Folsom Lake

Folsom Lake is a reservoir of roughly 11,450 acres and 75 miles of shoreline about 25 miles east of Sacramento, within Folsom Lake State Recreation Area in the Sierra foothills. It spans Placer, El Dorado and Sacramento counties. The lake is popular for waterskiing, wakeboarding, fishing and sailing, and it is one of the closest big-water boating spots to the Sacramento region.

Launch ramps

State Parks posts a dated ramp status page that sorts ramps into three groups: open for motorized and trailered boats, hand-launch only and closed. On the page dated May 14, 2025 only Browns Ravine and Granite Bay Stage 4 were open for motorized boats. On the page dated September 2, 2025, Granite Bay Stage 1 and Browns Ravine-Hobie Cove were. Black Miners Bar, Folsom Point, Nimbus Flat, Peninsula North, Rattlesnake Bar and Willow Creek were hand-launch only. Granite Bay Low Water was closed. Which ramps work depends on lake level, so check current lake levels and the current status page.

Golden mussel inspections

Since April 14, 2025, State Parks has required trailered or motorized vessels launching at Folsom Lake to be inspected and either placed in a 30-day quarantine under a seal or decontaminated with hot water by an approved vendor for a green seal. Hand-launched, non-motorized boats are exempt. State Parks inspections are free, but businesses may charge. Days, hours and locations have changed, so confirm before you go.

Folsom Lake Marina and Lake Natoma

Folsom Lake Marina at Browns Ravine is the only marina on the lake, with 685 wet slips, 175 dry slips, fuel and two ramps, including the Hobie Cove low-water ramp. Lake Natoma below the dam is a 5 mph lake, and trailered boats are not allowed there.