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Folsom

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Folsom, California, United StatesFolsom, California Sutter Street 2015, CaliforniaSacRT Gold Line trainset at Iron Point Station, Folsom, CaliforniaFolsom CN 10, CaliforniaSutter Street, Folsom, Calif. 553, California

About Folsom

Folsom lies in the Sierra Nevada foothills about 25 miles east of Sacramento, on the banks of the American River. It grew from a Gold Rush mining camp called Negro Bar, and in 1856 it became the terminus of the Sacramento Valley Railroad, often called the first railroad west of the Mississippi. Folsom was incorporated in 1946 and is named for Joseph Libbey Folsom, an early landowner.

The city is known for Folsom State Prison, opened in 1880 and made famous by Johnny Cash's song and live album. In 1895 the Folsom Powerhouse sent electricity 22 miles to Sacramento, one of the first long-distance transmissions of its kind, and the powerhouse is now a state historic park.

Historic Sutter Street keeps Gold Rush era buildings filled with shops and restaurants, and the Folsom History Museum tells the town's story. Folsom Lake and the American River Parkway offer boating, swimming, trails and bike paths, while the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary cares for rescued animals.

Best seasonApril to June and September to October; summers are hot and perfect for the lake, and winters are mild.
Ideal stayOne to two days for Sutter Street, the Powerhouse, the prison museum and a day on Folsom Lake or the river trails.
ArrivingSacramento International Airport is about 40 minutes away, Sacramento light rail ends in Folsom, and US Highway 50 runs through the city.

12 Best Things to Do in Folsom

Neighborhoods 1

Historic Sutter Street, Folsom, California, United States

Historic Sutter Street

Historic Sutter Street is the Gold Rush-era heart of Folsom, lined with old brick and wood-front buildings that now hold restauran...

Museums 2

Folsom History Museum, Folsom, California, United States

Folsom History Museum

The Folsom History Museum on Sutter Street fills a rebuilt Wells Fargo assay office and covers the area's Native Maidu people, Gol...
Folsom Prison Museum, Folsom, California, United States

Folsom Prison Museum

The Folsom Prison Museum, just outside the walls of the 1880 state prison, shows the history of one of California's oldest prisons...

History 1

Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park, Folsom, California, United States

Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park

Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park preserves one of the first hydroelectric plants to send long-distance alternating current, d...

Landmarks 1

Folsom Rainbow Bridge, Folsom, California, United States

Folsom Rainbow Bridge

The Rainbow Bridge, opened in 1917, is a graceful concrete arch over the American River at the end of Folsom's historic district,...

Nature 2

Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, Folsom, California, United States

Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

Folsom Lake State Recreation Area surrounds a large reservoir in the Sierra foothills with beaches, boating, kayaking, fishing, ca...
Lake Natoma, Folsom, California, United States

Lake Natoma

Lake Natoma is a calm, narrow lake on the American River below Folsom Dam, part of the state recreation area, popular for rowing,...

Hikes 1

Johnny Cash Trail, Folsom, California, United States

Johnny Cash Trail

The Johnny Cash Trail is a paved path running past Folsom Prison and Folsom Lake, honoring the singer's 1968 concert at the prison...

Family 1

Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, Folsom, California, United States

Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary

The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary is a small zoo that takes in animals which cannot live in the wild, such as rescued bears, tigers, w...

Shopping 2

Palladio at Broadstone

Palladio at Broadstone is an open-air shopping and dining center in east Folsom, with fashion stores, restaurants, a cinema and la...

Folsom Premium Outlets

Folsom Premium Outlets is a large outlet center off Highway 50 with dozens of brand-name stores selling clothing, shoes, kitchenwa...

Events 1

Folsom Pro Rodeo

The Folsom Pro Rodeo has been held over the Fourth of July holiday for decades at Dan Russell Arena, with bull riding, bronc ridin...

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Photo credits

Photo: Michael Hicks from Saint Paul, MN, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Photo: The Oaked Ridge, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: -Ohokk0-, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: Vince Migliore, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: Vince Migliore, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: Vince Migliore, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: Vince Migliore, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: Vince Migliore, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: Vince Migliore, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: Vince Migliore, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: Sharon Mollerus, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: The Oaked Ridge, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: MCalamari at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Photo: Douglas Nelson Turner, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: Gamesyns, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Vince, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Photo: Vince Migliore, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: The Oaked Ridge, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Dana Lookadoo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Photo: Vince Migliore, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Photo: UncleVinny, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0