Your guide to family-friendly Sacramento-area parks and nature preserves

Northern California is full of beautiful outdoor destinations — some of the most beautiful just an hour or so drive from Sacramento.

But Sacramento also has plenty of family-friendly nature preserves and city parks for people to explore.

Here are some local nature preserves and parks in the Sacramento area for you and your loved ones. Most parks are free to enter.

Auburn State Recreation Area

501 El Dorado St., Auburn

The state recreational park is a 40-mile expanse in Auburn that features hiking trails, camping and fishing. Some visitors also make their way to the park to uncover gold. The park’s website advises visitors to watch out for rattlesnakes, mountain lions and black bears as well as for the poison oak that grows on site.

Daily use fees are $10.

Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park

Pilot Hill, CA 95664

This dog-friendly trail is located around 50 minutes away from downtown Sacramento. Visitors can bike, hunt, fish, bird watch and horseback ride on the 12 mile trail that connect to the American River Trail Corridor. Camping is not permitted at the park.

Cosumnes River Preserve

13501 Franklin Blvd., Galt

This nature expanse in northern California is centered around the Cosumnes River and has opportunities for canoeing, hiking, kayaking and paddling, according to the Bureau of Land Management. The preserve’s visitor center includes a deck and outdoor exhibit that is always open to the public. Dogs are not allowed.

Effie Yeaw Nature Center

2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael

This nature preserve is located inside Ancil Hoffman Park in Carmichael, which is only a 15 minute drive from downtown Sacramento. The 100-acre refuge features a riparian, meadows and an aquatic habitat. Trails are open to the public from dawn to dusk, according to its website. Parking costs $5 per car, and the nature area prohibits dogs, horses, bicycles and smoking.

North Laguna Creek Wildlife Area

6400 Jacinto Avenue, Elk Grove

North Laguna is a wildlife refuge located in Elk Grove. The 100-plus acre wildlife preserve also includes a park that features athletic fields including a basketball court, soccer field and two tennis courts. There is also a pond in the middle of the park to gather around.

Overlook Park

855 Pacific Ave, Auburn

Overlook Park offers hiking trails and horseback riding that have access to a nearby canyon. It also has a skate park. The park opens at 7:30 a.m. daily and closes at night based on the time of the year. For the month of March through May, Overlook closes at 7:30 p.m., according to the Auburn recreation department.

Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

7755 Folsom-Auburn Rd, Folsom

This state recreation area that centers Folsom Lake offers biking, fishing, boating and biking to visitors. The park, which is roughly a 40-minute drive east of Sacramento, also serves as a year-round camping site. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, concession stands at the park are currently limited, according to the park’s website. Dogs are allowed on the trails and in the water. Parking to enter Folsom Point is $12 at all times of the day.

Hansen Ranch Park Site

400 W Ascot Avenue, Sacramento

The Hansen Ranch Park is a large, 260 acre park that has plenty of wildlife and is home to a variety of animals including turkeys, coyotes and herons. For those wanting to escape to the outdoors with their office or family, the city requires an application form to be filled out. The fee to apply is $5.

Ray and Judy Tretheway Oak Preserve

2230 River Plaza Drive, Sacramento

The Ray and Judy Tretheway Oak Preserve, formerly known as Natomas Oaks Park, is a smaller park located right along the Sacramento River in south Natomas. The park features a jogging trail, a lawn area and picnic tables meant for families and friends.

McKinley Park

601 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento

Built in 1871 by the Sacramento Street Railway Company, this historic park has many athletic fields and courts, a garden and arts center as well as several play areas for younger children. It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden

1046 Garrod Drive, Davis

The public garden is only 20 minutes away from Sacramento. The arboretum emphasizes sustainable gardening practices and features a variety of plants used for academic and research purposes. Admission into the gardens is free, and dogs on leashes are welcome.

Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park

2701 L Street, Sacramento

For those looking to learn more about California’s history, this state park, located in the heart of Midtown Sacramento, is open daily for guided tours. Established in 1839, Sutter’s Fort represents the first permanent European colony in the state’s Central Valley.

Admission to the park is $5 for adults and $3 for children between ages 6 and 17.

Natomas Rose Garden

2921 Truxel Rd, Sacramento

This volunteer-run garden is a part of the South Natomas Community Park and operates in tandem with the park’s hours, which is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. In addition to hundreds of rose bushes, the garden has benches and picnic areas available for people to sit and smell the roses.

Sutter’s Landing Regional Park

20 28th Street, Sacramento

Sutter’s Landing Regional Park is known for its multi-use trail along the American River Parkway meant for bikers and joggers. The park also has two outdoor basketball courts, a bocce ball court and a skate park.

William Land Park

3800 W Land Park Drive, Sacramento

Also known as “Land Park,” this sizable city park in Sacramento has a lot to offer. Located between Interstate 5 and State Route 150, the park features a zoo, amphitheater, golf course and ball fields. It is also home to the storybook themed park, Fairytale Town.

Do you know of any other outdoor activities and parks that should be included in this guide? Let us know emailing utilityteam@sacbee.com.

This story was originally published July 30, 2022 at 5:00 AM.