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Lake Natoma

Folsom · Rancho Cordova, California — Sacramento County.

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525Surface acres
7Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 105943548).

Location & fast facts

Where Lake Natoma is in California

The red circle marks Lake Natoma.

Fast facts

About Lake Natoma

  • County: Sacramento
  • Cities & towns on the shore: Folsom, Rancho Cordova
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 18 mi from Sacramento and 91 mi from San Francisco, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (California: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in California

Official CDFW pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 7 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Swimming. 4 public beach or swim spots on the map (details)
  • Camping. 14 campgrounds within 15 mi, 1 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Eurasian watermilfoil, Common water-hyacinth and Brazilian waterweed recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • No lifeguard listed. None of our sources lists a staffed lifeguard. Swim at your own risk and watch children closely.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Lake map

Lake Natoma shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Black Miners Bar Parking P1 (campground)Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Boat ramp (Boat launch)3Boat ramp (Boat launch)4Dornman Shore Launch Point (Boat launch)5Falcon Head Launch Point (Boat launch)6Horse Shoe Shore Lake Access Point (Boat launch)7Moot Rock Beach (Beach)8Horse Shoe Hill Shore (Beach)9Laurel Beach (Beach)10Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap) (Beach)111 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchBeach Campground
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Folsom
  3. 3Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Folsom
  4. 4Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Folsom
  5. 5Dornman Shore Launch Point
    Boat launch
  6. 6Falcon Head Launch Point
    Boat launch
  7. 7Horse Shoe Shore Lake Access Point
    Boat launch
  8. 8Moot Rock Beach
    Beach
  9. 9Horse Shoe Hill Shore
    Beach
  10. 10Laurel Beach
    Beach
  11. 11Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap)
    Beach

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 105943548), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Lake Natoma

We found 14 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Natoma, 4 of them within 5 miles. 1 is right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

8 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in California

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Lake Natoma, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (38.6690, -121.1893). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Natoma. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Lake Natoma

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in PT (America/Los_Angeles), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    7 public access sites listed, 7 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.6346, -121.2170
    Boat rampFolsom—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.6489, -121.1902
    Boat rampFolsom—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.6822, -121.1784
    Boat rampFolsom—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.6797, -121.1835
    Dornman Shore Launch Point——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.6413, -121.2137
    Falcon Head Launch Point——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.6407, -121.2127
    Horse Shoe Shore Lake Access Point——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.6559, -121.1936

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Public beaches

    On OpenStreetMap: 4 beaches and swimming spots on the shore of Lake Natoma not marked private, residents-only or members-only.

    BeachTypeAccessDirections
    Moot Rock BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Horse Shoe Hill ShoreBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Laurel BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap)BeachAccess not tagged; check posted rules; lifeguards (seasonal)Get directions

    Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Lake Natoma

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Lake Natoma

    How big is Lake Natoma?

    Lake Natoma covers about 525 acres in Folsom and Rancho Cordova, California (Sacramento County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Lake Natoma?

    Yes. 7 public trailer launches are listed: Boat ramp, Boat ramp and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Can you swim in Lake Natoma?

    OpenStreetMap shows 4 public beach or swimming spots on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Lake Natoma?

    Yes. We list 14 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 4 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Lake Natoma?

    Lake Natoma touches Folsom and Rancho Cordova in Sacramento County, California.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Lake Natoma? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All California lakes & ponds · All waters in Folsom