Bertha Henschel Park!

Located on 45th Street between A and B streets in Sacramento. Take the I-80 Capital City Fwy. Take the E Street exit. Follow E Street (it will change to Mckinley Blvd) and turn right on Meister Wy and then turn right on Aiken Way. It will dead into the park. Parking is on the street.

This is a wonderful and popular neighborhood park. It is a little out of the way and hard to find, if you weren’t looking for it but it is well worth your trip. The playground is very cute with lots of slides and a great roller slide (with 43 rolling dowels) that gives you a massage if you want it or not. There are big and small kid swings, along with a chair swing (very comfy), and a tire swing. There is a sand area as well. The best and most popular feature (during the summer of course) is the wading pool with a mushroom fountain! The wading pool is 12 inches, and has a gate around it. There are bathroom facilities, basketball courts, benches, and lots of grassy open space.

Orangevale Park

Orangevale, CA
This huge park takes up the whole block of Hazel Ave and Oak Ave and Filbert Ave and around. Off Greenback turn left onto Hazel Ave. Turn right on Oak Ave. and the parking lot for the playground will be on the right. For other hikes and Frisbee golf the parking lot will be on Hazel Ave. before Oak Ave, as well as one past the playground on Filbert Ave.

Orangevale Park is a huge park that includes many hidden amenities and open space. It has a cute playground with a small kid playground as well as a BIG kid playground. The big kid playground has really tall slides, the most daring will enjoy this. There is a covered BBQ area next to the playground. The bathroom facilities are across the grassy open field. Lots of shade trees for sure. This park is also known for its 18-hole Frisbee golf course, the only one around. While you try to find the markers have a peaceful and relaxing time as you meander through the woods along the trails.

Old Salmon Falls Loop Hiking Trail

El Dorado Hills/Folsom, CA
Drive east on Green Valley Rd for 2.9 miles. Turn left (north) on Salmon Falls Rd, and drive 2.9 miles to turnout on left marked at Falcon Crest. The parking lot is there Then walk down the paved road to another parking lot, or park there but it is a $2 fee. The trailhead starts at the end of the parking lot.

At the end of the parking lot is the trailhead to many hikes with different mileage. This Old Salmon Falls Loop is the shortest one. This is an excellent easy hike. The views are gorgeous! Along the way you will pass through a new pine forest, planted in 1972. At the 1.4 mile mark, you will reach a trail junction, and the site of an extinct waterfall, Salmon Falls, which was destroyed when the Folsom Dam was built in the 1950’s. This is a great spot to stop and picnic. Follow the signs to the Monte Vista Trailhead to return the loop to the parking lot. The last 0.8 miles climbs up to a tremendous vista where there is a drinking fountain, with drinkable water, and picnic tables.
After the hike, take time to explore the Old Salmon Falls town site, at the lower parking lot. This was an old Mormon gold mining town, which is now underwater because of the Folsom Dam. This hike is very peaceful, relaxing, and has a few up and downs to give you a slight workout while enjoying nature.