RANCHO SECO TROUT DERBY WILL BE APRIL 5, 2025, AND APRIL 6, 2025
As of 3/14/25 boat trailers are not permitted within the park.
Starting July 1st, 2024, NO outside firewood will be allowed in the park. We follow the “Buy it Where You Burn it” Program to control outside pests from entering the park. You may buy firewood inside the park or any other place that sells firewood that is processed and certified. Thank you!
** BOAT RENTALS ARE AVAILABLE! **
** CHECK IN TIME IS NOW 2PM & CHECK OUT TIME IS 11AM FOR OVERNIGHT CAMPING. THERE IS NO EARLY CHECK IN.**
Please call 1-800-416-6992 or CLICK HERE, to make overnight camping reservations. At least a 3-day notice is required to make a reservation. Cancellations, rescheduling, or modifications must be made at least 3 days prior to your reservations date.
Starting July 1st, 2024, no outside firewood allowed in Park. WE follow the “Buy It Where You Burn It” program to control outside pest’s from entering the park.
Rancho Seco Recreational Area is a 400-acre park overflowing with recreational opportunities including camping, boating, fishing, swimming and wildlife viewing. The 160-acre lake is fed by the Folsom South Canal and is a great year-round day or overnight getaway located in California’s Central Valley, just 25 miles from downtown Sacramento.
Note to our Patrons: In order to deliver recreational experience that meet our customers’ expectations, SMUD has made significant infrastructure improvements to the park over the past several years and these have increased annual maintenance and operating costs. Those improvements were necessary to keep the park safe, clean and accessible to all. Infrastructure improvements include new shade structures, restrooms, shower facilities, laundry facilities and more. Thank you for your continued support as a patron of Rancho Seco Recreational Area.
Hours of Operation
November – March: 7:00 am – 3:30 pm
April – October: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
| ENTRY FEES | Daily | Senior/ Disabled |
| Car/Day Use | $12 | $12 |
| Car Top Launch/Kayak | $15 | $15 |
| Boat Launch/Trailer | $15 | $15 |
| Buses (10 people +) | $40 | $40 |
| Motorcycle | $12 | $12 |
| Dog | $3 | $3 |
| Annual Pass | $100 | $75 |
| Annual Pass Boat/Trailer | $125 | $90 |
| Annual Pass Car Top Launch/Kayak | $125 | $90 |
| Group Picnic Area (2B & 2C) (reserved) | $90 | $90 |
| Picnic Pavilions (reserved) | $30 | $30 |
| Fishing Fee | $5 | $5 |
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| There is a $8 NON-REFUNDABLE reservation fee for all reservations made. For first-come first-serve we only accept credit or debit cards, no cash or checks.
*All prices are subject to change without notice. 14 Day Stay Limit on all sites |
The golden mussel, an invasive species, found in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for the first time in North America, can have wide-spread impacts throughout our economy and waterways if allowed to spread. Out of an abundance of caution, SMUD issued these new boating restrictions for Rancho Seco Lake.
· No trailer-launched watercraft will be allowed on the lake.
· Hand-launched watercraft will be allowed, as long as the watercraft has not been used in other waters, including the Delta, within the previous 30 days.
· No live aquatic bait, including all baitfish, crawfish, crabs, mussels, etc., can be used on the lake.
· Small electric trolling motors and other hand-launched watercraft such as hand-launched canoes, rafts, kayaks, rowboats, paddle boats, inflatables, sculls and other hand-launched recreational watercraft will still be allowed on the lake.
· All permitted watercrafts will be required to undergo a watercraft inspection by a certified inspector or canine upon park entry. Inspectors will restrict any boat that has been in any other body of water in the last 30 days or that they deem a risk.
· All watercrafts must be clean, drained, and dry. Boaters will be required to participate in visual inspections of their watercraft.
· All visitors planning to launch any flotation device will receive inspection and must be fully clean, drained and dry before launching.
Please ensure your watercraft is safe and free from invasive species by using this free Expect to Inspect mapping tool that includes free, self-service cleaning stations. Learn more about the golden mussel here.
Thank you for helping us keep the lake safe and free from invasive species.
For more information click here.
RENTAL EQUIPMENT
April – October: Boat Rentals Available
Boat Rentals are ONLY available Saturday, Sunday and Holidays from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Monday – Friday at the store: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
November – March: Boat Rentals Available
Thursday – Monday at the store: 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
All rental boats must be returned and checked in 1 hour prior to closing the park. All prices are subject to change without notice. A valid driver license is required for rentals.
| Type | 1st Hour | Add’l Hour | Deposit |
| Kayak, Single | $12 | $10 | $50 |
| Kayak, Double/Canoes | $15 | $13 | $60 |
| Paddle board | $12 | $10 | $50 |
| Pedal boats | $20 | $10 | $60 |
| Type | 1st Hour | Add’l Hour | All Day | Deposit |
| Rowboat (N/A) | $15 | $10 | $68 | $60 |
Rancho Seco Recreational Area is a 400-acre park overflowing with recreational opportunities including camping, boating, fishing, swimming and wildlife viewing. The 160-acre lake is fed by the Folsom South Canal and is a great year-round day or overnight getaway located in California’s Central Valley, just 25 miles from downtown Sacramento.
The area was acquired by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District in 1992 and has developed into a scenic recreational area and wildlife refuge. Locals and visitors enjoy the land, wildlife and water activities offered throughout this facility. Developing recreational opportunities for nearby cities and preserving the land is a central focus at Rancho Seco.
Night Fishing is Release Only!
This freshwater lake is a habitat for bass, bluegill, red ear sunfish, crappie. Rainbow trout are stocked in the lake November through March. Fishing licenses are required and can be purchased at the store NOT at the office. Fishing piers allow access for those with disabilities. The annual trout derby is held in the spring and is always a popular event. Night fishing is release only for either day use users or campers. All bass fish are catch and release only. All other fish you may take in accordance with state fishing regulations.
CAMPING
Accommodations are available for RVs and tent campers year-round.
- Site Amenities: barbecues and fire pits, picnic tables, drinking water.
- Electrical Outlets at RV sites only
- Dump Station: located within the park.
- Campsites: 21 RV sites and 32 tent sites
Only 8 people per site, that is including children.
If you have reservations, there is NO entrance after 10 p.m.
For first-come first-serve we only accept credit or debit cards, no cash or checks.
SWIMMING & PICNICKING
The lake is open to the public year-round. There is a designated swimming beach located at the south-eastern side of the lake near the group picnic areas. Group picnic sites can be reserved for 50 or more people; smaller covered picnic pavilions may also be reserved for groups fewer than 50 people.
HIKING AND WILDLIFE VIEWING
You can view many birds which retreat to the park for winter: ducks, geese, hawks, swans, white egrets, bald eagles, blue and gray heron and migratory birds make their home in the area. The Howard Ranch Trail is open to the public for exploration and enjoyment. Admission is included in the Rancho Seco park fee.
The golden mussel, an invasive species, found in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for the first time in North America, can have wide-spread impacts throughout our economy and waterways if allowed to spread. Out of an abundance of caution, SMUD issued these new boating restrictions for Rancho Seco Lake.
· No trailer-launched watercraft will be allowed on the lake.
· Hand-launched watercraft will be allowed, as long as the watercraft has not been used in other waters, including the Delta, within the previous 30 days.
· No live aquatic bait, including all baitfish, crawfish, crabs, mussels, etc., can be used on the lake.
· Small electric trolling motors and other hand-launched watercraft such as hand-launched canoes, rafts, kayaks, rowboats, paddle boats, inflatables, sculls and other hand-launched recreational watercraft will still be allowed on the lake.
· All permitted watercrafts will be required to undergo a watercraft inspection by a certified inspector or canine upon park entry. Inspectors will restrict any boat that has been in any other body of water in the last 30 days or that they deem a risk.
· All watercrafts must be clean, drained, and dry. Boaters will be required to participate in visual inspections of their watercraft.
· All visitors planning to launch any flotation device will receive inspection and must be fully clean, drained and dry before launching.
Please ensure your watercraft is safe and free from invasive species by using this free Expect to Inspect mapping tool that includes free, self-service cleaning stations. Learn more about the golden mussel here.
Thank you for helping us keep the lake safe and free from invasive species.
For more information click here.
RENTAL EQUIPMENT
April – October: Boat Rentals Available
Boat Rentals are ONLY available Saturday, Sunday and Holidays from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Monday – Friday at the store: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
November – March: Boat Rentals Available
Thursday – Monday at the store: 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
All rental boats must be returned and checked in 1 hour prior to closing the park. All prices are subject to change without notice. A valid driver license is required for rentals.
| Type | 1st Hour | Add’l Hour | Deposit |
| Kayak, Single | $12 | $10 | $50 |
| Kayak, Double/Canoes | $15 | $13 | $60 |
| Paddle board | $12 | $10 | $50 |
| Pedal boats | $20 | $10 | $60 |
| Type | 1st Hour | Add’l Hour | All Day | Deposit |
| Rowboat (N/A) | $15 | $10 | $68 | $60 |