Lake Natoma - Sacramento County, California

Visited 7/29/2017 - Jeff and I loaded up the dogs and went on a full day of visiting lakes in the foothills and high sierra mountains of California.  Our second stop was to one of our local Sacramento waterways 15 miles east of Sacramento.  Lake Natoma is an intermediate lake along the American River, located between Folsom Dam and Nimbus Dam in Sacramento County. The lake is at 126 feet elevation and is 540 acres.  It is a very popular and scenic recreational lake for rowing, kayaking and swimming.  Lake Natoma includes the historic Negro Bar area in Folsom, the site of a gold rush era African-American mining camp.  The Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park overlooks Lake Natoma in the city of Folsom. It is a California State Historical site, preserving an early hydroelectric power station.  There is a paved cycling and jogging trail that encircles the lake along with unpaved equestrian trails. 

I visited this popular local lake a second time to explore the bicycle trail along the south side of the Lake on 11/25/2020.  I started my journey at the parking lot of the Nimbus Fish Hatchery, where the California Department of Fish and Wildlife operates and maintains a vital nursery of steelhead and salmon that are released back into the American River. Prior to visiting the trail I wanted to complete the full loop, however bikes are not allowed on the northern portion of the lake. So, I navigated the south shore trail on a nicely paved and well marked asphalt bike path winding my way to downtown Old Folsom and the historic Folsom Powerhouse. Along the trail there are several scenic spots to take a break and take in the views, some areas even have picnic tables with amazing views of the lake. In addition, I stopped at several of the interpretive signs on the trail to learn more of the history of this area and to learn more about the unique characteristics of this area.

Before Lake Natoma was created the section of the American river it now occupies was the site of many gold mining operations in the 1800s. Nowadays, Lake Natoma is a very popular recreational lake for rowing, kayaking, and swimming and the trails are popular with hikers, bikers and horseback riding. It is home to the Sacramento State Aquatic Center, and regularly hosts West Coast College Rowing Championships, the Pac-12 Conference rowing championships, and, every four years, the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships.

At the eastern end of the trail is a great walking path in the shadows of a structurally intriguing concrete arch span bridge called the Rainbow Bridge. When it was built back in 1919, it was the fourth-largest concrete arch span in the world. The open-spandrel arch, with cutouts between the arch and the roadway, was a popular design in the early 1900s made possible by strengthening concrete with reinforcing steel.

In 1927, Rainbow Bridge was part of the historic Lincoln Highway, the first coast-to-coast route in the United States. The Lincoln Highway was divided in Nevada to circle Lake Tahoe – roughly following today’s Highway 50 and Interstate 80 and became one road again in Sacramento. In 1927, the route was altered to cross Rainbow Bridge and rejoin at Greenback Lane.

When it opened in 1919, Rainbow Bridge was officially known as the American River Bridge at Folsom and informally called simply “the bridge.” In the early 1950s, a Folsom resident suggested to a Sutter Street shopkeeper that the more descriptive designation be used on postcards. The name immediately took hold, and the picturesque crossing, with its rainbow-shaped arches, has been Rainbow Bridge ever since.

I made my way from the base of the Rainbow Bridge up to the Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park just a block southeast in to the historic old town of Folsom. The Powerhouse is a California State Historical site with a museum preserving this early hydroelectric power station.

After I trekked 11 miles of this beautifully scenic trail, I have to say, this is one of the reasons I love living in sunny California! It was another gorgeous, crisp sunny day at 64 degrees, and perfect weather for a long bike ride with spectacular views of very scenic lake.

 

Jeff and Summer navigating the very steep bank of Lake Natoma during our hike down to the Lake.

Summer and Skye taking a little swim in the crystal clear water at Lake Natoma.

Other bicyclist taking a break along the trail with these fantastic views of Lake Natoma.