Lake Natoma Sunshine

A late afternoon paddle of Lake Natoma

  The best thing about Lake Natoma is the proximity to my home. Located just minutes away from where I live in Fair Oaks, California, the lake provides quick and easy access for a late afternoon kayak trip.
 This narrow and popular lake is not only a great place to kayak but also features sailing, stand up paddleboarding, and crew races. The lake is lined with biking and hiking trails encompassing its shores. Bird watchers can see geese, herons, egrets, and cormorants flying and nesting along its banks. Established rookeries are the home to many nesting colonies. Migrating birds arrive in the spring and stay throughout the summer.
 The Willow Creek access is on the south side of the lake. It is a quiet little bay and picnic spot. Paddling from here is a great way to explore the surroundings lakeside, the leftover tailings from the gold dredging days, and watching the sun go down.