A Sacramento suburb that shares its name with a notorious prison might not top most glossy travel influencers’ must-visit destinations. But it’s their loss.
Folsom is one of California’s fastest-growing cities. After the city annexed 3,500 new acres in 2004 and expanded residential construction, its population has risen by an estimated 45% to around 92,000 residents.
Amid the population boom, Folsom buzzes with a new vibrancy, as its historic Gold Rush-era downtown is thriving and its surrounding lakes and trails offer plenty of outdoor recreation — and the secret’s getting out.
Here are some ways we’d build a delightful day trip to Folsom.
Start your morning in Folsom’s charming historic downtown at Sociology Coffee Bar, where you’ll find creative craft coffee drinks like the iced Teddy Graham, made with bourbon vanilla, espresso, iced coffee, chocolate bitters and oat milk. And don’t forget to fuel up for an active day. Whether you’re in the mood for a hearty steak or loco moco-loaded breakfast burrito, a house breakfast sandwich or linguica-stuffed panito, or something lighter like a housemade tropical-flavored pop tart, you can leave happily sated and caffeinated.
The Folsom State Prison, built in 1880, is California’s second-oldest, after San Quentin. It’s also where Johnny Cash performed in 1968, cementing his connection to local lore. (Photo courtesy of Visit Folsom)
From there, it’s time to take advantage of the warm weather to soak up some sun — and the outdoor adventures on offer are myriad. For a mellow stroll, head for the Johnny Cash Trail. The musician’s two live performances in 1968 at the local maximum-security Folsom State Prison — and his song “Folsom Prison Blues” — canonized Cash into community lore. Completed in 2017, this bike and pedestrian path covers 2.75 miles between Folsom’s historic downtown and Folsom Lake. There’s also a trail that connects to the Folsom Prison Museum, but it closed in 2025. A project to add art honoring Cash along the trail is in the works.
If you’re up for more water-based exploration, two large lakes in town mean that access to water sports is abundant. At Folsom Lake, a 10,000-acre reservoir with about 75 miles of shoreline, you can head to the Granite Bay or Folsom Lake Marina boat launches and rent a motorized boat to go for a cruise or to take the family tubing — you know, that time-honored sport that involves tying on a towable tube and driving erratically at high speeds to send the kids flying and splashing.
Waterfront cycling and dog-friendly trails are abundant at the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. (Photo courtesy of Visit Folsom)
At Lake Natoma, home to the Sacramento State Aquatic Center, motorboats are more restricted, so sports like rowing, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing proliferate. Near Lake Natoma, you’ll also find Black Miners Bar, named after a historic African American gold mining community of about 500 to 600 people who lived along the American River in the 1850s. It has a boat launch with calm water for kayaking, paddleboarding and swimming, as well as picnic facilities. Lake Natoma is also where Spotted Dog Yoga & SUP runs stand-up paddleboard yoga classes.
If hiking’s your thing, the state trail network at Folsom State Recreation Area provides abundant territory to explore on foot. It’s one of the relatively rare state parks that’s fully dog-friendly, so you can bring your pup hiking, too. Or, if you think you and your canine companion have what it takes to be a racing duo, you can even participate in the Good Dog-Dirty Dog 5K and 10K run, held in August each year on the trails around Folsom Lake. It’s a chaotic, happy, slobbery experience, with participation bandanas, water play areas and abundant treats for proud four-legged finishers.
And if you’re looking to explore the area on two wheels instead, Folsom Lake is also the start (or end) of the American River Parkway, a greenbelt that runs for 32 miles and includes the paved Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail all the way to downtown Sacramento. The bike ride alone can be its own day trip, but if you have the time — or especially if you have a shuttle to take you and your bike back from Sacramento — it’s a delightful way to see some of the other parks and communities along the American River, as well as the many bird species that inhabit the greenbelt.
A great egret catches a fish on Lake Natoma. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Other activities on offer in town include visiting the Folsom History Museum, which has a temporary exhibition on the history of the Folsom Rodeo running through Jan 2027 and a permanent exhibition on Folsom’s innovations in industries like gold mining, railroads and agriculture. Or check out the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, where bears, miniature donkeys, macaques, a skink, birds and more live.
A crab-eating macaque perches near a toy at the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary. (Courtesy Folsom Zoo Sanctuary)
After a BYO picnic somewhere along the way, you’re probably ready for some rest and relaxation. You’ll find both at Urban Baths Folsom, a contemporary coed bath house (swimsuits required) with a water circuit featuring a hot tub, steam room, sauna and cold plunge facilities ($45 for 2 hours). By the time you’re done, you’ll be ultra-relaxed — and ready for some dinner and maybe a drink.
Visitors soak in the hot tub at Urban Baths Folsom, a contemporary bath house that also has a steam room and cold plunge. (Photo courtesy of Marcella J. Photography)
Looking for British-style pub fare? Visit the Fat Rabbit Public House. California comfort food? Plank Craft Kitchen + Bar. Seafood and wine? Scott’s Seafood Roundhouse at Willamette Wineworks. Italian? Bella Maci. Locals also give high ratings to Burma Light for Burmese food and Belly Barbecue for Southern fare.
Historic downtown Folsom’s retail hub is centered on Sutter Street. (Photo courtesy of Visit Folsom)
After eating your fill of delicious food, head to Sutter Street, the main drag of historic downtown Folsom, where you can mosey around independent shops like Ruby’s Books, a thoughtfully curated bookstore whose adorable logo is inspired by the owners’ golden retriever, Ruby. If the kids are in tow (but also maybe if not), make a pit stop at BrainyZoo Toys, stocked with good-for-the-brain and fun activities for all ages, including puzzles, DIY science and craft kits, and stuffies galore. Or peruse the vinyl offerings at Fat Elephant Records.
And on your way out, check the large downtown plaza, which hosts regular musical performances and community activities, particularly during the winter holiday season, when the space is home to a pop-up ice rink.
For more travel coverage in the Bay Area and beyond, follow us on Flipboard.