Get Outside
Camp, fish & swim within an hour of Sac
Every spot here is real, public, and close: verified campsites, fishing access, and swimming holes with honest drive times, fees, and the season they’re actually worth it.
Campsites
Beals Point Campground (Folsom Lake State Recreation Area)
State park campground on the southwest shore of Folsom Lake with 69 sites for tents and RVs, including some full hookup sites. The campground sits next to a sandy swim beach and the paved American River Bike Trail. Reservations run through ReserveCalifornia and summer weekends fill early.
Fees: $28-33 per night standard sites, $48-58 with hookups; $12 per vehicle day use
Best: Spring through fall
Has: restrooms · showers · picnic tables · fire rings · more
Rancho Seco Recreation Area
SMUD-run 400-acre park around a 160-acre lake near Herald, about 25 miles southeast of downtown Sacramento. Tent and RV camping is open year round, and the lake bans gas motors, which keeps the campground quiet. Sites include fire pits, barbecues, and picnic tables near the water.
Fees: Tent sites $28-38 and RV sites $38-48 per night; $12 per vehicle day use
Best: Year round
Has: restrooms · picnic tables · fire pits · boat launch · more
Brannan Island State Recreation Area
State park campground in the heart of the Delta near Rio Vista with more than 140 campsites among sloughs and marshes. It is a gateway for Delta boating, with a ten-lane launch ramp and picnic and swim areas. Reservations run through ReserveCalifornia, with some first-come sites in the off season.
Fees: Check current fees; state park day use and per-night camping fees apply, reserve at ReserveCalifornia
Best: Spring through fall
Has: restrooms · showers · boat launch · picnic tables · more
Lake Solano County Park
Shaded campground on Putah Creek below Monticello Dam, a few miles west of Winters. The narrow lake bans gas motors, so it stays calm for canoes and kayaks, and the cold creek water draws trout anglers. The campground has both standard and waterfront sites with showers and flush toilets.
Fees: Camping $30 per night standard, $40 waterfront; day use parking fee charged, check current rates
Best: Spring through fall
Has: restrooms · showers · picnic tables · fire rings · more
Camp Far West Lake, North Shore Campground
Lakeside campground on the Bear River northeast of Wheatland with about 137 sites across two shores. The North Shore stays open year round while the South Shore runs seasonally. The warm foothill lake is popular for waterskiing, bass fishing, and shoreline camping.
Fees: Camping $20 per night dry, $30 with full hookups; day use fee charged, check current rates
Best: Spring through early fall
Has: restrooms · boat launch · RV hookups (some sites) · picnic tables · more
Sandy Beach County Park
Solano County campground on the Sacramento River just south of Rio Vista with 42 sites, many with water and electric hookups. The park has a long sandy riverfront beach and is a popular base for Delta fishing and windsurfing. Hot showers and flush restrooms are on site.
Fees: Check current fees; camping and day use parking fees charged, second vehicle $10 per night
Best: Year round
Has: restrooms · showers · RV hookups · fire rings · more
Lake Camanche North Shore Campground
Large EBMUD reservoir campground in the low foothills near Ione with hundreds of tent and RV sites plus cottages. The lake has 54 miles of shoreline, a marina, a store, and year-round boating and fishing. It is one of the closest full-service lake campgrounds to Sacramento that stays open all year.
Fees: Day use $15 per vehicle ($17.50 towing a boat); camping rates vary by site, check current fees
Best: Year round
Has: restrooms · showers · boat launch · marina · more
Sly Park Recreation Area (Jenkinson Lake)
El Dorado Irrigation District campground on 640-acre Jenkinson Lake in the pines near Pollock Pines at about 3,500 feet. Nearly 200 family sites sit in several loops along the lake, with boating, swimming, and an 8-mile shoreline trail. Reservations open six months ahead and summer weekends sell out fast.
Fees: Check current fees with EID; day use charged per vehicle and campsites per night (equestrian sites $55 per night)
Best: Late spring through early fall
Has: restrooms · picnic tables · fire rings · boat launch · more
Collins Lake Recreation Area
Campground on a 1,000-acre foothill reservoir near Browns Valley, run as a public recreation area under the Browns Valley Irrigation District. It offers lakefront tent and RV sites, cabins, a marina, and a large sandy swim beach. More than 50,000 trout are planted each spring, so many campers come to fish.
Fees: Check current fees at collinslake.com; camping, day use and boat launch fees charged, second vehicle $15 per night
Best: Spring through fall
Has: restrooms · showers · RV hookups · boat launch · more
Mineral Bar Campground (Auburn State Recreation Area)
Small primitive campground on the North Fork American River at the end of Iowa Hill Road near Colfax. Sites sit close to the river in a steep canyon reached by a narrow one-lane road. It is first come, first served, with vault toilets and no hookups.
Fees: Check current fees; primitive first-come sites, roughly $25-30 per night
Best: Late spring through fall
Has: vault toilets · picnic tables · fire rings · river access
Peninsula Campground (Folsom Lake State Recreation Area)
Quiet 100-site campground on the east side of Folsom Lake between the north and south forks of the American River. It is reached by a narrow, winding 11-mile drive down Rattlesnake Bar Road from Pilot Hill, which keeps crowds smaller than at Beals Point. Sites sit close to the shoreline with lake access for swimming and boating.
Fees: $28-33 per night; $12 per vehicle day use
Best: Late spring through early fall
Has: restrooms · showers · picnic tables · fire rings · more
Cache Creek Regional Park Campground (Middle Site)
Yolo County campground in Cache Creek Canyon about 6 miles north of Rumsey on Highway 16, with 45 individual sites plus group sites. The creek is a popular spring whitewater run and the canyon offers hiking and wildlife viewing. There is no potable water, and the campground closes Monday and Tuesday nights.
Fees: Check current fees; camping plus day use parking, $5 shower tokens and $5 per dog per night
Best: Spring and fall
Has: restrooms · showers (token fee) · picnic tables · playground · more
Fishing Spots
Miller Park (Sacramento River)
City of Sacramento riverfront park and marina just south of downtown on the Sacramento River. Bank anglers fish for striped bass in spring, salmon in fall, and catfish in summer, and the public launch ramp reaches prime river water fast. Check CDFW rules for sturgeon and salmon seasons before keeping fish.
Fees: Free bank fishing; $8 daily boat launch fee
Best: Spring for stripers, fall for salmon
Has: restrooms · boat launch · docks · picnic tables
Discovery Park (American River Parkway)
302-acre county park at the confluence of the American and Sacramento rivers, minutes from downtown. Bank anglers target striped bass in spring, salmon in fall, and catfish through the warm months, and a boat ramp gives access to both rivers. The park floods in wet winters, so check conditions before visiting.
Fees: $8 per vehicle day use ($11 on major summer holiday weekends)
Best: Spring for stripers, fall for salmon
Has: restrooms · boat launch · picnic tables · archery range
Garcia Bend Park (Sacramento River)
City park in the Pocket neighborhood with a wide lawn, playground, and an ADA accessible public boat launch on the Sacramento River. It is a reliable bank fishing spot for catfish and striped bass and a common launch point for fall salmon trolling. The ramp charges a small daily fee with annual passes available.
Fees: Free park entry; $8 daily boat launch fee
Best: Fall for salmon, summer for catfish
Has: restrooms · boat launch · picnic tables · playground
Elk Grove Regional Park Lake
Small lake inside Elk Grove Regional Park that CDFW stocks with trout in March and April and catfish from June through September as part of Fishing in the City. Fishing is allowed March 1 through November 30 during park hours, and only single-point barbless hooks may be used. Anglers 16 and older need a state fishing license, and fishing is closed on stocking days.
Fees: Free entry most days; check current fees. State fishing license required for ages 16 and up
Best: Spring for trout, summer for catfish
Has: restrooms · picnic tables · playgrounds
Hagan Community Park Pond
Five-acre pond in Rancho Cordova's largest community park, next to the American River Parkway. CDFW has planted catchable trout here in late winter in some years, and the pond holds resident bluegill and bullhead catfish. It is an easy first fishing spot for kids, with lawns, a playground, and restrooms nearby.
Fees: Check current fees; state fishing license required for ages 16 and up
Best: Late winter and spring
Has: restrooms · picnic tables · playground · dog park
Lake Natoma, Nimbus Flat (Folsom Lake State Recreation Area)
State park access on Lake Natoma at Hazel Avenue and Highway 50, below Nimbus Dam. The narrow, cold lake holds rainbow trout plus some bass, and the 5 mph speed limit keeps the water calm for bank and kayak anglers. A paved launch ramp and the bike trail connect the whole lake.
Fees: $10 per vehicle day use
Best: Year round, best in cooler months
Has: restrooms · boat launch · picnic tables · beach
Sunrise Recreation Area (American River Parkway)
Popular county access point on both banks of the American River at Sunrise Boulevard in Rancho Cordova. Anglers work the riffles here for shad in late spring, steelhead in winter, and salmon in fall. Part of this upper stretch closes in November and December, so check current CDFW regulations.
Fees: $8 per vehicle day use ($11 on major summer holiday weekends)
Best: Late spring for shad, fall for salmon
Has: restrooms · raft and kayak launch · picnic tables · bike trail access
Gibson Ranch Regional Park
325-acre Sacramento County ranch park in Elverta with a stocked fishing lake holding bass and bluegill. Daily fishing permits are sold at the park office, and state fishing regulations apply. The park also has horse facilities, picnic areas, and open pasture land.
Fees: Check current fees; vehicle entrance fee in spring and summer plus a daily fishing permit sold at the park office
Best: Spring and fall
Has: restrooms · picnic tables · equestrian center · fishing pond
Sailor Bar (American River Parkway)
Sacramento County park on the American River in Fair Oaks, just below Nimbus Dam and the fish hatchery. It is one of the best bank access points for fall chinook salmon, winter steelhead, and spring shad, with a gravel launch for drift boats and rafts. This stretch closes to fishing November 1 through December 31 to protect spawning salmon, so check CDFW rules before you go.
Fees: $8 per vehicle day use ($11 on major summer holiday weekends)
Best: Fall for salmon, winter for steelhead
Has: restrooms · boat/raft launch · picnic tables · equestrian staging
Folsom Lake, Granite Bay (Folsom Lake State Recreation Area)
Main west-side entrance to Folsom Lake with large launch ramps that work across a wide range of lake levels. The lake is known for spotted bass, plus rainbow trout, catfish, and seasonal king salmon. Bank fishing is easy along the long shoreline north of the main beach.
Fees: $12 per vehicle day use
Best: Spring and fall
Has: restrooms · boat launch · picnic tables · swim beach · more
Rancho Seco Lake
160-acre SMUD lake near Herald stocked with rainbow trout from November through March, plus resident largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and crappie. Gas motors are banned, so bank anglers and small electric boats share quiet water. A state fishing license is required along with a small park fishing fee.
Fees: $12 per vehicle day use plus $5 per angler fishing fee
Best: Late fall through spring for trout
Has: restrooms · boat launch · picnic tables · drinking water
Brannan Island State Recreation Area
Delta state park near Rio Vista with bank and boat fishing for striped bass, catfish, bluegill, and sturgeon. The ten-lane launch ramp opens up miles of sloughs and river channels. Fall and spring striper runs are the main draw.
Fees: Check current fees; state park day use fee per vehicle
Best: Fall and spring for striped bass
Has: restrooms · boat launch · picnic tables · showers
Jenkinson Lake (Sly Park Recreation Area)
Clear 640-acre mountain lake near Pollock Pines with rainbow trout, brown trout, and smallmouth bass. Bank access is good along the 8-mile shoreline trail, and two launch ramps serve boaters. The cool elevation keeps trout fishing going later into the season than valley lakes.
Fees: Check current fees with EID; day use charged per vehicle
Best: Spring and early summer
Has: restrooms · boat launch · picnic tables · shoreline trail
Lake Camanche
One of the region's top fishing lakes, with about 60,000 pounds of trout planted between October and June and strong year-round bass fishing. Kokanee, catfish, and crappie round out the catch, and a stocked trout pond at the South Shore is set up for kids. A daily fishing access fee is charged per angler on top of the gate fee.
Fees: Day use $15 per vehicle plus $4 per angler daily fishing fee
Best: Fall through spring for trout, year round for bass
Has: restrooms · boat launch · marina · camp store · more
Swimming Spots
Tiscornia Beach
Sandy beach at the point where the American River meets the Sacramento River, next to Discovery Park. A free life jacket loaner station operates here in summer, and using one is strongly advised because the confluence has drop-offs and swirling currents that have caused drownings. Stay close to shore and keep kids in life jackets.
Fees: $8 per vehicle day use ($11 on major summer holiday weekends)
Best: July through September
Has: restrooms · life jacket loaner station · picnic tables
Paradise Beach (Glenn Hall Park)
Free city park beach on the American River behind Glenn Hall Park in River Park, near Sac State. A wide sandy bar and a slower bend of the river make it the closest classic swim beach to midtown. There are no lifeguards, and the current still gets strong when flows are up.
Fees: Free
Best: July through September
Has: restrooms · picnic tables · playground
Nimbus Flat, Lake Natoma (Folsom Lake State Recreation Area)
Calm swim beach on the east end of Lake Natoma near Hazel Avenue. The 5 mph boat limit keeps the water flat, but the lake runs cold all year because it is fed from the bottom of Folsom Dam. Sandy entry, lawns, and a launch for kayaks and paddleboards make it popular on hot days.
Fees: $10 per vehicle day use
Best: June through September
Has: restrooms · swim beach · picnic tables · boat launch
Sunrise Recreation Area (American River)
County river access at Sunrise Boulevard where gravel bars and slow side channels draw waders and rafters all summer. The county tests water quality here weekly in swim season. The river is cold and the current is stronger than it looks, and there are no lifeguards.
Fees: $8 per vehicle day use ($11 on major summer holiday weekends)
Best: July through September
Has: restrooms · picnic tables · raft and kayak launch · bike trail access
Black Miners Bar, Lake Natoma (Folsom Lake State Recreation Area)
Day use area on the north shore of Lake Natoma in Folsom, formerly called Negro Bar and renamed by State Parks. It has a swim area, shade ramadas, barbecue pits, and seasonal kayak rentals on quiet 5 mph water. The site was one of the larger Gold Rush camps founded by Black miners in 1849.
Fees: $10 per vehicle day use
Best: June through September
Has: restrooms · swim area · boat ramp · shade ramadas · more
Beals Point Beach (Folsom Lake State Recreation Area)
Sandy swim beach on the southwest shore of Folsom Lake with gentle entry and a large grassy picnic area behind it. Lifeguards are not always on duty, so swim with care. The paved bike trail and snack facilities make it an easy family day trip.
Fees: $12 per vehicle day use
Best: Late May through September
Has: restrooms · showers · picnic tables · swim beach · more
Granite Bay Main Beach (Folsom Lake State Recreation Area)
The largest developed swim area on Folsom Lake, with a long sandy beach, shade trees, and big lawns on the northwest shore. Water levels change a lot through the year, so the beach grows and shrinks with the lake. No lifeguards are posted at all times, so watch children closely.
Fees: $12 per vehicle day use
Best: Late May through September
Has: restrooms · picnic tables · swim beach · boat launch · more
Rancho Seco Lake Swim Beach
Designated sandy swim beach on the southeast side of Rancho Seco Lake, near the group picnic areas and campground. Changing rooms and outdoor showers sit right behind the beach. The no-gas-motor rule keeps the swim area calm and quiet.
Fees: $12 per vehicle day use
Best: June through September
Has: swim beach · restrooms · outdoor showers · changing rooms · more
American River Confluence (Auburn State Recreation Area)
Well-known swimming hole where the north and middle forks of the American River meet below Auburn, with clear pools near the Highway 49 bridge. Parking costs $10 at self-pay kiosks, in lots and along the road. Spring flows are cold and fast, so most people swim mid to late summer, and there are no lifeguards.
Fees: $10 per vehicle day use parking
Best: July through September
Has: portable toilets · hiking trails · roadside and lot parking
Brannan Island State Recreation Area (Windy Cove)
Protected Delta swim area inside Brannan Island State Recreation Area near Rio Vista. The cove is sheltered from boat wakes and the shallow water warms up fast in summer. Restrooms and picnic areas sit close to the swim beach, and there are no lifeguards.
Fees: Check current fees; state park day use fee per vehicle
Best: June through September
Has: swim beach · restrooms · picnic tables · showers
Sandy Beach County Park
Long sandy beach on the Sacramento River at Rio Vista where the water is warm by mid-summer. Afternoon Delta winds are strong, which draws windsurfers but can make swimming choppy. There are no lifeguards and boat traffic passes offshore, so stay near the beach.
Fees: Check current fees; day use parking fee charged
Best: July through September
Has: beach · restrooms · showers · picnic tables
Jenkinson Lake Swim Areas (Sly Park Recreation Area)
Clear, cool mountain lake near Pollock Pines with swimming allowed along most of the shoreline outside boat launch zones. The water is cleaner and colder than valley lakes because it sits at about 3,500 feet in the pines. There are no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk.
Fees: Check current fees with EID; day use charged per vehicle
Best: July through September
Has: restrooms · picnic tables · shoreline trail · boat launch
Lake Camanche Swim Areas
Warm foothill reservoir with quiet coves and beaches for swimming along 54 miles of shoreline. A 5 mph boat limit within 200 feet of shore keeps swim areas calmer. There are no lifeguards, so swimming is at your own risk.
Fees: Day use $15 per vehicle
Best: June through September
Has: restrooms · beaches · picnic tables · camp store
South Yuba River, Highway 49 Crossing (South Yuba River State Park)
Granite-lined swimming holes on the South Yuba River where Highway 49 crosses between Nevada City and North San Juan. Pools are clear and deep, but snowmelt keeps the river dangerous until flows drop, so the safe season is roughly late June through September. Parking at the small lot by the bridge fills early on summer weekends.
Fees: Free parking at the crossing; the Bridgeport unit charges $10 per vehicle
Best: Late June through September
Has: portable toilets · hiking trails · limited parking