Situated off Highway 50 just minutes northeast of Sacramento, Lake Natoma is a part of the Folsom Lake Recreation area and a wide part of the American River, as it flows from Folsom Lake. Richard estimated the width of the river at 300 yards. Power boats are restricted to 5 mph on the entire lake, a pleasing plus for people powered paddling. Wind driven sailboats and multi powered rowing teams are quite another matter! California State University Sacramento has a facility at the southwest end of the lake for its teams of rowers. This lake plays host to competitive events upon occasion throughout the year.

After launching our boats, we headed upstream. Because of the width of the lake/river, the current is nearly nonexistent, but we did have a light headwind. The scenery along the way consists of typical northern California fare--oaks, scrub, grasses and small trees. There is a bike path that makes a loop around the lake and even though it was Monday, there were plenty of bikers and runners taking advantage of the warm November day. By contrast, we had the lake to ourselves. We noticed that there were lots of tables and picnic spots up on the bank, but few places to put in, due to the height of the embankment. Wildlife was limited to Canadian geese, some mallard ducks and a prolific amount of bushy tailed gray squirrels darting about the tree branches as we paddled past. I did consider myself fortunate to spot two red headed woodpeckers. What beauties they were!

Our stomachs announced lunch time and we did find a spot where we could put in and scramble up an embankment to a well placed picnic table amid some oaks with a large population of those rascally gray squirrels. Since our table was just off the bike path, I think we surprised a few bikers and runners as they rounded the corner to spot two picnickers eating lunch wearing PFD's. Next we paddled up to a point that appeared to be a park. It was! We put in and stretched again. Since there were no signs to tell us where we were, I asked an obliging local who informed me that we were at Negro Bar. We'd launched at 10:30 and since it was now 1:30, we were ready to head back. We returned to Nimbus Flat an hour later. Another kayaker was preparing to launch, and he said that the distance that we'd paddled was approximately 7 miles one way.

This paddle was quiet, peaceful and easy. A nice way to enjoy a warm late fall Monday. If you're ever in the Sacramento area with your boat and need a paddle fix--give this one a try.

    Richard and Barbara Tieskoetter