Spring (March–May) is the best time to visit. The hills around the lake are green, the river runs well from snowmelt, temperatures are warm but not hot, and the trails are at their most pleasant. Wildflowers appear around the vernal pools east of the city.
Summer (June–September) is hot — consistently above 35°C in July and August — but Folsom Lake becomes the destination, with swimming, boating, and early morning cycling before the heat builds. Crowds are heavy at the lake on summer weekends.
Autumn brings cooler temperatures and the chinook salmon run at Nimbus Fish Hatchery, which is worth timing a visit around. The oak woodland along the river turns gold in October and November.
Winter is mild by most standards (rarely below 5°C) and largely dry. Folsom Lake is quiet and the hiking trails are uncrowded. Rain falls mainly between December and February.