Location: El Dorado Hills, CA; Folsom Lake State Recreation Area
Distance: 3.2 miles
Type: Day-hike; Loop
Rating: Easy
Permits & Fees: No parking fees or permits!
Driving Directions: Click HERE for driving directions.
Preparation: Water, sunscreen and good hiking shoes. Arrive early to ensure a parking spot; parking is limited.
Dog Friendly? Yes, on a leash.
The Hike:
AllTrails Map – CLICK HERE
After parking in the small lot directly off of Salmon Falls Road, walk towards the left end of the lot to locate the trailhead. NOTE: There is another parking lot located down the paved road to the right of the main lot. The trail can be completed in a counterclockwise direction if you decide to park in that lot instead. There are also bathrooms located at the lower lot.
The start of the hike begins directly behind this sign (if you walk past the green gate, you’ve gone too far):
The first fork is located a few yards down the trail. Take a left to stay on the loop trail.
A short distance after, Folsom Lake will come into view. At this sign, take a right to continue on the trail:
Continue on the trail and enjoy the views of Folsom Lake to the left (or right depending on when direction you decide to complete the loop).
The next fork in the trail is marked by this sign. Continue straight on the faint dirt path (in this rare instance, ignore the sign if you want to complete the loop hike; if you want to take a quicker route back to the lot, take a right as the sign states). At first you may feel like you took a wrong turn, but this portion of the trail is very narrow and slightly overgrown; you’re on the right track:
Continue on the narrow path until the lower parking lot (mentioned earlier) is reached. Note: Just before the lot is a farmhouse, located to the right of the trail behind a fence:
Walk towards the other side of the lot and continue on the paved road. This is the steepest part of the hike, but once you reach the top of the hill, you have reached the main lot and have completed the loop!
Enjoy the hike!
