Willow Creek East Lake Natoma, Folsom SRA
Waiver and Sign-Up Required
After an 18-month hiatus from Friday Walks, we are happy to be able to offer them again. To gather safely, however, we need to follow some new rules.
- You must sign an Electronic Liability Waiver in advance of joining SacValley Chapter Friday Walks. Signing an Electronic Liability Waiver is a permanent change required statewide by the California Native Plant Society. Please note that signing the waiver for SacValley Chapter Friday Walks applies only to our chapter’s Friday Walks and does not cover SacValley Chapter Field Trips or any events or field trips offered by other CNPS chapters. Once you have signed the SacValley Chapter Friday Walks waiver, it is valid through the end of the current calendar year.
- For now, a limited number of participants can join each Friday Walk. The limit is currently 15 participants and one leader. During this initial restart, only four new participants can sign up for each walk. If you have signed up for a Friday Walk at any point after January 1, 2013, you are not considered a new participant.
Walks held unless there is heavy rain. Cancellation notices posted by 7PM Thursday evening if heavy rain is in the forecast.
Note: the technical problems sometimes encountered when updating a Friday Walks has been resolved, effective May 7, 2022.
Friday, May 13, 9:15am-12:00pm, Willow Creek Lake Natoma, Folsom SRA
Enjoy a spring walk along the SE side of Lake Natoma. We’ll meet at the Willow Creek access and head east towards downtown Folsom on about a 3.5 mile round trip. We will be following the bike trail more than some of the side dirt trails, since most of the bloom is along the bike trail. Blooming last Sunday were Madia elegans and gracilis, Clarkia unguiculata and purpurea, Gilia tricolor, Acmispon glaber, Lupinus benthamii and nanus, Chorizanthe membranacea, Delphinium hesperium, Aesculus californica starting to bloom, Brodiaea elegans, Erigeron foliosus, Diplacus aurantiacus, Keckiella breviflora, Wyethia angustifolia, Phacelia imbricata, Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea, Eriophyllum lanatum, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Eriodictyon californicum, Amsinckia, Cryptantha and Plagiobothrys. These aren’t all the plants currently in bloom. A few birds were seen, so binoculars will be useful. Binoculars will be useful for bird sightings. Email John Schmidt for more information or call 916-500-8456.
Bring water, hat, snack, layered protection, and sun protection. The trail and bike path is mostly flat with a few gentle hills.
Parking is $12 or use your State Park Pass.
Meet near the teardrop on the linked map or use the directions below.
Willow Creek Lake Natoma Unit, Folsom SRA directions from downtown Sacramento:
Willow Creek Lake Natoma Unit, Folsom SRA access directions from downtown Sacramento:
– US 50 east to Folsom Blvd., exit #23.
– Left at the traffic light onto Folsom Blvd.
– East on Folsom Blvd for 1.5 miles to Blue Ravine Rd.
– Be in the left hand turn lane to make a U-Turn at the traffic light. There is a Dos Coyotes and Jamba Juice on the westbound side of Folsom Blvd. as you make the U-Turn.
– Head West on Folsom Blvd staying in the right hand lane for about 0.7 miles to the Willow Creek Recreation entrance. This entrance is on a right curving bend just as the road starts climbing toward the traffic signal. It will be hard to see the sign for Willow Creek until you are almost at it. About 40 yards before the Willow Creek entrance there will be a GREEN SIGN on your right with a Bus and Transit logo for the light rail. Slow down for the Willow Creek entrance is just a little further around this bend. If you miss it, you’ll have to make a U-Turn back onto Folsom Blvd, heading east and repeat the process.
– Follow the park road into the parking area just on the other side of the bike trail.
– We’ll meet closer to the rest facilities.
If these directions sound confusing, you can use Google Streetview to see the entrance.
This is one of the few walks starting near a light rail station. The Folsom Outlets Light Rail station is about 0.6 miles away.
There are rest facilities at the Willow Creek parking area.
If you are vaccinated you do not need to wear a mask. If you are not vaccinated, masks are required. Also if you are more comfortable wearing a mask, please do.
To sign up for the May 13 Willow Creek Lake Natoma Walk and receive the link for the Electronic Liability Waiver if needed, email John Schmidt or call 916-500-8456 for more information.
State Park Passes. There is a special $20 Annual Golden Bear State Park (62 and older) Pass, but it is not good from Memorial weekend through Labor Day Weekend. There will be 4 or 5 Friday Walks after Labor Day weekend that will visit State Park lands so it might still be worth purchasing. State Park Lands we’ll visit after summer include Negro Bar, Beals Point, Beeks Bight, Browns ravine, Sweetwater and Skunk Hollow. We might also visit areas in Auburn SRA for Fall color.
Please try to be on time. We’ll start walking at 9:30am heading east on the trail by Lake Natoma.