Folsom?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Folsom have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Folsom is ahead of 95% of U.S. towns, #122 of 847 in California. All four inputs are above most U.S. towns; conserved land ranks highest, the share of residents near a park lowest.
A
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Folsom’s overall grade.
Conserved land18% of the land · typical CA town 4% · U.S. 4%ATrails1.4 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (38 mi) · CA 0.9 · U.S. 0.4APark land40 acres of park per 1,000 residents (3,343 acres) · CA 5 · U.S. 13A−Parks close to home92% of residents within a half mile of a park · CA 91% · U.S. 72%A−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 95%
LessMore
California towns of 2,500+ (847)Ahead of 86%
Water is 8% of Folsom’s area (2 of 30 square miles), so every share here is of land; over land and water together, the conserved share would read 16%.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would still be A. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is American River Parkway, with 10.6 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Folsom Lake State Recreation Area
Managed by California Department of Parks and Recreation
2,396 acres5.9 mi of trail
June Cash TrailRock-o-dileDyke 7 Reach AroundFolsom Point Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Mormon Island Wetlands Natural Preserve
Nature preserve
97 acres1.2 mi of trail
Rock IslandRock Island Alt
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Willow Hills Reservoir Community Park
Park
38 acres1.2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park
Park
23 acres0.9 mi of trail
Welldale Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Folsom Powerhouse Visitor ParkingWebsite ↗
All 50 parks & preserves
American River Parkway920 acres · 10.6 mi of trail · Sacramento County Parks
DirectionsFolsom Lake State Recreation Area2,396 acres · 5.9 mi of trail · California Department of Parks and Recreation
DirectionsMormon Island Wetlands Natural Preserve97 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
DirectionsWillow Hills Reservoir Community Park38 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
DirectionsEconome Family Park12 acres · 1 mi of trail
DirectionsFolsom Powerhouse State Historic Park23 acres · 0.9 mi of trail
DirectionsLivermore Park26 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsProspector Park14 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsNisenan Community Park62 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsHazel McFarland Park11 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsElvie Perazzo Briggs Park10 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsHandy Family Park10 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsFolsom Rodeo Park22 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · City of Folsom
DirectionsPhillip C Cohn Park14 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsB T Collins Park5 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
Intel FM Pond5 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsWillow Creek Park164 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · City of Folsom
DirectionsLembi Community Park36 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsFolsom City Park22 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsAmos P Catlin Park20 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsCummings Family Park11 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Mann Family Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Lake Natoma Waterfront Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · City of Folsom
DirectionsFolsom Parkway14 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsBud and Artie Davies Park13 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Willow Creek Recreation Area9 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsErnie Sheldon Park7 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsFolsom Lake SRA6 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · City of Folsom / City of Orangevale
DirectionsFolsom Kids Play Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsPalladio1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsReflections Mini Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsJohn Kemp Community Park24 acres
DirectionsLew Howard Park23 acres
DirectionsFolsome Lake Black Miners Bar State Park19 acres · City of Folsom
DirectionsNatoma Station Ponds Park8 acres
DirectionsEd Mitchell Park8 acres
DirectionsBeacon Hill Park4 acres
Levy Park2 acres
Granite Mini Park2 acres
Kentfield Park2 acres
Windsor Mini Park1 acres
Young Wo Memorial Site1 acres · State of California
Natoma Station Park A - Bigfoot Mini Park1 acres
Natural Park1 acres
Preserve Mini Park1 acres
Hannaford Family Park1 acres
DirectionsNatoma Station B - Deer/Rabbit Mini Park1 acres
Egloff Family Park1 acres
DirectionsThe Shores Mini Park1 acres
DirectionsParkshore Trailhead1 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
3,145 conserved acres
18% of Folsom’s land. Water is left out: Folsom has 27.9 square miles of land and 2.3 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Folsom’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State parks2,356 ac
Bureau of Reclamation1,442 ac
Town or city586 ac
State fish & wildlife77 ac
County58 ac
Other state land55 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits2 ac
State Recreation Area · 3,775 acLocal Park · 389 acLocal Other or Unknown · 164 acState Resource Management Area · 77 acState Other or Unknown · 55 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 2 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folsom Lake State Recreation Area State Recreation Area | State parks | 2,376 | Open |
| Folsom Lake State Recreation Area | Bureau of Reclamation | 1,231 | Open |
| Lake Natoma State Recreation Area | Bureau of Reclamation | 210 | Open |
| City Of Folsom Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 109 | Open |
| Willow Creek State Resource Management Area | State fish & wildlife | 85 | Closed |
| American River Parkway State Other or Unknown | Other state land | 55 | Open |
| Nisenan Park Local Park | Town or city | 52 | Open |
| Hinkle Creek Nature Area Local Conservation Area | Town or city | 45 | Open |
| Ed Mitchell Park Local Park | Town or city | 43 | Open |
| Willow Hill Reservoir Community Park Local Park | Town or city | 33 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
103 places to go in Folsom
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Folsom
6 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Public pools in Folsom
Broadstone Pool
DirectionsPool
DirectionsPlaygrounds in Folsom
Rivage Park
DirectionsThorndike mini park
Directions55 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Folsom
FIDO Field Dog ParkIn Cummings Family Park
DirectionsPlus 2 dog parks without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Folsom
4 boat launches without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in Folsom
Leete FallsIn Folsom Lake State Recreation Area
DirectionsScenic views in Folsom
Lake Natoma Access PointIn American River Parkway
DirectionsPlus 7 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Folsom
Carpenter Hill830 ft elevation
DirectionsBlisk PeakIn American River Parkway
DirectionsNedbelle PeakIn American River Parkway
DirectionsPicnic areas in Folsom
21 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Trails & water
23 named trails and 14 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 10.9 miHorses · 3.1 miUnpaved · 17.6 mi
Pioneer Express Trail1.0 mi
June Cash Trail1.0 mi
Rock Island0.8 mi
American River Footpath0.8 mi
Rock-o-dile0.8 mi
Beacon Hill0.7 mi
Parkshore North Trail0.6 mi
Sowind Trail0.6 mi
Nisenan Switchbacks0.5 mi
Welldale Trail0.4 mi
13 more trails
Beacon Hill Alt
0.4 miNatoma Cliffside Footpath
0.4 miSunset Circiut Loop
0.4 miLake Natoma Highland Footpath
0.3 miDyke 7 Reach Around
0.3 miFolsom Point Trail
0.3 miEl Dorado Trail
0.3 miAmerican River Bike Trail
0.2 miHole in the Fence
0.2 miRock Island Alt
0.2 miGreenfield Trail
0.2 miOld Ranch Driveway
0.2 miGoesinto June
0.1 miBiking & sports
165 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
90 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
75 mi
off-road bike paths
0.3 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
81Tennis
71Basketball
31Baseball
16Soccer
6Softball
5Volleyball
4Pickleball
3Football
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →5 places on the National Register, one a National Historic Landmark
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 12 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
When to get out
The best walking months in Folsom: April and May
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.7 | 10.7 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.3 | 14.9 | 14.6 | 13.7 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 10.0 | 9.5 |
| High (°F) | 56 | 61 | 66 | 72 | 80 | 89 | 95 | 94 | 89 | 79 | 65 | 56 |
| Rain (in) | 4.9 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 4.1 |
July is the driest month (under 0.1 in) and the warmest (highs of 95 °F). 4.9 inches fall in January, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 95 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Folsom →
Next door
Folsom and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Folsom | 18% | 1.4 | 40 | 92% | A |
| Orangevale | 8% | 1.0 | 17 | 84% | A− |
| Fair Oaks | 22% | 3.7 | 48 | 81% | A+ |
| El Dorado Hills | 12% | 1.6 | 73 | 95% | A+ |
| Granite Bay | 9% | 2.7 | 55 | 82% | A |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Folsom
Where can I hike in Folsom?
The longest trail networks: American River Parkway, 10.6 miles; Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, 5.9 miles; Mormon Island Wetlands Natural Preserve, 1.2 miles; Willow Hills Reservoir Community Park, 1.2 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Folsom is conserved land?
18% of its land, against a typical 4% for a California town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Folsom’s trails?
American River Parkway and Folsom Lake State Recreation Area don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Folsom?
165 miles of bike routes are on the map: 90 of painted or protected lanes, 75 of off-road paths and 0.3 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Folsom?
37,005 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Folsom or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 3,408 of them inside the city line.
How much outdoors does Folsom have?
Ahead of 95% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #122 of 847 in California. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Folsom neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →