Name: American River Bike Trail: South Side Lake Natoma
Rating: 3.8

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Family Friendly Many smooth sections of trail with picnic tables and great views of the lake.

All dirt trail on this side of the lake is open to bikes. In a California State Park, the speed limit is 15 miles per hour. Watch for other trail users on foot and horseback.

Description

The trail runs the length of Lake Natoma, from the Nimbus Flat day use area to Old Folsom. It parallels the paved American River Bike Trail with continuous views of the lake.

Parking is available at Nimbus Flat, Willow Creek, and Old Folsom.

The trail aspect is singletrack (sometimes a bit wide...but not a fire-road). The surface is decomposed granite dirt with river rock ("baby heads") embedded in some sections. There are lots of oak trees, cottonwoods, pine and other evergreens, and sections of blackberry brambles and native grass meadows along the trail.

If you combine this trail with the paved trail on the north side of the lake (almost all dirt on the north side of the lake is off-limits to bikes), you can ride the Lake Natoma Loop.