There’s still time for fun in the Sacramento sun at Lake Natoma
Posted by admin on Aug 31, 2009
Sacramentans know that summer weather doesn’t end until Halloween. That means while visiting Sacramento this fall there’s still plenty of time to pretend it’s July. One of the best ways to extend your holiday is to visit a favorite local spot — Lake Natoma, where the Nimbus Dam helps with flood control and salmon come to spawn. On a hot summer day, the water is calm and cool, a perfect place for practicing your kayaking, rowing, or sailing skills.
Lake Natoma lies about 15 miles northeast of Sacramento. It boasts 11 miles of paved bike trails, which link up with the American River Parkway (beginning at Folsom Lake and ending in downtown Sacramento), as well as six miles of multi-use trails, year-round fishing, and plenty of other recreational opportunities.
If day-tripping from the Sacramento Hostel, the Sacramento State Aquatic Center is an easy outfitter for all things water. Take the outbound Gold Line train towards Folsom from 7th and I Streets in downtown Sacramento (Note: On the return trip, you will get off at 8th and K Streets). Forty-five minutes and $2.25 later, you’ll find yourself within a 10-minutes walk to the lake.
Rent a kayak for only $9 an hour, a canoe for $14 an hour, or a hydro bike for $12. Gear is rented on a first-come, first-served basis. Get there early to beat the crowd as well as the midday sun. Classes from beginning sailing to rowing are also available with advance reservation.
Once out on the water, make the lake your own. There is plenty of open space to explore. Birders should paddle along the north shore to look for heron and egrets, whose nesting grounds are protected by the park. Land your boat along the south shore and go for a brisk swim. The water is surprisingly cool and refreshing as it travels downstream, released from the bottom of Folsom Lake.
Or, try something new and different — the hydro bike. As you pedal (not paddle), it’s easy to believe you really are biking on water rather than propelling through it. From your perch above the other kayakers, you have a bird’s-eye view of the fish and flora below.
While the Sac State Aquatic Center is a central spot for easy rentals, adventurous paddlers with their own vehicle might choose to rent from California Canoe and Kayak, located off of Highway 50, just 2.5 miles away from Lake Natoma. If you have previous kayaking experience, this is the best place to rent a sit-in sea kayak ($10/hour for a single). You can then drop-in along the south shore of Lake Natoma, or drive on to the Willow Creek ramp (just three miles beyond Lake Natoma). Keep in mind, if not renting from the Aquatic Center, parking anywhere in the recreation area will cost $5.
If you really want to beat the heat, the best time to get out on the water is in the evening. Both outfitters offer sunset and moonlight kayaking trips for around $30. Just make sure to check the schedule and book in advance for these popular trips. The Aquatic Center’s final moonlight paddle of the season is Halloween Eve. As the schedule implies, summer is far from over. It’s time to book that weekend at the Sacramento Hostel and enjoy the sunny pleasures away from the Bay.