Lauren C.
Yelp
You're probably reading this because you're tired of gloomy San Francisco pseudo-summers. I bet you're ready to rock that tiny bikini and get a freaking tan. Well if the bad reviews of Lake Berryessa keep you from coming here, YOU WILL HAVE MISSED OUT. You will have missed out on grilling, swimming, floating, and boating in 75°+ water under unfailingly sunny skies. We've taken a dozen people from the Bay Area and beyond, and each has been blown away by the beauty and pleasure of Lake Berryessa.
Lake Berryessa a very large freshwater lake less than 2 hours from the city and just over 30 minutes NE of Napa. We like to stock up at the shopping center at Soscol/Imola, where a Target, Raley's, and Home Depot provide everything one may need for a day or more at the lake. Sunscreen, flip flops, pool floats, beer (no glass bottles), and squirrel-proof containers for food are all mandatory. You can buy a lidded bucket for $2 at Home Depot and the rest at Target or Raley's. We always stop further up the road, at Turtle Rock, for some of the best egg rolls and Bloody Marys ever.
Oak Shores is the main day-use area at the lake. You can go right or left after the entrance. I'll just say that it's all about the road less traveled. There are dozens of picnic tables spread out over prime lakeshore real estate, each with a charcoal grill. There are also bathrooms, water taps (look for the wood posts with faucets), and free life jacket rentals. You can rent fishing boats, houseboats, and jet skis at Pleasure Cove, on the south end of the lake.
Some reviews say it stinks. This is only true in specific areas during late summer, and only BECAUSE IT'S A LAKE. Water recedes; plant life decays. If that bothers you, avoid shallow and stagnant areas in late August-September. Keep in mind that this is a reservoir- if the water is good enough for Budweiser, Jelly Belly, and thousands of households, you can surely swim in it. And the litter issue entirely depends on who occupied your space before you and what you leave behind. So bank a little karma by picking up any trash in your area and not adding to it. This includes bottle caps, corn cobs, and cigarette butts!
Lake Berryessa is the best water experience available in the Bay Area. I would prefer that it remain a well-kept secret, but the last few businesses that cater to weekend crowds are suffering and it's time to spread the word: Go to Lake Berryessa. You'll be happy there. I promise.