The Oaks Nature Trail in the Folsom State Recreation Area is a 1.6 mile out and back walking trail through oak trees.
I entered the park from Rattlesnake Bar. The nine mile drive is beautiful in the springtime with rolling hills and lush green grass for the cattle that live here. This is coming in the backdoor of the park via Pilot Hill in El Dorado County. No lines but fewer amenities. This is the campground access for those who car camp.
Day Use Parking is $12 in Folsom and there is no way around it on this hike. I suggest a Poppy Pass for $125, purchased at the Auburn SRA office as the money stays in Auburn.
Through the gate, down the hill to the left is a small parking lot with a porta potty, picnic table, drinking fountain and view of Folsom Lake. A perfect place for a family picnic. The well signed trail begins at the southeast corner of the parking lot.
A series of switchbacks takes you through the oak stand with several interpretive signs along the way. Sturdy bridges and handsome wooden railing guide you much of the way. A creek spills into Folsom Lake in winter and early spring and adds to the magic of this trail with wildflowers adding to its scenery. This would be a great first date hike or if you wanted to get young children out on a trail. It’s easy with little elevation gain, wide and well maintained.
At the end of the trail is another parking lot for the boat launch complete with a dock to get closer to the water. Of course, you can park in this lot and do the hike in reverse by coming in another gate. The return trip is just as nice with the picnic table waiting for you at the end.
This article is authored by Mary West, a regular contribute to Folsom Times. Mary is the. author of the book series Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guide I, II, III and now IV. All available on Amazon. The books are a collection of the Day Hiker columns where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, favorite hikes in Northern California’s Gold Country and beyond. West was the recipient of the 2017 and 2019 CRAFT Award for Best Outdoor Column and the 2020 Craft Award for her second book in the series-Day Hiker Gold Country.
