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Quality recreation on the rise at 4 state lakes
Tom Stienstra, San Francisco Chronicle
April 25, 2002
THIS IS shaping up as a wacky water year for California. Some lakes are already full, while others resemble large puddles.
A survey this week of the state's 384 recreation lakes (defined as those which can be reached by car) produced some stunning results. The bottom line: Shasta Lake, Lake Sonoma and Big Lake are now in the best shape for camping, boating and fishing.
Looking into the crystal ball for next month, Union Valley Reservoir in Eldorado National Forest should prove a winner for the Sierra Nevada.
Each of these four lakes has distinct, individual qualities, but they are all full or close to it, and all offer lakeside camps or boat-in campgrounds.
This past winter gave us heavy, warm rains in late December. That forced early snowmelt in the north state, while building an average snowpack in the Sierra. That's the main reason Shasta Lake is almost full, while Donnells near Pinecrest, which needs snowmelt, is nearly 70 percent empty. Traveling lake-to- lake right now, one finds more disparity in water levels than in many a year.
Here are some picks:
-- Lake Sonoma, Healdsburg -- This was the first major lake to fill in California, topping out at 100 percent before Christmas. So it's been able to settle, clear and green-up far sooner than usual. It's now a gem in the Coast Range, and should stay that way into June. There are 109 primitive boat-in sites, along with two developed campgrounds and a few hike-in sites; outstanding fishing for bass, bluegill and catfish. Visitor Center, (707) 433- 9483; Sonoma Marina, (707) 433-2200; http://www.spn.usace.army.mil (click on recreation).
-- Shasta Lake, Redding -- This giant reservoir is now a stunning sight, 94 percent full, with 370 miles of shore ringed by budding vegetation and blooming dogwood and redbud. A highlight is four developed boat-in camps (Gooseneck, Greens Creek, Arbuckle Flat, Ski Island), and hundreds of flat spots deep inside coves where you can beach a boat and camp do-it-yourself style. There are 12 developed campgrounds (nine already open), outstanding bass fishing and excellent water sports opportunities starting in late May. Shasta Lake Ranger District, (530) 275-1587; Shasta Cascade, (800) 474-2782; http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/shastatrinity/nra/shasta.html
-- Big Lake, McArthur -- Big Lake is the crown jewel of the matrix of waterways that make up the spring-fed Fall River system in eastern Shasta County. Little-known Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park provides boat-in access and campsites along Big Lake, always full and ideal for canoe camping in the spring, excellent bird watching (bald eagles, herons, osprey) and flyfishing for large, wild rainbow trout. State Park, (530) 225-2065 or (530) 335-2777; Lava Creek Lodge, (530) 336-6288; http://www.parks.ca.gov (click on "find a park".
Picks for next month:
-- Union Valley, Eldorado National Forest -- Set at 4,900 feet in the Crystal Basin, it's the prettiest lake in this region of the Sierra. Union is already 92 percent full and rising quickly from this week's snowmelt. Jones Fork and West Point campgrounds are projected to open by mid-May, the rest shortly thereafter. A personal favorite is the Azalea Cove boat-in camp. Eldorado Info Center, (530) 644-6048; Pacific Ranger District, (530) 644-2349; http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/eldorado
-- Other winners -- Stony Gorge (95 percent full), East Park (95), Bullards Bar (83), Pardee (90), Tulloch (89).
-- Runners up -- Cherry (81 percent full), Folsom (79), Don Pedro (75), Oroville (73), Camanche (69), Stampede (68), New Melones (67), French Meadows (63), Boca (61), New Hogan (58), Pine Flat (52), Del Valle (47), Hell Hole (45), Beardsley (43), Prosser (41), Lower Bear (40).
E-mail Tom Stienstra at tstienstra@sfchronicle.com.
Tom Stienstra, San Francisco Chronicle
April 25, 2002
THIS IS shaping up as a wacky water year for California. Some lakes are already full, while others resemble large puddles.
A survey this week of the state's 384 recreation lakes (defined as those which can be reached by car) produced some stunning results. The bottom line: Shasta Lake, Lake Sonoma and Big Lake are now in the best shape for camping, boating and fishing.
Looking into the crystal ball for next month, Union Valley Reservoir in Eldorado National Forest should prove a winner for the Sierra Nevada.
Each of these four lakes has distinct, individual qualities, but they are all full or close to it, and all offer lakeside camps or boat-in campgrounds.
This past winter gave us heavy, warm rains in late December. That forced early snowmelt in the north state, while building an average snowpack in the Sierra. That's the main reason Shasta Lake is almost full, while Donnells near Pinecrest, which needs snowmelt, is nearly 70 percent empty. Traveling lake-to- lake right now, one finds more disparity in water levels than in many a year.
Here are some picks:
-- Lake Sonoma, Healdsburg -- This was the first major lake to fill in California, topping out at 100 percent before Christmas. So it's been able to settle, clear and green-up far sooner than usual. It's now a gem in the Coast Range, and should stay that way into June. There are 109 primitive boat-in sites, along with two developed campgrounds and a few hike-in sites; outstanding fishing for bass, bluegill and catfish. Visitor Center, (707) 433- 9483; Sonoma Marina, (707) 433-2200; http://www.spn.usace.army.mil (click on recreation).
-- Shasta Lake, Redding -- This giant reservoir is now a stunning sight, 94 percent full, with 370 miles of shore ringed by budding vegetation and blooming dogwood and redbud. A highlight is four developed boat-in camps (Gooseneck, Greens Creek, Arbuckle Flat, Ski Island), and hundreds of flat spots deep inside coves where you can beach a boat and camp do-it-yourself style. There are 12 developed campgrounds (nine already open), outstanding bass fishing and excellent water sports opportunities starting in late May. Shasta Lake Ranger District, (530) 275-1587; Shasta Cascade, (800) 474-2782; http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/shastatrinity/nra/shasta.html
-- Big Lake, McArthur -- Big Lake is the crown jewel of the matrix of waterways that make up the spring-fed Fall River system in eastern Shasta County. Little-known Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park provides boat-in access and campsites along Big Lake, always full and ideal for canoe camping in the spring, excellent bird watching (bald eagles, herons, osprey) and flyfishing for large, wild rainbow trout. State Park, (530) 225-2065 or (530) 335-2777; Lava Creek Lodge, (530) 336-6288; http://www.parks.ca.gov (click on "find a park".
Picks for next month:
-- Union Valley, Eldorado National Forest -- Set at 4,900 feet in the Crystal Basin, it's the prettiest lake in this region of the Sierra. Union is already 92 percent full and rising quickly from this week's snowmelt. Jones Fork and West Point campgrounds are projected to open by mid-May, the rest shortly thereafter. A personal favorite is the Azalea Cove boat-in camp. Eldorado Info Center, (530) 644-6048; Pacific Ranger District, (530) 644-2349; http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/eldorado
-- Other winners -- Stony Gorge (95 percent full), East Park (95), Bullards Bar (83), Pardee (90), Tulloch (89).
-- Runners up -- Cherry (81 percent full), Folsom (79), Don Pedro (75), Oroville (73), Camanche (69), Stampede (68), New Melones (67), French Meadows (63), Boca (61), New Hogan (58), Pine Flat (52), Del Valle (47), Hell Hole (45), Beardsley (43), Prosser (41), Lower Bear (40).
E-mail Tom Stienstra at tstienstra@sfchronicle.com.
