California
Vacation Information
(916) 322-1266
- Upper and
Middle Alkali Lake. Near Alturas on U.S. 395.
- Lake Almanor.
Near California State Routes 89 and 36.
- Bass Lake.
Fishing, Camping, Picnic /Day Use, Marina, Fuel, Ramps (small fee may
apply). This 4.1 mile long lake is a nice mountain lake about 40 miles north
of Fresno. Take California State Route 41 north of Oakhearst to Bass Lake
Rd. About 4 miles east of 41.
- Bay Model
Visitor Center. (Not a boating lake, but something interesting) Restrooms,
Drinking Water, Picnic Day / Use.
This is a model used to simulate tidal action and fresh / salt water interaction
in the San Francisco Bay area. Just North of the Golden Gate Bridge off U.S.
Route 101.
- Lake Berryessa.
Campsites, Fishing, Launch Ramps (Small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel,
Information Center. Located about 1 hour northeast of San Francisco in the
wine country. The lake is administered by the Bureau of Land Management with
"on-the-lake" sheriff's. Offers 7 resort/marinas, most with complete services,
all offer camping, a couple offer motel stays. The "BLM" runs a public day
camp ground with minimal services. Great trout, bass and catfish fishing.
All resorts open year-round, most have reasonably complete restaurants/bars/stores.
- Black Butte
Lake. Sailing, Fishing, Swimming, Campsites without electric hookup, Showers,
Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch
Ramp (small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel. Noted for Black Volcanic Buttes.
Located in the northern end of the Central Valley
10 Minutes west of Orland.
- Clair Engle
Lake. Fishing, Swimming, Campsites without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms,
Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp (small
fee may apply). In the Whiskytown-Shasta-Trinity- National Recreation Area.
East of California State Route 3 (northeast of Redding).
- Clear Lake.
Fishing, Swimming, Campsites without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms,
Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp (small
fee may apply). One near the Oregon State Line and one off California State
Route 20 West of Interstate 5 (The Oregon State Line "Clear Lake" is mostly
primitive).
- Lake Don
Pablo. Fishing, Swimming, Campsites without electric hookup, Showers,
Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch
Ramp (small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel, Information Area. This is California's
6th largest lake. provide a wide variety of recreational opportunities which
include excellent fishing for trophy trout, king salmon, black bass, crappie,
and catfish. Water-skiing, jet skiing, sailing, or exploring hundreds of miles
of shoreline by houseboat are also quite popular. For the equestrian, there
are over 100 miles of horseback and hiking trails for your enjoyment. Located
East of Modesto. Don Pablo Marina.
- Eagle Lake.
Near U.S. Route 395 south of Alturas.
- Eastman
Lake. Fishing, Swimming, Campsites without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms,
Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp (small
fee may apply), In the Sierra
Nevada Foothills. 25 miles east of Chowchilla off County Road 29.
- Lake Elizabeth.
Fishing, Limited Boating, Visitors Information Center. A popular small recreational
lake located in Fremont.
- Lake Elsinore.
Water Sports, Camping, Picnic Grounds, Fishing, Launch Ramp
(small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel, Info. Center. This 4.8 mile
long lake is located in Lake Elsinore (just south east of Los Angeles)
off I 15. Lake Elsinore Marina.
- Englebright
Lake. Fishing, Hiking, Swimming, Rugged Canyons for Boat Access Campsites
without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Picnic Day /
Use, Launch Ramp (small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel. Visitor Information
Center. (916) 557-5100. On the historic Yuba River 20 Miles east of Marysville
off California State Route 20.
- Folsom Lake.
Fishing, Just N.E. of Sacramento.
- Hensley
Lake. Waterskiing, Fishing, Swimming, Campsites without electric hookup,
Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp (small fee
may apply), Visitor Information Center.
- Honey Lake.
Fishing. Just north of Reno near Interstate 395.
- Isabella
Lake. Fishing. Just N.E. of Bakersfield of California State Route. 178.
- Joaquin
/ Sacramento River (including San Francisco, Pablo and Grizzly Bay / Island).
House boating, Fishing, Water Skiing, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Picnic Day
/ Use, Launch Ramps (small fee may apply), Marinas, Fuel. A state park with
camping facilities lies just outside of Rio Vista. This inland area runs from
the San Francisco area with popular world wide known sites such as Alcatraz,
Golden Gate Bridge (leads to the Pacific), Golden Gate Fields, Angel Island
State Park, China Camp State Park and Point Pinole Regional Park (San Pablo
Bay) to the northern California Area (with history dating back to before the
Gold Rush. Many sternwheelers ran as far north as Red Bluff along the Tehama-Tulsa
Canal). See the California Delta (above) Accessible from many points around
San Francisco / Oakland up through Sacramento.
- Lake Kaweah.
Fishing, Swimming, Campsites without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms,
Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp (small
fee may apply), Marina, Fuel. On the main southern route into Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park.
- Lake Lopez.
Motor boating, Fishing, Sailing, Windsurfing, Various Water Sports. 10 Miles
east of Arroyo Grande.
- Martis Creek
Lake. Fishing, Campsites without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms,
Drinking Water, Picnic Day / Use, Just north of Lake Tahoe.
- Lake Mendocino.
Fishing, Swimming, Hiking, Campsites without electric hookup, Showers,
Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch
Ramp (small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel.
- Mojave River
Dam. (Not a permanent pool). Some Fishing, Campsites with and without
electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station,
Picnic Day / Use.
- Mono Lake.
Just East of Yosemite National Park off U.S. 395.
- New Hogan
Lake. Fishing, Swimming, Waterskiing, Campsites without electric hookup,
Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use,
Launch Ramp (small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel. Near the historic Gold Rush Towns of the California Mother
Lode. 35 miles east of Stockton off California State Route 26.
- Lake Oroville.
15,800 Acres, Depths to 695 feet, 167 miles of shoreline, Swimming, Boating,
Skiing, Fishing, Campsites with and without electric hookup, Picnic
Day/Use, Launch Ramps (small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel. Lake Oroville
is one of California's largest lakes featuring houseboating and all varieties
of watersports. Located 70 miles north of Sacramento off highway 70 and the
Oro-Dam exit. Bidwell Canyon Marina
- Pine Flat
Lake. Fishing, Swimming, Waterskiing, Campsites without electric hookup,
Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use,
Launch Ramp (small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel. In the scenic rugged Kings River Canyon. 32 miles east of
Fresno off California State Route180.
- Prado Dam.
Fishing, Swimming, Waterskiing, Campsites without electric hookup, Showers,
Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch
Ramp (small fee may apply).
- Rollins
Lake. Skiing, Fishing, Boat Access Camping, Campsites with and without
electric hookup, Cabins, Marina, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramps (Small Fee
May Apply). Located off I80 north of the California State Route 174
exit about 15 miles north of Colfax.
- Salton Sea.
Boating, Camping, Water-Skiing, Fishing, Jet-Skiing, Hiking, Birdwatching,
Ramps, Boat Wash (to remove the salt content), Marinas, sailboarding.
It is estimated that over 1 million visitors spend time at the Salton Sea
each year. Over 1400 campsites are available at campgrounds throughout the
lake, including the headquarter, Bombay Beach, Salt Creek Beach, Corvina
Beach and Mecca Beach Campground. The lake is currently 35 by 15 miles
with an average depth of 29 feet. Located near California State Route 78 and
86. (Southern California).
- Lake San
Antonio. 5000 acres (average) Boating, Watersports, Fishing, Swimming,
Picnic Grounds, Camping (with and without hookups), Marina, Fuel, Ramps (small
fee may apply), You can camp on the waters edge with your RV, Trailer, Tent,
etc. It both has a north and south shore, including full service hook
up area's, store and restaurant, everything is at the lake that a person needs
for fun on or near around water. Fish catches include bass, striped Bass,
catfish and sunfish. For reservations and more information on recreation facilities
at the lake. Located just outside King City.
- Sante Fe
Dam. Non Power boating, Fishing, Hiking, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Launch
Ramp (small fee may apply).
- Shasta Lake.
Fishing, Swimming, Campsites without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms,
Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp (small
fee may apply) Marina, Fuel, Information Area. In the scenic Shasta National
Forest this area features many recreational sites. Off Interstate 5 and California
State Route 44.
- Shaver Lake.
Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Camping, Launch Ramp (small fee may apply), Marina,
Fuel. One of California's best kept secrets. Owned and operated by California
Edison this lake is located in the midst of towering pines 5370 feet above
sea level in the Sierra National Forest. Located 45 miles N NE of Fresno
off California Route 168. Sierra Marina
- Lake Sonoma.
Fishing, Swimming, Campsites without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms,
Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp (small
fee may apply), Marina, Fuel, 10 miles northwest of Healdsburg.
- Stanislaus
River Parks. Fishing, Rafting, Canoeing, Boat Access Camps without electric
hookup. Fishing, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp
(small fee may apply), 10 miles north of Modesto on California
State Route 99.
- Success
Lake. Fishing, Swimming, Campsites without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms,
Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch Ramp (small
fee may apply), Marina, Fuel,
5 miles east of Portersville on California State Route 190.
- Lake Tahoe.
Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without electric hookup, Showers,
Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Launch
Ramp (small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel, Visitor Information Center. One
of the most famous! Just southwest of Reno, Nevada. Lake Tahoe Marina
- Tulare Lakebed.
Near Interstate 5 and California State Route 41.
- Lake Tulluck.
Watersports, Swimming, Campsites, Picnic Grounds, Fishing, Ramps, Marina,
Fuel. This "X" shaped lake features watersports and measures 4.5 miles wide
but you can travel over 20 miles covering the entire lake. Located about
45 iles east of Stockton Route 120.
- Whittier
Narrows Dam. (Not a permanent pool but great for horse back riding and
golf !) Campsites without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water,
Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic Day / Use, Visitor Information Center. (213)
894-5635.
Information based
on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, brochures and boaters information.
If you know of any other great spots in California for boating (of all types),
or have more information, feel free to E-Mail us at Boating
America