A quiet paddle on Lake Natoma took a grim turn Wednesday morning when a group of kayakers spotted a body floating near the Black Miner's Bar boat launch, triggering a fresh round of emergency response at a stretch of water already marked by tragedy.
How the discovery unfolded
According to CBS Sacramento, California State Parks said the kayakers saw what appeared to be a male body near the Black Miner's Bar boat launch at about 11 a.m. Wednesday. The Sacramento County Coroner's Office responded to the scene, and officials have not released the person's identity. State Parks did not immediately provide additional details while the coroner carried out its work.
Connection to a December search
Roughly a month earlier, crews recovered the body of a missing Orangevale man in the same general area after friends reported him missing and found his e-bike and belongings along the lake’s western edge, just downstream from the Black Miner's Bar launch. Local reporting from the Folsom Times, KCRA and our earlier coverage of the Lake Natoma search describe a multi-agency operation that brought in the Sacramento County Sheriff's dive team, Folsom Fire and Folsom Police. That earlier recovery was later identified in local reports as 38-year-old Christopher William Cary.
Popular launch, busy trails
Black Miner's Bar is a well-used launch point on Lake Natoma for kayakers and stand-up paddlers, with the American River Bike Trail running close by and tying the area into recreation routes that connect Folsom and Sacramento. SUP California lists Black Miner's Bar as a regular access spot, noting heavy weekend crowds and tight parking. That steady traffic means incidents on the water rarely go unnoticed by trail users or nearby residents.
What investigators say
The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office is handling the death investigation and has not released a cause of death or identification, according to CBS Sacramento. California State Parks confirmed the discovery and said it is working with law enforcement while the coroner completes its review. No additional details have been made public as the investigation remains active.
