Lake Natoma is located 15 miles (24 km) east of Sacramento, and has 500 surface acres of water.

Lake Natoma includes the historic Black Miners Bar area in Folsom, the site of a gold rush era African-American mining camp.

[3] In 2002, multiple meetings were held for public input and for interested stakeholders to plan and prepare for recreational purposes adequate enough for the growing population.

Land activities include hiking, biking, picnicking, jogging, and horseback riding.

[3] Educational activities are also available, including information about historical sites near Lake Natoma and Folsom Lake, like the common fish that spawn in the American River, the history of the California Gold Rush, and Native American life before the arrival of the Europeans.

[4] Fishermen like to use the Black Miners Bar launch, as many fishing tournament events occur nearby.

[4] Located at the Willow Creek inlet to Lake Natoma, this area is used for both land and water activities.

[4] Where the Nimbus Dam ends, there is an Aquatic Center right on Lake Natoma that belongs to the California State University Sacramento (CSUS).

[4] A paved bike path runs along both sides of Lake Natoma, creating a roughly 12-mile loop.

The 32-mile American River Bike Trail, which goes from Sacramento to Beals Point,[5] also runs along the west side of the lake.

[4] For recreational fishing in the northern and Central California bodies of water, the hatchery produces 4 million Chinook salmon and over 400,000 steelhead trout per year.

[clarification needed] During its operation (1895-1952) the powerhouse delivered 11,000 volts of electricity over 22 miles to Sacramento.

Native animals known to live here are the mule deer, coyote, bobcat, mountain lion, quail, bald and golden eagle, heron, egret, western pond turtle, and California horned lizard.

[7] The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has developed a safe eating advisory for Lake Natoma, based on levels of mercury found in fish caught here.