Inyo County, CA

Swim, waterski, wakeboard, paddle, catch fish, or go houseboating on the Golden State’s pristine lakes. Keep tapping or click "Visit Website" to learn more.

Shasta County, CA

Shasta Lake is known as California’s boating capital for good reason. It’s all about the numbers: the Golden State’s largest reservoir has 30,000 surface acres of water, 370 miles of shoreline, more than a dozen campgrounds, eight full-service marinas, and six public boat ramps.

Shasta County, CA

There’s no better way to beat the summer heat than tooling around Whiskeytown Lake’s 3,200 surface acres of crystal-clear water in a sailboat, kayak, motorboat, paddleboard, or windsurfer. Whiskeytown is a man-made reservoir, but it has the heart of a natural lake. Explore its meandering coves and inlets, then pull up on an island for a picnic or hop out on the shoreline for a swim.

405 Ala Wai Blvd
South Lake Tahoe, CA

Lake Tahoe is a bucket-list essential, boasting 72 miles of shoreline. Many of Tahoe’s lakeside towns—including South Lake Tahoe, Kings Beach, and Tahoe City—have marinas that rent motorboats and personal watercraft. You'll also find outfitters offering paddleboard and kayak rentals.

For a beach experience that doesn’t require traveling to the coast, plop down on the sand at Folsom Lake’s Granite Bay, just 15 minutes from Folsom’s inviting downtown. Known for its spring lupine superblooms, this region is an absolute stunner.

Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake, California, United States

In summer, Big Bear’s 6,750-foot elevation offers cool benefits. The deep blue lake has a half-dozen marinas and a pine-rimmed shoreline laced with shady hiking and biking trails. Rent a kayak and paddle around Big Bear Lake’s tranquil coves, or go for a cruise on the Miss Liberty Paddlewheel Tour Boat or Big Bear Pirate Ship.

5300 Soda Bay Rd
Kelseyville, CA

California’s largest natural freshwater lake spans 68 square miles and is surrounded by oak woodlands and Lake County’s bounty of vineyards and tasting rooms. Spend the morning fishing for largemouth bass or send up big spray as you water-ski across the 43,000-acre lake. Sunset is the perfect time for kayaking or canoeing on the lake before retiring to one of four campgrounds at Clear Lake State Park.

Bass Lake

Bass Lake, California, United States

Bass Lake has star quality. The 4-mile-long, pine-rimmed bathtub has been featured in dozens of Hollywood films, most famously the 1988 comedy "The Great Outdoors." Because the lake’s elevation is only 3,500 feet, the water warms up to 80 degrees in summer, making it ideal for waterskiing, wakeboarding, and swimming. There’s great fishing too—bass and kokanee salmon in summer and rainbow trout in spring and fall.

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