Folsom Lake is the ninth largest reservoir in California and a major recreational asset for the Sacramento area.

Generally, Folsom Lake State Recreation Area experiences hot summers and mild winters.

The lake and recreation area offer opportunities for hiking, biking, running, camping, picnicking, horseback riding, water-skiing and boating.

In the spring months when school is still in session, evenings and weekends are the times of highest lake activity.

There are 95 miles of trail at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, used by hikers, bicyclists, runners, and horseback riders.

A portion of the Western States/Pioneer Express Trail between Sacramento and Carson City also runs through the park.

[4] Native Americans of the Maidu and Nisenan tribes inhabited the land around Folsom Lake for thousands of years.

The Nisenan used local resources found around the lake like acorns and berries to trade with coastal tribes.

They wove their baskets from willow, redbud, tule, milkweed, sedge grass and native grapevine.

During recent drought years, water levels had been so low at Folsom Lake that the old mining town of Mormon Island was revealed.

When news of gold discovery spread, Mormon Island grew and gained a population of up to 2,500 people by 1853.

The ditch started up by the new salmon falls bridge and reached down to Granite City, which today is named Folsom.

Folsom and Nimbus Dams were built by the Bureau of Reclamation as part of California's Central Valley Project to control the waters of the American River.

Other functions of the dams include flood protection, household water supply, power and irrigation.

In the spring, wildflowers include Indian paintbrush, larkspur, lupine, brodiaea, fiddleneck, Dutchman's pipe and monkeyflower.

In addition to plant life, there are also several species of animals including black-tailed deer, raccoons, skunks, opossums, gray foxes and coyotes.

Birds commonly found in the area include nesting egrets, herons and cormorants, Canada geese, blackbirds, scrub jays, quails, wrens, bushtits and towhees.

Red-tailed hawks, American kestrels, ospreys and eagles may be spotted flying over the area.

It has 100 campsites with facilities including flush toilets, hot showers, piped water, sanitation station, two boat launch ramps, and oaks nature trail.

[10] Gold was first discovered along the south bank of the American River in the area originally known as Negro Bar.

Historically, the American River provided approximately 100 miles of stream in which salmon and steelhead could spawn and rear.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation pays the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to operate the hatchery.