Friday, June 13, 2025
87.3 F
Roseville

Top Picks: Roseville vs Rocklin Parks & Trails

Enjoying the best in local outdoor recreation

Roseville, Calif. – South Placer County residents enjoy some of California’s best weather. Abundant sunshine, warm weather and low humidity provide the perfect environment for residents to enjoy outdoor recreation in Roseville and Rocklin throughout the year.

For outdoor recreation, Roseville and Rocklin each offer uniquely different strengths. Depending upon your preference of the day, both communities provide exceptional opportunities that allow residents to enjoy nature just steps from the middle of the homogeneous surrounding suburbia. We regularly bounce between both communities depending on the vibe check of the day.

- Advertisement -

2025 Placer County Fair in Roseville!

Placer County Fair

Here are our favorite picks

Sunset at Rocklin Backside
The best place in South Placer to catch a magical sunset is at Rocklin’s Backside.

Winner of Best Parks: Rocklin

Both communities offer an abundance of fantastic, small neighborhood parks ideal for the younger crowd. However, for larger parks that capture some of nature’s best, Rocklin’s BIG 4 below standout as top picks!

In Roseville, those in search of more structured activities, full amenities and accessibility, Royer, Mahany, & Veterans Memorial North set the bar high!

Clover Valley to the Sierra Nevada. An eastern view from Boulder Ridge Park in Rocklin.

Sunset Whitney Recreation Area

Although local residents voted against it on Prop 68, it would pass and these funds have helped transform Sunset Whitney Recreation Area from a dilapidated eyesore to one of the community’s crown jewels of recreation. Progress and plans continue forward as Rocklin residents flock to this suburban treasure.

Boulder Ridge Park
Quietly sitting atop Rocklin, Boulder Ridge Park offers remarkable 360-degree views. Gaze upon the Sacramento skyline, the Sutter Buttes or turn around and view the majestic, snow-capped Sierra Nevada. Peaceful and scenic, Boulder Ridge also offers easy access to Rocklin Backside which borders Lincoln and is the ultimate teen hangout and sunset viewing location in South Placer. Hike, hang or play, Boulder Ridge is one of the most chill spots in all of South Placer.
TIP: Visit during a weekday and you just might have the entire place to yourself.

Johnson-Springview Park
A springtime favorite, Johnson-Springview is a hub of activity for all age groups. Explore the trails, get in a round of disc-golf, cool off at the water park or sit under a cool oak tree and watch the grass grow. A fun and convenient place to explore or simply whittle away a few hours. TIP: Be on the lookout for Huff Springs!

Whitney Park
Ballfields, towering playground and water play, Whitney Park is a community hotspot for recreation. It also connects to Whitney High via bridge trail. Now that the kids are grown, we really dig the walking and bike paths, Audubon Garden and easy access to explore the paths that depart the park and allow us to explore Whitney Ranch and points beyond. TIP: Seek out the higher ground and notice the vistas improve as you gain a little elevation.

Winner of Best Trails & Open Spaces: Roseville

Vernal pond Blue Oaks open space
Vernal pond in Blue Oaks open space January 2025

If memory serves, Roseville has historically mandated about 80 percent more open space per development than Rocklin and it clearly shows. The trails and open space in Roseville are a treasure of the region and sit atop the list of reasons we call Roseville home. Shared-use paths for biking and hiking conveniently interconnect parks and neighborhoods in a master planned jigsaw puzzle that offers miles of exploration in all directions. New segments added regularly as new neighborhoods are built. A community treasure that makes Roseville a standout for outdoor recreation. (Pedestrians walk on the left)

Open space in Roseville

Fun for all seasons

Summer offers golden views and amazing sunsets, autumn provides an amazing blast of fall colors and brisk evening walks, while winter provides opportunity for solitude, vernal ponds, raging streams and splashes of fun. The magic really comes alive in early to mid-spring with an overwhelming flourish of fluorescent green grass, orange-yellow poppies, purple lupines and the bustling return of wildlife.

Easy access from countless neighborhoods making exploring your community and neighborhood parks a breeze.

Winning Combination

In the battle of Roseville and Rocklin, both communities come away winners for fun outdoor recreation opportunities. Choose your preferred style and start exploring some of South Placer’s best. Happy Trails!

California Poppy in full bloom
Yes, trails that lead to a variety of epic blooms still exist in Roseville.

Bonus: Wishlist

It’s fun to dream and with every scorching hot summer day, we’re reminded of one item that sits on our dream wish list. A water destination with dining and recreation that’s similar to the Boathouse at Mountain View’s Shoreline Park. Shoreline Park offers a relatively small lake for paddle boarding and kayaking with a waterside restaurant and easy access to trails. With Placer County’s summer heat, something similar would be an enormous community asset in our view while keeping more recreation dollars local. What’s on your dream list?

- Advertisement -

2025 Placer County Fair in Roseville!

Placer County Fair
TICKETS HERE! - Placer County Fair

In Roseville starting June 26th!

Support local sports!

🍎 Gravenstein Apple Fair

Trending

Roseville Summer Youth Bus Pass: Just $10

Roseville, Calif. - This summer, kids in southern Placer County can zip all around town with the Summer Youth Bus Pass. The Summer Youth Bus Pass is the perfect way to get to summer jobs, the mall, movies, and other summer activities.

Blue House Korean BBQ in Roseville

Blue House Korean BBQ on Douglas Blvd in Roseville, Calif.

CycleLife in Rocklin

Elevate your indoor cycling experience at CycleLife in Rocklin. CycleLife is the newest premium group indoor cycling studio in the area. We offer spin classes & a variety of cycling group sessions. Indoor cycling class is a great way to get fit & enjoy a fun workout. Come visit CycleLife here in Rocklin.

Taqueria Roberto Mexican Food in Rocklin

Authentic Mexican Food where breakfast, ​lunch and dinner is served all day.

Roseville’s commitment to the pursuit of technological excellence: Part 3

Roseville, Calif. – Today in part 3 of a 3-part series on the City of Roseville’s pursuit of technological excellence, guest contributor Ivan Farkas highlights Roseville's recent tech achievements and awards.

Topics

Roseville Summer Youth Bus Pass: Just $10

Roseville, Calif. - This summer, kids in southern Placer County can zip all around town with the Summer Youth Bus Pass. The Summer Youth Bus Pass is the perfect way to get to summer jobs, the mall, movies, and other summer activities.

Blue House Korean BBQ in Roseville

Blue House Korean BBQ on Douglas Blvd in Roseville, Calif.

CycleLife in Rocklin

Elevate your indoor cycling experience at CycleLife in Rocklin. CycleLife is the newest premium group indoor cycling studio in the area. We offer spin classes & a variety of cycling group sessions. Indoor cycling class is a great way to get fit & enjoy a fun workout. Come visit CycleLife here in Rocklin.

Taqueria Roberto Mexican Food in Rocklin

Authentic Mexican Food where breakfast, ​lunch and dinner is served all day.

Roseville’s commitment to the pursuit of technological excellence: Part 3

Roseville, Calif. – Today in part 3 of a 3-part series on the City of Roseville’s pursuit of technological excellence, guest contributor Ivan Farkas highlights Roseville's recent tech achievements and awards.

$3.7M cleanup coming to former Lincoln gun range

Lincoln, Calif. - The Placer County Board of Supervisors recently took action to approve plans and specifications for lead remediation of the former Lincoln Gun Range, and authorized staff to bid the project out to contractors for up to $3.7 million.

PCWA approves $5.5M contract to replace critical I-80 pipeline crossings

Auburn, Calif. - The Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) Board of Directors has approved a $5.5 million contract to replace some of the region's most vulnerable pipeline crossings beneath Interstate 80. The work will launch the first phase of PCWA's I-80 Pipeline Crossing Replacement Project,

Roseville’s Miner’s Ravine Trail receives federal recognition

Roseville, Calif. - The City of Roseville's Miner's Ravine Trail has been officially designated as a National Recreation Trail by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The announcement was made on June 6, 2025 in celebration of National Trails Day

Related Articles

Local Spotlight

Stanford Ranch Family Dentistry in Rocklin serving the local community since 2000

Rocklin, Calif.- For nearly 25 years, Jason and Heather have grown their successful Stanford Ranch Family Dentistry practice by faithfully serving patients throughout the Rocklin, Roseville, and greater South Placer County region. Their business has grown to now employ over a dozen employees which helps them meet the growing demands of a successful local business.

Paul Black’s Solar Panel Cleaning in Roseville serving the region for over 30 years

Roseville, Calif. - Money-saving solar panels in Roseville, Rocklin and throughout South Placer County have become ubiquitous From new residential solar communities continue to big business and after market installation, solar seems to be a smart choice to shred those high monthly electric costs.

California Recovery Center in Roseville offers treatment for substance abuse and mental health

California Recovery Center (CRC) is a treatment provider for adults with substance abuse and mental health condition, located in Roseville and serving the greater Sacramento region.