Great place to go for a short hike up to to the dam. It’s a easy drive to get here and plenty of parking. Gets pretty busy here so need to go early otherwise you may end up parking a mile or two down the road. This is a busy place on the weekends.You can go down for a swim or walk the trail upstream to the dam. There are better spots for swimming upstream about a half mile walk.Rangers are present on busy days to help make the process easier to buy a day parking pass for $10. They take cash or card.The hike is fun and has shade towards the end. Barely any shade at the beginning and not many places to sit so you may want to bring a light chair. The trail also permits riding bikes too if you are interested

Beautiful trails! I absolutely love coming here no matter what trail we pick to go on its always a fun experience. Skunks come out at night but are scared away easily. Nice peaceful place to come for long hikes or for short walks :)

Its a fun family hike...This spot is known as the Lake Clementine Dam, and while you can technically drive pretty close to it, it is much more fun to take the 4.5 mile round trip hike, which also takes you under the tallest bridge in California, Foresthill Bridge...and its a moderate hike.. even your kids can do it.

Best to hike in December if you dont like the summer intense heat its going to be a much better hike and quicker 5 miles moderate hike in and back to lower clementine lake ....50-60 °F

Great day hike. Very easy, so bring the dogs and kids. Its a absolutely beautiful on this trail with the forest hill bridge 700 feet above and an epic dam and waterfall at the end of the journey. I highly recommend this for all levels of hikers. There is a $10 parking cost but it is well worth it. Enjoy!

Family friendly hike... Well maintained trail except for about 100 ft stretch. Nice view of river flora and fauna along the way! The waterfall over Lake Clementine Dams spillway is very pretty and the sound of the waterfall is pure natural white noise...

Theres a parking fee of $10, bring a pen and exact amount of cash. come early so youll have a place to park and come during the weekdays if you want to take good picture and also later the day more people are coming so I recommend going early. pack some water, snacks and sunscreen. nice trail. it was uphill going to the dam but going back is easy.

Fantastic views and beautiful trail! Some parts were narrow and rocky, if you use walking sticks I would recommend bringing them , other than that I would say this hike is doable for all ages. My kids are 8 and 5 and they did the entire hike to the damn and then back to the car. Enjoy!!

Beautiful forestry hidden among the mountains, personally loved hanging out in the sun at the river bank with my music and a friend, the trail seems good, and the veiws are amazing

Beautiful trail and it wasn’t too difficult to hike (almost 5 miles). I would recommend this hike to anyone.Parking: $10. You need to bring a pen to fill out the parking paper.The water was perfect, I saw a lot of people swimming and relaxing under the bridge (Clark’s pool).Note:Go early in the morning to beat the crowds.Bring a lot of water.Be cautious of snakes and poison oak.Dogs are not allowed at lake clementine.

Our second time out on the Lake Clementine trail and less than half a mile in I spotted a momma bear and her two cubs hanging out in the river and playing. Nothing less then spectacular. We were sure to let everyone no so they could get pictures and memories as well.

An easy hike with great scenery and a nice dam/waterfall at the end. It was a dirt path most of the way with lots of shade.

Easy hike, mostly flat except for the last part which is slightly steep. Partially shaded but fresh. It runs by the river and right below the forest hill bridge (worth visiting by the way) and ends at the dam where Lake clementine starts. Till this point and back from the trailhead can be easily done in under 2 h. Be aware though, it gets really crowded even early in the morning. I recommend arriving no later than 8-9 am. Parking lot is available but have to pay $10. However if you park on the other side of the bridge you can park free by the road, although you have to walk around half a mile extra.

I was very excited for this trail, it was one I wanted to do for a while. Unfortunately I did not like the hike at all. I wore actual hiking boots and My feet still hurt afterwards because the trail has sharp rocks. It was very busy ! I saw a big snake right next to the trail so beware ! There’s no space to hike where you’ll have slight privacy. I go hiking a lot and this was the most busy trail I have even been on. This isn’t a good hike If you want a quiet and peaceful experience. There isn’t even any off trails to stop to rest or anything. There isn’t much of a view of the water while hiking. Seeing the dam was nice but I wouldn’t do it again. There was a lot of people taking photos (which I totally understand). But it took patience to even get photos at all. I went when the weather was in the low 70s and the trail is not shaded very much. It felt like it was over 80 degrees. The way to the dam is all uphill with little shade. I personally had a bad experience and maybe it would be more bearable if the weather was in the 60s and going during the week would probably be less busy! Also there is a $10 parking fee which I did not know until I got there so luckily I had cash.

Beautiful hike! Says it’s about 2.3 miles to get to the waterfall from the staging area. A lot of the hike there is uphill, but it is completely worth it! So many amazing views. Not too hard for the kids. My 4 year old did it no problem. Lake Clementine Dam is beautiful. Many great areas for beautiful views. I would definitely recommend this trail.

20/10 1st time visit/review:[Note: we just parked to enjoy the scenery & busy Saturday afternoon people watch on a gorgeous fall day, so review limited to that experience.]-- Wowza, spectacular view with the added bonus of hiking to/from it.-- Very limited, single-file (parallel parking skills a bonus), sharp-drop off, dirt, roadside parking.++ That being said, be prepared to walk (like a half mile) before ones planned nature hike technically begins!++ Add another pre-hike walk if ya dont first stop at the self-pay parking kiosk (in the bend of the road by the park ranger hut)!-- Relatively close to Auburn--surprisingly rugged & pristine for such close proximity to a large, established town; which would explain how super crowded the parking was (yet no one in sight, except those migrating from their just parked cars).-- Another surprise: a live park ranger staffed hut-structure along with a public restroom structure and ~4 picnic tables clustered together. The entire, small, cramped rest area is carved out in the tight bend of the road.[Observation, for how crowded the parking, and empty picnic tables, it was apparent that patrons come to hike, not eat--not to mention unspectacular view from tables compared to across the road past the parked cars.]-- From my observation, while amazing for some, this adventure would be a challenge for the mobility impaired, children below Jr. High age, and those not fond of heights/drop-offs.-- Spotty cell phone coverage.

Can get kinda busy but the water is always on the warmer side and super clear. Great place to cool down

Hike was good, nothing too difficult. Some parts did get narrow, tougher with bikes and other people walking the other way. Start earlier than later is my recommendation. $10 bucks for parking and remember to take your valuables! And bring some water

It was easily accessible and easy to find. Its a bit of a hike to get down the hill but well worth it. Even though it can be a little busy there are plenty of places to set up and enjoy yourself. Great for young and old.

Easy enough hike with kids. Nice ending of the trail. Start early, because it gets very busy!

Its a really beautiful trail where you can truly enjoy the sounds of birds and the river. Its a great place to hike, bike, or simply enjoy nature while getting some exercise. Its a great family experience with breathtaking views. It leads to a dam that looks amazing.

Beautiful place to hike and get in the water. Parking is the only hard part on busy days. You do have to pay $10 for parking. Always worth it

Beautiful hike. Pack a picnic basket to enjoy by the river when done with the hike.

Really beautiful hike, lots of people out with their kids and dogs. Its best to go in the morning before the Sun gets too strong.

Gonna miss this awesome place. Lived just 8 minutes from here. Moving far away now...

This place was beautiful! We had a nice hike along the river and past under the bridge. The scenery is nice and we were able to find a small spot to sit and relax. Parking is better if you come early, well at least on the weekends. We paid $10 to park for the day. Not bad at all

Amazing for a beginner hiker. My dog loved it too.

Parking was okay. $10 fee is worth parking, clean and crisp cold water. Plenty of secluded spots and hiking opportunities

We went last weekend and it was a beautiful hike. There was alot of people but we headed put early so it was good. I wish there was more room/ area to go down to the dam and take pictures or relax next to the dam. But overall my kids enjoyed it and we had a great time

Amazingly beautiful place. Warm waters fun family atmosphere. Highly recommended...

Amazing. Easy hike in. Bit less than 5 miles door to door from confluence to dam.

Was fun and a beautiful place to hike and swim.

Pretty hike along the river. Leads you under the Foresthill Bridge. Trail is pretty narrow is some spots so watch your step. Has some cool spots to set up and chill on the river. Pay for parking if you want to park near trailhead

Like being in heaven, a beautiful place to play...

Beautiful hike or bike ride. Great swimming hole with rocks to jump off if you head up the trail a ways.

Beautiful and loved the swimming...bring water shoes!

Beautiful trail. Wonderful swimming hole along the trail.

Love this trail. So many options to take, there are little rabbit hole trails that are great for little hidden secrets. When it’s raining there are puddles, but for the most part it serves great for all fitness levels. People ride bicycles, go for a jog, or just go for a friendly stroll. Watch out for snakes ;)

Hike is fairly easy. Harder than hidden falls but not as crazy as Stevens trail. Probably around a 5 out of 10 hard. Took us a little over 2 hours to finish. The ranger told us it is a 5 mile hike. Great hike that over looks the river and the bridge. Great turn around spot over looking the damn.

Beautiful hike, lots of people though even on a weekday morning. Not much space for social distancing, nor did the majority of people seem very concerned about it. There is a day use fee, but I didnt see how much it was, so be sure to bring cash. Also, it gets hot and theres a lot of sun on the trail with a number of uphill and downhill sections no matter which direction you go.

This places has trails everywhere you park and it all leads to the lake... water is not calm at all but you can always enjoy getting your feet in it. Beautiful place to explore...

Our first time here and we loved it! Our son loved being able to play by the water and we the hiking was nice and fairly easy.

Very fun hike! get there early. $10 parking, they DO check.

Not too difficult, great view, can swim at some points (at summer)

Good hike variety. Of different trails from moderate to hard. This one is nice because we had recent rain and there was plenty of mini waterfall

Fantastic trail that goes right under the Forest Hill Bridge. There is a restroom here at the start of the trail. Parking by it requires payment (same as Folsom Lake, etc). My annual Poppy Pass worked here.

Really nice hike. Moderate hike which was nice. Nice view of a waterfall at the end. Very beautiful even in June. The trail goes underneath the Foresthill bridge.

Loved this trail. It is worth it to make it to the Dam at the end. There are some narrow parts. It isnt a beginners trail. There is a picnic table at the beginning and the end. Very beautiful scenery.

Excellent hike! Great for mobile, active kids.

A great day hike. Crystal clear water rushing with hues of Emeralds, Blues, & Greens. Stunning!

This was my first hike in this area, which is about half an hour drive from Sacramento. Started early morning and enjoyed a peaceful hike up the trail with great views of the bridges and the water. A fun way to spend a Sunday morning if you want to earn a waffle brunch on the return trip.

Nice place to spend some quality time with friends and families!!

Easy/Moderate trail, takes about an hour each way to complete.

This Is The Best Place To Take Your Family To Get Away. We Had An Excellent Time Playing In The Water

Love this place for Moutain Biking, Tons of trails of all types.

Best hike i have ever been to but it was very short.

The lake water is clear and they have a river the water is refreshing but you have to get there early in order to have a parking because then there are not a lot of parking spots I loved it ️️

This place is great! But you do have to pay money to park. Its amazing though for pictures and a hike! You got to go! Nice workout too!

Loved this short and easy trail! Easy to follow and shaded in early morning. You can see the bridge overhead and the lake beneath. All the way at the end is the dam.

I started from the bridge and went down and then back up. Real good hike up..

Easy to moderate hike, much of it in shady areas. Can get crowded. Make sure you have $10 cash to pay for parking. Cards not accepted.

My favorite place to hike. Great trail and great scenery

Beautiful short moderate to medium hike. Parking was limited, $10 day pass and bathrooms. The hike had short hills, rocky & narrow in a few spots but I as a novice found it easy. I was also happy to see trash cans at either end of the trail as well as very little trash on the trail. (Although a LOT of dog poop) We did encounter poison oak & a tick when going off trail though so stay mindful.

Great fun trail going back next weekend!

Its truly a beautiful place to get away from the city and not too far of a drive either. I cant wait to go back

It was awesome cought a fish beautiful castle clear water and grate for swimming and exploring and the kids injoyed it as well

Very beautiful place. We hiked up to Lake Clementine dam which was a great workout.

Great trail especially in fall when the temperatures cool down

Dont hate it but its closed for the season

Love this place!!! So pretty. I come here as often as I can. The beauty never ceases to amaze me. Hike early in the morn during summer, it is blazin hot by noon! Bring lots of water. Seriously!!!

Beautiful, well marked trail! Well maintained. We had lots of fun!

Great hike to the dam!! I dont recommend it to people that want to bring strollers. The way to the dam is going uphill for the most part & a bit challenging if youre not in shape like me lol coming back its pretty light... Its like 45 min one way. Pay attention to the signs, if your car is over the white line you will get a ticket. Narrow streets. Pack lunch & use restroom beforehand.

Great fall time hike. Its a gentle 2.5mi from the confluence below. The lower (first) half of the trail is a service road that goes to the bridge pier, then it becomes a single track trail from there to the dam. Watch for mtn bikes, and theres a bit of poison oak in the shady parts on the south side, so keep your dog on the trail and they will be just fine.$10 to park on the road, enforced, or have a state parks pass.The North Fork [of the American River] Dam was constructed through the California Debris Commission in 1939 to catch the enormous amount of sediment that hydraulic mining caused further up in the watershed. Judging by how clear the water is below, it seems to he working.

Lots of bicycles and narrow trails. Otherwise good

Great time and place to swim around the waterfall. If you can hold your breath well, there is a call little underwater tunnel that you can swim under, but don’t do without supervision because it can be frightening if you aren’t the best swimmer out there. Photos attached

Parking is tight and fills up quick. Hike is a mild 4.6 mi round trip wide trail and no intense elevation change. Clementine Dam spillway is quite the show.

The trail was beautiful and the scenery was breathtaking! Family friendly trail. Great for beginners.

Great place to hike, can be a little steep for some, bring plenty of water!

Its a beautiful place to go hiking and have a picnic

It was a lil rough, but beautiful. My husband and I first time there.

A cool place to hang out and do some hiking. The river is dangerous so keep the kids away from the water.

Great place to relax nice views.

Great hike - not technically difficult, but plenty of terrain change and great views. Recommend!

Only 45 minutes away from us and it is beautiful. We took the trail all the way to the end and there are some amazing sights. The river is high and flowing quickly. Lots of shade, perfect for picnicking with the family. I recommend coming here if you’ve never been.

Its so much fun there are a lottt of people though and its hard to find a parking spot also the bathrooms are nasty the worst i have seen but if your looking for a good time the its a great place just make sure to bring your swimming shoes cause the rocks hurt good luck

Great hike...started at 7:00 am. There were lots of mosquitos and tiny bugs, but I think thats unusual. The lake and dam were beautiful. We hiked over and did the Fuel Break Trail, back tracked and did the Short Cut Trail over to the Confluence Trail along the river. Mountain Bikers share some parts of the trails.

Hiked this with a friend. It was an unusually gorgeous day in January. The hike was fairly mild until you approach the dam. It begins to decline a bit, which you dont notice until you start walking back to the trail and then you definitely feel the incline.The trail offers you a view of the Forrest Hill Bridge as you walk along a stream. It ends at the dam, which gives off a rainbow as it cascades below. I will hopefully come back to this area to hike some more.Finding a parking spot can be slightly difficult on a weekend, and dont forget to pay!

Wonderful hiking and biking trails.

Hardly any parking near here. Youll have to drive all the way up the hill to find parking. Any good spots to park will have a no parking sign. Place sucks.

A beautiful trail that follows the river up to the Clementine Dam. An easy hike, the scenery is green and the ending at the dam is a great picnic area

Go here for hiking and for mountain biking! Lately, it has been mountain biking

Great hike. $10.00 to park. Nice bathrooms at beginning and at the dam. Beautiful scenery. We saw an otter swimming and a doe on the trail. Foredthill Bridge is amazing!

Nice short trail. Perfect for kids and little ones.

Really cool place with plenty of different trails you can choose from. Friendly people and there is parking but you do have to pay for it

A peaceful walk on the trails.

Very beautiful place...I love it

Great hiking and MTB trail. A great trail to lead you into some of Auburn’s amazing trail systems. A popular destination in all seasons. Be aware of poison oak!

These pictures were actually taken of the river spots we visited just before lake. We couldnt go to the lake due to our dog...The river was beautiful!! The water was perfect..I suggest boat shoes. The rocks are very slippery. There are some shady spots. Clarks hole was a bit of a hike, but doable. Best to go during the week. Weekend is packed! Its $10 to park anywhere you go. The 2 days I went, the people working there werent friendly at all...Dont know if they were just hot or hate their job? I would go again! Its that pretty!

The best place for a day of fun in this hot weather , I build the wall

Not very strenuous hike. Get to see Auburn dam from top