Seasonal Activities in Rancho Cordova

Nature Walks

Soil Born Farms Urban Agriculture & Educational Project is a Rancho Cordova favorite! Grab a pair of sneakers and head to the grounds of this 55-acre ranch to enjoy the great outdoors. Get your hands dirty (literally) and volunteer to tend their gardens and production fields or harvest ripe produce. Looking for soft adventure? You'll find outdoor yoga sessions, bird-watching walks, and cooking classes as well as opportunities to buy fresh cut flowers and delicious fruits and veggies from their farm stand. The American River Parkway is a great spot to find miles of hiking and cycling trails and enjoy the sweet sounds of birdsong.

Indoor Rock Climbing

Adrenaline junkies and the athletically minded among us can still enjoy something adventurous on rainy, blustery spring days. Granite Arch Climbing Center offers indoor bouldering, top roping, lead climbing, and belaying on over 20,000 square feet of realistic climbing surfaces. Day passes, memberships, programs, camps, and classes are available for all ages. Sign your waiver, rent your gear, and get climbing! You can even host a party or event for a group.

Golf Courses

As the weather warms up, practice your swing and tee off at Mather Golf Course or Cordova Golf Course. Both courses offer 18 holes, putting greens, driving ranges, and food on site making them the perfect place to spend a morning or a relaxing weekend. Looking for a quirkier course? If the sound of glow-in-the-dark mini golf makes you smile, Sac Town Family Fun is a unique attraction for the whole family. Remember your quarters to play some old-school arcade games and wear white so your clothing glows under the blacklights!

Arts & Crafts

Mills Station Arts & Culture Center (affectionately known as The MACC) is truly a hidden gem in Rancho Cordova. Stunning local and traveling art exhibits make their way to The MACC year-round, many of which are completely free to attend. Workshops, classes, and special events are regularly hosted there as well. Crafty folks also enjoy Heart Craft Studio for seasonal art classes and themed paint-and-sip nights hosted at various Barrel District locations.

Watersport Rentals

Summer in Rancho Cordova is a paddler's paradise! With close access to the American River, Lake Natoma, and Folsom Lake, our city offers plenty of launch points for kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and more! Don't have your own gear? Sacramento State Aquatic Center is the prime spot for all your watersport needs. At the center, you'll find classes, day passes, memberships, a WET teambuilding obstacle course, and a very large variety of affordable rentals. Rowing competitions and collegiate practices are also regularly hosted there, so you're likely to catch a glimpse of large skulls and teams out on the water!

Quirky Events

Rancho Cordova's annual Fourth of July Celebration is a 2-day event that draws a huge crowd. Complete with food trucks, carnival games, fireworks, and a drone show, this community event is a fan favorite year after year! Looking for summer adventures after dark? Head to Village Green Park to enjoy Moonlight Movies each Friday night in June and Concerts In The Park every Friday night in August. Major regional events are also typically held in the summertime like the Hangtown Motocross Classic, California Mermaid Convention, and California Capital Airshow.

Go Fish(ing)

Rancho Cordova is a great spot for fishing at all experience levels. Cast a line at these locations to hook rainbow trout, bass, salmon, perch, catfish, and more. Remember to secure your necessary permits before you head out for the afternoon. Want to learn more about the salmon and steelhead life cycle? Nimbus Fish Hatchery offers a great window into how these fish are raised and humanely harvested in our own backyard.

Craft Brews & Cocktail Crawls

If you love sipping local libations, you can beat the heat at one of Rancho Cordova's 9 award-winning Barrel District locations! Food trucks, pub trivia, and music bingo make their way to most of the locations on a weekly basis. Discover classic cocktails, spirits, and delicious bites at J.J. Pfister Distilling Co. Sample sips and new spirits at Dao Distillery, order a wine slushie at Drink Eezy, or pick up a bottle of mead at Strad Meadery. You can find delicious IPAs, stouts, and sours at Burning Barrel, Claimstake, Fort Rock, LogOff Brewing, and Movement Brewing.

Horseback Riding

What's more quintessentially fall than a horseback ride through the color-changing foliage? Shadow Glen Riding Stables offers lessons as well as individual and group rides to folks of all experience levels. All body types are welcome. If you'd rather watch an experienced equestrian lead their horse through obstacles and performances, Murieta Equestrian Center in Rancho Murieta is home to dozens of weekend horse, pony, and dog shows. Families from all over come to attend these events and we promise that you'll be delighted!

Wine Tasting

In the fall, Rancho Cordova vinos love taking day trips to the vineyards in the Sierra Foothills, Amador County, El Dorado County, and Lodi. We highly recommend Scott Harvey Wine's Tickle Me Pink blend or Boeger Winery's Barbera. Starfield Vineyards offers delicious lunches you can enjoy while gazing over their vines. If you'd like to stay in Rancho Cordova proper, you can also sample international wines at local wine tasting room, Drink Eezy, over tasty small bites.

Apple Orchards & Christmas Tree Farms

Packing up the car and heading 40 miles east to Apple Hill is a beloved tradition for families across Gold Country. Every season in Apple Hill is special! This collection of orchards, farms, and ranches is famous for year-round fruit festivals, craft artisan stalls, and events. But their most anticipated seasons are autumn and winter. In the fall, check out Rainbow Orchards for the best cold-pressed apple cider and apple cider donuts made fresh to order. Enjoy browsing the handmade art at High Hill Ranch and stop into the pie shop for a caramel apple milkshake.

In the winter, grab your tarps and tie-downs and take your family to cut down your own Christmas tree. Hot cider and cocoa stands are available at many of the orchards and farms, and some locations are still open to sell art and produce. Just make sure to check the Apple Hill Grower's Association website to find out when each ranch closes up shop for the year.