Tourism leaders, paddlers and city officials gather at Black Miners Bar to officially unveil new outdoor recreation branding effort
Under morning skies on the shoreline of Lake Natoma, a handful of paddleboarders and kayakers took to the calm waters Tuesday as tourism leaders, elected officials and recreation partners officially launched Folsom’s new “Paddling Capital of the West” destination campaign at Black Miners Bar.
The waterfront gathering served as the formal public unveiling of a branding initiative designed to position Folsom as Northern California’s premier hub for stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and a broad diversity of on-water paddling experiences.
Throughout the morning, several paddleboarders and kayakers provided a visual backdrop on the water as speakers outlined the vision behind the campaign and highlighted the waterways that have increasingly become one of Folsom’s defining outdoor attractions.
Organizers say the initiative is about far more than recreation. The campaign is intended to elevate Folsom’s visibility as a year-round tourism destination, support local businesses and outfitters, increase overnight stays and strengthen the city’s growing identity within the outdoor recreation industry.
“This is a natural evolution for Folsom,” said Joe Gagliardi, CEO of Visit Folsom and Choose Folsom. “We have two incredible waterways, experienced outfitters, and a growing paddling community with a long and distinguished history. With this launch, we’re telling that story in a bold, unified way that inspires visitors to come experience it for themselves.”
The campaign was first introduced earlier this month as a collaborative effort led by Visit Folsom and Choose Folsom in partnership with the City of Folsom, California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways, the Sacramento State Aquatic Center, the Folsom Historic District Association, Lake Natoma Paddle Rentals, Current Adventures Kayak School and SUP California.
Tuesday’s launch brought many of those partners together at Black Miners Bar, a location already closely tied to many of Folsom’s major paddling and rowing events. Speakers throughout the morning emphasized that few destinations in the western United States offer the same diversity of paddling opportunities concentrated within one destination.
Just 30 minutes from Sacramento, Folsom offers two distinctly different waterways within minutes of each other. Lake Natoma provides calm, protected waters bordered by riparian habitat and regulated by a 5 mph speed limit, creating an ideal environment for beginners, families, training programs and competitive paddlers alike. Just upstream, Folsom Lake offers a far broader and more dynamic open-water setting suited for distance paddling, endurance outings and larger-scale recreational adventures.
Officials said the combination of protected flatwater paddling on Lake Natoma and the open-water experience of Folsom Lake is something few destinations in the western United States can offer in one location.
Folsom Mayor Justin Raithel said the city’s waterways have become one of its most important natural and economic assets.
“Folsom’s waterways are one of our greatest natural assets,” Raithel said during Tuesday’s event. “This initiative not only celebrates recreation, it strengthens our local economy—supporting small businesses, increasing tourism, and encouraging visitors to stay longer and explore more.”
Additional remarks were delivered by Barry Smith of California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways, Brian Dulgar of the Sacramento State Aquatic Center, Dan Crandell of Lake Natoma Paddle Rentals and Jaime Johnson of SUP California.
The official launch of the “Paddling Capital of the West” campaign also comes just days before one of the nation’s most prestigious collegiate rowing events returns to Lake Natoma.
Beginning Friday, May 29, the 123rd Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championship will once again take over the Sacramento State Aquatic Center as elite collegiate rowing programs from across the country compete on Lake Natoma through Sunday, May 31. The championship is being hosted in partnership with presenting sponsors Visit Rancho Cordova and Visit Folsom.
The historic regatta brings together the fastest Division I men’s heavyweight, men’s lightweight, women’s lightweight and Division III men’s heavyweight crews in the country. The 2026 event marks the first time in six years the championship has returned to the West Coast and the fifth time since 2009 that Lake Natoma has served as host.
“Lake Natoma is one of the premier rowing venues in the country,” said Laura Kunkemueller, commissioner of the Intercollegiate Rowing Association. “The Sacramento State Aquatic Center staff consistently delivers both the infrastructure and the operations to create a top-notch regatta for athletes and coaches. Visit Rancho Cordova and Visit Folsom provide support for all of our competitors and for spectators coming in from outside the area. We are looking forward to working with these teams again to present an excellent championship experience for athletes, coaches and spectators alike.”
Dulgar said organizers are eager to welcome rowers and fans back to the region.
“We are honored and excited to be the host of this year’s IRA National Championship and to showcase the oldest collegiate sport in the country,” Dulgar said.
Tourism leaders say the championship delivers not only national exposure, but also significant economic impact to both Folsom and the greater Sacramento region.
“This regatta is bigger than ever before,” said Marc Sapoznik, president and CEO of Visit Rancho Cordova. “Bringing back these top-tier collegiate rowers is a huge win for our region, and our collaboration with Visit Folsom makes everything possible. We’ll see significant economic impact to both communities with full hotels, busy restaurants and bustling activity centers as a result of this event.”
Gagliardi said the championship serves as another example of why Lake Natoma has become nationally recognized within the rowing and paddling world.
“We’re honored to welcome the IRA National Championship back to Lake Natoma—one of the nation’s most prestigious rowing events at one of America’s top rowing venues,” Gagliardi said. “This event showcases world-class collegiate athletes and brings tremendous energy and economic impact to our region. Folsom is proud to help create an unforgettable experience for teams, families, and fans.”
Dating back to 1894, the Intercollegiate Rowing Association hosts the nation’s oldest collegiate national championship. The regatta crowns heavyweight and lightweight national champions while awarding the James Ten Eyck Memorial Trophy to the overall team points winner. Women’s lightweight racing was added in 1997, while a Division III championship category was introduced in 2022.
Lake Natoma’s reputation as one of America’s premier rowing venues has made it a sought-after location for major regattas and national competitions for decades. Officials expect thousands of athletes, coaches, families and spectators to visit the Sacramento region during championship weekend.
Beyond recreational paddling, organizers pointed to Folsom’s long-established role in competitive water sports. Each spring, Lake Natoma hosts the Powerhouse Ministries Dragon Boat Festival at Black Miners Bar, drawing teams and spectators from across the region for high-energy races supporting community causes.
At the recreational level, events such as the popular Lake Natoma Witches Paddle continue introducing new audiences to paddle sports while reinforcing the community atmosphere surrounding the city’s waterways.
Local outfitters and recreation partners say the city’s paddling scene has steadily expanded in recent years as more residents and visitors seek outdoor activities that combine recreation, fitness and access to nature. Organizations such as the Sacramento State Aquatic Center and Current Adventures Kayak School now provide instruction, rentals and guided experiences for all skill levels.
Officials also emphasized that the paddling campaign is designed to connect visitors with the broader Folsom experience beyond the shoreline. Tourism leaders highlighted Historic Folsom, Palladio, Folsom Premium Outlets, destination dining and more than 50 miles of interconnected trails that tie together the city’s recreational and commercial areas.
The campaign also includes a dedicated online hub where visitors can explore launch locations, review safety information, connect with local outfitters and plan paddling experiences throughout the Folsom area.
As paddleboards and kayaks drifted quietly across Lake Natoma behind Tuesday’s speakers, organizers said the launch marks the next chapter in Folsom’s emergence as one of the West’s growing outdoor recreation destinations.
For more information, visithttps://visitfolsom.com/folsom-water-activities/.
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