Lake Berryessa

This was a wonderful place to go on a refreshing little hike after all the wine we had. It was absolutely stunning and I loved how uncrowded it was. There are clear trails along the way with some benches to stop at with views. It's a wonderful place to picnic or explore. There was free parking, restrooms, and entry where we went. My fiancé and I had an incredible time exploring. It seems like a few people were out on the water too. I believe there is a boat ramp. The water seemed so calm and great for kayaking and paddle boarding.

We were here the Tuesday after Memorial Day. Beautiful and extremely quiet at the Recreation area. Workers were power washing the bathrooms and picnic tables. Bathrooms were spotless. Lake is clear, could see my feet when wading. Plenty of shade and tables. Numerous areas to choose from. They have a buoyed swim area too.

Wonderful experience for our family. We went on a weekday so it was less busy. Definitely be prepared that area is unpaved past the parking lot. You can definitely bring a propane grill (no charcoal allowed due to fire hazard) for barbecuing. We were able to bring floating devices and paddle boards. There are plenty of smaller islands to paddle to. Definitely something to come back to!

They have this rule for the start of winter during a heat wave that they close at 5..... have time to walk down but get told kindly it's closed off which the ranger was sweet about it's just a bummer that I have to find another lake to swim at..... in my opinion they should close at 6

Summer of 2023 on a hot summer day my bf and I decided to go out to the lake. We had a lil picnic with his daughter aka my bestie! It was so peaceful the lake runs for miles and miles so don't be shy to explore! We were able to find a perfect lil spot for us away from people our own lil piece of land along the lake! There was a parking lot with public bathrooms.. not the cleanest! But a girl got to do what a girl gots to do lol.

One of NorCal's largest man-made lakes Lake Berryessa is a reservoir in the Napa County and is used for irrigation and flood control. It was a nice and sunny October Sunday but the seasonal drought is here and California is no stranger to it (agree?) the water level at the lake is really low and the 'Morning Glory Spillway,' an unusual and yet impressive sight (also called the Glory Hole), was clearly visible from the Monticello Dam. When water levels rise above 440-ft water starts spilling down the hole and into Putah Creek hundreds of feet below. My hubby, who has been to Lake Berryessa plenty of times, drove us to the Oak Shores Day Use area. Imagine, if you will, beach activities, swimming, shoreline fishing and wildlife viewing... picnic tables, BBQ, and parking with wonderful views of the lake, but it was like a ghost town yesterday where we were able to walk near the shoreline and past the edge of the boat launch on dry land. No BBQ'ing... any little spark could catch fire and California can use a break from wildfires, that's for sure! Who remembers the LNU Lightning Complex that started in August 2020?? Well, I don't really want to remember it but that was the 4th largest wildfire in the history of our State. What caused it? Lightning strikes. We then drove to Capell Cove Boat Launch. The boat launch was closed to motorized boats until water levels rise again. The picnic area is nice and shaded and had BBQ grills. We stopped at the Dufer Point Visitor Center to use the restrooms and ended up getting educated by the knowledgeable park rangers there. We learned a lot about Lake Berryessa, but amid the drought we still saw a few boaters on the lake enjoying themselves... looking forward to returning to the lake when water levels are high. Review #2419

Stunning! A large, well taken care of lake with many different spots for swimmers, and those who have boats and other water vehicles. Tranquil area, everyone was courteous and clean, and the lake was filled with ducks and humans alike. Water is refreshing! My husband and I really enjoyed ourselves.

It is a really nice lake. We reserved 3 sites to camp and they gave them away to someone else even though we paid extra to "lock" in our reservation. We are big time campers in our family and they have nice campgrounds near the water. They do not have water/power or sewer hookups so they have port-a potties but, they were clean.The grounds keepers came and harassed us several times once asking us to shut off our stereo that was not on and then again for throwing trash in the fire pit that you are not allowed to use but they apologized when they realized it was not garbage but our kids clothes drying from swimming. Probably won't be going back.

There a lot of spiders we was there Sunday for father day in the recreation area we have to leave we got bit by the spiders even in the water some family with small children left to other thing the employees was telling people to park outside in the st bc there was not parking inside when we leave the police was giving tickets don't park outside even if they tell you it's OK to park outside. Don't do it. You will get a ticket. Bring some bugs spray

I went to Oak Shores day use today August 2022. It was a ghost town. We saw one other group of 3. We were both looking for a place where you could actually get to the water since the drought has shrunk the lake down so much. We settled on the further parking lot and trudged down the gravel slope to the water which was quite a distance. The water was actually delightful and warm. We had a ring and a raft and did enjoy the swim. There are many burned trees in the area from the big fires of 2020. But there is a stark beauty to the lake and hills around it.

Nice getaway place. There's 4 unisex "portalets" . Benches and tables. Lots of spots to choose from. Just be careful of sinkhole. Twas nice that there are life vests to use for the kids. We love our experience!

Such an amazing place , came here for all the summers I have been living in California and it has always been great . The side with a small secluded beach is great for big parties because they rent an area with table and cover for you if you want . But also the other side is awesome , I love when is full of people, any table has a barbecue thing for you to grill , bathrooms are also available there . Unfortunately these past years the water has been low , I hope it gets better . It is such a good place to enjoy summer .

NorCal native. First time actually exploring this area and not just driving through. Absolutely beautiful area. We packed a lunch and did some hiking. Did some research and found a medium difficulty trail - smiitle creek trailhead. It loops around the reservoir. There was a parking lot, bathroom and picnic tables overlooking the water. Lots of people walked down to the water and set up for the day to swim and enjoy the water. Dogs are allowed! As for people who noted that it gets busy with boats and trailer parking, sorry to say but, you need to get up there early to bypass that. Also, leave a bit earlier so you can get your boat out of the water without too much hassle. The views here are great. Would love to do more exploring in the Spring when wildflowers are in bloom. Enjoy!

Very dirty with little to no shade. Personally, this is a lake meant for water vehicles than swimming with the family.

This is a very nice, clean reservoir to rent a boat at and spend the day on the water. When we went early August, it wasn't too crowded and there were plenty of coves where you can easily be with just your own party to swim. There are several floating bathrooms around when you need them. There was also lots of wildlife to spy - lots and lots of little deer, and my husband spotted a bald eagle in a tree watching us swim. For those who live in the east bay like us, this is just over an hour away for a nice getaway.

Breath taking views. By far one of the best hikes I have ever been on. It was about an hr drive from Sacramento. I read a lot of reviews stating that it is a hat and strenuous hike. I am glad that I thought that because it mentally prepared me for harder than what I thought it was. Don't get me wrong it is a hard hike for beginners. You would have had to gone on a few holes before this one. Came in beginning of May with great weather and started hiking at 7:30am and finished at 11:30am. We stopped a lot to take pictures and little mini tests from the stairs burning our legs. Some stairs were very high. We sat at the top of one peak with nice big rocks in the shade to eat lunch for about 15 minutes as well, in front of the lake and hawks flying around above us. There are a couple parkings lots, we parked at the lower end parking lot instead of the main going up a little further. Parking was free, which is a big plus. This hike feels safe due to the well maintained trails. I would say some bush cutting is needed soon, because there were a lot of trees growing in to the path. There are a lot of man made steps out of wood, but it's not a continuous long stair case. It's about a mile of stairs then flat surface then stairs again. It is a 5 mile hike. The steps start maybe a mile in. There are continuous maps to guide you on which pathways you would like to choose. There are always mile sticks showing you how far you are to get to the end. The beginning of the hike was more shaded than the last half going decline for the path that we chose. We chose going left and coming back down from the right. There are about 5 peaks? Before you get to the top of the peak to decide togo back down. It is so rewarding getting to the top of each peak and eventually seeing the lake and all the hills in front of you. There are a lot of lizzards in the bushes you will hear or see running before your eyes. When declining, a group in front of us witnessed a rattle snake and there were a couple bee hives under ground with a lot of them flying around where the holes were. I will definitely come back to take another hike, maybe even trying the longer hike that takes us up higher.

Wow, what a beautiful lake! This place is amazing. So many great views. The lake itself is huge! I came here yesterday to go fishing. So many different coves and spot to fish it was incredible. Definitely plan on making another trip back here in the near future. Not many people there when we first arrived. But, by the time we left it was packed! I'm sure this place is VERY busy during the summer. The spillway "Gloryhole" is awesome! To get a good view you have to park and walk up to the fenced area. There are plenty of places for camping and shore fishing along the highway. Like I said before. This lake is very big. Everywhere that I stopped and looked or explored was all very clean and well kept. All in all I had a great experience here and would recommend this lake to anyone looking for a getaway.

When I was little, my family used to go up to Lake Berryessa from San Ramon for beach days. I remember having so much fun just swimming around. As an adult, I haven't gone back to the beach part of Lake Berryessa (if it still exists?). Since the roommate bought a boat years ago, we've been driving up every year to take the boat out on the lake. This last time, we went on Sunday, September 18th around 11am. He likes to launch from Markley Cove. Beware of getting lost as there's no cell service at or around the launch site. But once we get past the no wake zone, cell service normally resumes, so you can post away on social media if you'd like. We normally go to the lake to wake board and go tubing. I have never tried wake boarding, but I've been tubing, which can be a blast. Depending on the driver of the boat that is, as I've been thrown hard from the tube before. The lake itself feels huge! (Or is it a reservoir? I think someone told me that once.) There's plenty of room to do water sports, swim around, etc. There's nothing like chilling on a boat, throwing back a few drinks, and just enjoying the sun. Of course, Napa can get hot, so it's nice to jump into the water to cool off. I don't actually know how deep the lake is, but I've never felt the bottom of it in the boating section. Lake Berryessa has created fond memories both as a child and an adult. I only see more fun experiences at this lake.

What a better way to enjoy yourself during this pandemic than to have a little outdoor BBQ with one or two of your closest family members or friends. This is a great place where you can throw a football around, take a swim in the clean lake, or simply just get a little peace of mind away from being locked indoors all week long! Not much sand like a typical beach, but more small gravel surface. Probably not comfortable to lay down on. Best part is that there is so much space here where everyone can practice social distancing! Parking is free during weekdays, at least for us it was

The hike to the top and seeing the beautiful landscape as well as Lake Berryessa, was filled with my feelings of determination, sweat, heart poundings, cardio workout and evermore! You get dirty. You get grimy. You hustle. You be careful. Grabbing some bites from my sandwich and energy bar that I hauled to the near top, the view and the slight breeze was simply admirable. Walking along the ridge and trail, it just made me take in a breath of fresh air and gave me a peace of mind that was away from the usual city noise and livelihood that I am use to. With the quietness and calmness, I felt like I was as minuscule as I can ever be on Earth. Ultimately, you feel fulfilled when finished.

Visited here a couple of months ago with my kids and spent the day boating. Great staff , very nice e and helpful. Perfect way to spend the day.

I was here in January...thats right, cold as a popsickle, penguins needing a sweater, the wind on the lake is freezing... January. My friend has a cabin up here and we went out for a spin on his boat. It was beautiful. Beautiful yet...very remote, no hospitals or anything. It's really not that far away from the bay area, it just seems that way. There's a cute restaurant/general store near the dock that is pretty darn expensive for the items they had, though it was awesome to get some nice hot food. However, if you don't bring what you need with you, you're probably out of luck for finding stuff like toothpaste or any food besides candy. There's only a couple general stores in the vicinity (half hour vicinity) and they all charge an arm and a leg. I'd come back, but the fact that it's so far away from everything isn't a draw for me as it might be for some people. That and driving up here was a pain.

Lake Berryessa is a great place to go for the day.it was hit hard by wildfire in 2020, but the shoreline is still pretty amazing. My favorite thing about Lake Berryessa is the geology around the periphery.

Great views wherever angle you choose. The drive could be intimidating to a beginner, but it's definitely a fun experience. Best part of all, there is free parking every 10 feet (LOL).

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.

I always wanted to come here because my brother showed me how pretty it was and when I finally came here with my boyfriend to start off this place is amazingly gorgeous!!!! Such a great place to go hiking. If your the type to appreciate nature then you'll love how gorgeous the lake sparkles back at you. But if u dare to swim in the lake it's really nasty even though the water looks clear there's a lot of algae that floats around. When you put your feet in it and walk around in the water I notice that's where the algae comes from the bottom when your feet loosens it. Beware of leeches!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My family & friends had a Good time camping. It's a nice place and it's pretty big . More of a party spot not to kid friendly. I recommend renting a boat or jet ski just something to get in the water because it's deep and hard to swim especially for kids

We set up in Oak Shores and found a nice shaded grilling area not to far from the swimming area in the lake. Everyone plays their music loudly in each grilling area but that was very fun! Parking lot was filled early so we had to walk a long way carrying everything. Lake Berryessa is currently not the scenic place though, all around it is burned nature from last year's fires which is quite the sad site!! Also the lake has dried up more than 20 feet which is very noticeable. So again, not scenic if you're expecting it...

Still a super day trip! This year water is low and yes there are small leaches in the mud but so small that if u wipe the bottom of your feet as u exit water, u won't even see them. Day use is free in most areas. Still beautiful view and my group of teens has fun here on hot days.. Because of water level though u may have to hike a bit to get a waters edge spot. Ok with us.

My co-worker was kind enough to invite me to his yearly family camp that they host here, and I was fortunate enough to make it this year. It is a trek getting here, and I would recommend print out directions before going because for some phones (like mine) there is no signal at all, which is good for being cut off and just enjoying the wilderness, but bad if you get lost like I did! I did eventually find the campsite that was at the northwest part of this monster of a lake. Seriously, this thing is overwhelmingly huge! It took me roughly an hour to drive from the south eastern point by the dam, to the northwestern point. Once I got to the campsite, it was really late into the evening, and I was afraid I wouldn't be allowed in. To my surprise, there was a guard at the gate that gave me access to the campsite, which was quite nice. It was very dark, driving through the campsite road, but as long as you drive slow like you should, finding your campsite shouldn't be an issue. Once I found my campsite, I went of to to camping things such as consume an unsurmountable amount of alcohol with my friends and play horseshoes! The following day, we took the boat out and went tubing. The lake, being as huge as it is was welcoming to the idea of tubing without the idea of hitting shore coming across our minds. We met several people on the water, all of which were really friendly, hung out at some really nice little coves, and just had a marvelous day out on the water. The water is really nice and cool for hot days. The price for the site and parking was reasonable! Lastly, I have to say this, but the stars out there look absolutely amazing! I stood outside my campsite in the dark for over an hour just staring, and I was absolutely amazed at how much there is out there! I think that is my favorite thing about camping, the stars! Overall; great price and place for camping and boating. Fnatastic view of the stars too!

WOW. Seriously, WOW. This lake is awesome. I never knew a lake could be so clean and serene. I definitely would come back. This is a place where I could see bringing my future family too...with kids..dogs...the works! There are people jetskiing, swimming, etc. Free parking! The lake ranger (?) was super friendly and he even gave us garbage bag to put our trash, and told us that there are free life vests to check out too. Come on now...what lake would take care of you like that? We originally went to see that big glory hole...but it was another 45 minutes from where we were..and we were pretty satisfied with the whole lake experience already. My beau jumped into the lake ...water was pretty nice! I didn't bring my swim attire so i just sat on the side soaking my feet. Definitely rewarding. I was just watching him swim around and I could see in one frame...the lake, the land, the mountains, and the crispy sky. Very serene and breath-taking. The biggest lake is California surely did live up to it's hype :)

Not a well structured Visitor place. No good trails to carry stuff. Need to walk a lot and carry all your stuff, which is very overwhelming. Very dirty, people leave stuff where they settled. I would not visit this place again. It would be a good idea to make a road around the complete loop of the lake, so you can take advance of the lake, and re-distribute visitor population.

Gosh what a beautiful place, I have been here before but luckily last week I got to drive along the side of the lake all the way where you can't see the water anymore, and it was gorgeous. Nice sunny weather made it perfect. It was late on a Saturday afternoon. I had no idea it had so many picnic spots, which is spread all over at diff spots. Saw lot of pple fishing here. The water at some parts are so clear that I was able to see big schools of fish. It's an amazing drive. Be careful of the mosquitoes thou.

Vivian in General Store was so helpful and friendly. We are having a great time at Pleasure Cove Marina.

BEST PLACE IVE EVER BEEN. It's the perfect lake to spend time with the family and friends, I'm starting to go there every weekend, but unfortunately things are not going as planned. Best believe I'll get back to my routine once things get better.

In high school, everyone wanted to GO TO THE LAKE! But, this is just a big reservoir................. Nice for fishing, they say, but I never even got a bite in 30 years. Nice for boating, but the one I was on sank. Free of pests, but I counted over a hundred mosquito bites the last time I was there. Nice water, but it sure is yucky now. I don't know. Maybe I just don't "jive" with this lake.....................

Negative one star for having to drive so far to Lake Berryessa (about 40 minutes from Napa)! Parking is Free Confused where to Lake Berryessa really starts Free life vests near the bathroom area to borrow Not crowded! Tips: *Bring bathing suits *Bring tubes to float in the lake Although we didn't do any Bbq'ing, the area looks like a great place to gather friends and bbq and camp!

It was pretty cool. But I only recommend visiting if you are already in the area lol

The water is so crisp and clear. The kids and I took a lunch and had the best time. No internet, no phones, just good old fashioned fun!

I dont recommend this place for camping with family and friends. Camp grounds has minimal trash cans, bathroom toilets always get clogged, no mirrors, showers operate on quarters, no beach area or sand, water dried up. Suggest going if you have a boat or jet skis only.

This was my first time visiting lake Berryessa, in fact it was a work team building event which made it a unique experience. The area seems to shut down once summer is over, all the shops were closed, no one was camping and we were the only boat out on the lake. Made it very easy to get around and enjoy the water sports activities without other boats getting in the way. The water was nice but not as clear as I would have expected based on how isolated it is. Overall good experience I can check it off my bucket list of areas to visit since I doubt I will be back anytime soon.

Loved the ride up and the scenery But was soooo disappointing to see the Giant Hole was dry

Too damn Hot!!! And the water is so dirty but hey what do you expect at a lake that was my fault lol. But my cousins had fun Jet Skiing so there's that ‍

Long long drive around to the day use area. Ugh. Not impressed with the area to hang for the day. Could they not improve it with a little drink and ice cream stand or something interesting?? I mean if you don't bring food or drink you're outta luck. Lots of Bees. Water nice!!

Ugh. This lake smells like poop. I'm not kidding. Maybe this is just in the summertime- to be fair I have not gone any other time of year, but after going this weekend I don't think I'll ever want to return. I put my feet in the water - which was warm, and muddy, and the bottom was gross and slimy, and then I noticed it- the bog of eternal stench. It was like raw sewage. Major letdown as it was hotter than Hades and all I wanted was a swim in cool refreshing water. The lake itself is somewhat pretty, and maybe it's better in a boat out in the middle, but it's completely dry dirt around most of the outside, so not the most scenic. There are lots of picnic areas, but when it feels like a 100-degree dirty sauna, who wants to hang out? Especially when the only want to "cool off" is to swim in a poop-smelling lake. Think I'll pass.

Only 45 minutes minutes from the house. Hunnie Bunnie spends the whole day before our day at the lake by polishing his baby, rubbing her down and making sure she purrsssss. I spend the day frying chicken, making potato salad, stocking the cooler with icy cold beer (NONE FOR THE DRIVER) and sodas. We pop up at the crack of dawn and head out. We stop at Cordelia Junctions to fill up with fuel for both the boat and the suburban. Sometimes we stop at Larry's Produce and pick up some farm fresh fruit to add to the cooler, and sometimes we hit it on the way home. Then were off to the "free" launch. Now if you get there too late, then we go to the otherside and pay for that launch. Either way, we have an awesome good time jetting around the lake. It gets a little crazy around the 4th, Labor Day and Memorial Day, a little "tamer" than girls gone wild and not half as bad as Lost Isle. But we come home worn out, exhausted and having had a great time!

My boyfriend and I went hiking near Lake Berryessa on a Sunday morning around 9:00 a.m. There are a couple small areas to the side of the road to park and when we got there, there were already about 10 other cars parked. The trail head is easy to find if you know what you're looking for, but very easy to miss if not (make sure to visit the website before your hike to make sure you know where to begin). We did a moderate 45-minute hike to the top of the hill, and it was a great workout. The trail was very clearly marked and it was a little bit challenging, but not too difficult for a beginner. When we got to the top, the view was astonishing. You can see the entire lake, and it's very serene. My boyfriend and I brought some trail mix and snacked for a little bit before hiking back down. The walk back down was really easy and very enjoyable as well. Notes: -You may spot deer, rabbits, lizards and other bugs. -Don't forget to bring water (and snacks if you want) for your hike. -The view at the top is very pretty, bring your camera.

This review is only for Chaparral Cove Campgrounds.... Oh man where do I start. The place is run by what appears to be a bunch of non caring teenagers that every time you ask them a question you get a WTF look and they barely look up from their cell phones to acknowledge you. The campsites were very small. We were lucky to get a decent site. #17 had shade. The down side, you have a camp site right next to you and there is really no feeling or simulated feeling of isolation. We did have a beautiful view of the cove but this was all quickly ruined by many of the other downsides. We camp with 2 children under 6 years old. First off, there is absolutely no potable water on site. Pack it in and make sure you have plenty. Their are no permanent bathrooms or sinks, only the portapotties. They do keep them very clean and I saw they were professionally emptied daily. The campsites are all covered with nasty thorns so make sure to bring a blanket or tarp. The fire pits do not have a grill chained on so you must bring a stove or grill yourself. There are no nearby garbage cans and the reason is because the yellow jacket problem is very bad up there. Just cooking bacon in the morning attracts a lot of yellow jackets. The water in the cove is pretty nasty, the beaches are unkept and unless you are on a boat I would not swim there ever again. we drove to an awesome little place called Smittle Creek to do our swimming. It was a much better trade off. The last downside that I will point out is a big one if you rely on some sort of enforcement of rules. We all like to party when we camp, we all like to listen to music, ect, ect. With no ranger on duty and this being a private run campground you are at the mercy of the teenagers running the show to keep noise levels down at night. We are not unrealistic but allowing campsites to "bump it" all the way to 2 am is just ridiculous. I can sum it up to there is no active patrols late at night. We stayed 2 nights and stayed up very late both nights to see if anyone would every patrol and cut the noise out. No one ever came. In this case you really do get what you pay for. 20 bucks a night should have probably been more of a warning when I think back.

This lake is seriously disgusting. I hate going here, but my boyfriend loves it. There's rarely ever parking where we go, and you CANNOT walk around barefoot. Be sure to bring swimshoes and flip flops. You can't walk in the water either because there are rocks everywhere. The one upside is there are picnic tables, bathrooms, and BBQ pits.