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FISHING: Plenty of great locations to catch some of the best and biggest fish Clear Lake has to offer.
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PICNICKING: You can fish for crappie or largemouth bass while enjoying your picnic lunch under the oaks and cottonwoods in the picnic area along the east side of Cole Creek. Sites have tables and barbecues, water faucets and restrooms.
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SWIMMING: The park includes a swimming beach where lifeguard service is available during summer months.
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HIKING: There are several miles of hiking trails and fire roads within the park. Most of the terrain is hilly, with elevations of 1,320 to 1,600 feet. You'll probably see deer and other smaller animals.
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Dorn Trail winds through oak woodland and chaparral. You will see a variety of vegetation, including oaks, manzanita, and a variety of native wildflowers. The three-mile trail is moderately strenuous, but there are some nice vistas and a pleasing variety of natural environments to enjoy.
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The Indian Nature Trail is a self-guiding trail that will help you understand how the local Indians used the native plants of this area to meet their daily needs. The trail, an easy quarter-mile walk, passes through the site of what was once a Pomo village.
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CAMPING: The park has four developed campgrounds with a total of 149 sites. Each site has a table with a food locker and fire ring. Drinking water spigots are located throughout all four campgrounds, and all but Lower Bayview have restrooms with hot showers. There is a trailer dump station near the boat launching ramp, but none of the campsites have RV hookups.
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Cole Creek Campground, located in the shade of tall oaks and cottonwoods next to a lovely open meadow, is especially popular during the hot summer months. The individual campsites are flat, suitable for tents and RVs up to 21 feet long.
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Kelsey Creek Campground, a relatively new addition to the park, has several sites right on the shoreline, and every one of its 65 sites offers a beautiful lake view. Each site will accommodate a tent, or RV up to 34 feet long, and the restrooms are accessible to wheelchairs. Campers with lakeside sites may pull their boats onto the beach. However, boats may not be moored overnight in the old Kelsey Slough.
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Lower Bayview Campground, located in a shady grove of oaks and buckeyes, offers some good views of the lake and is close to the swimming beach. Each of the 21 sites has a flat area for a tent, but the parking spaces are not recommended for campers and trailers.
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Upper Bayview Campground is popular for "getting away from it all." Several of the sites can accommodate trailers or motorhomes up to 21 feet long, and there are many large tent sites. Shower facilities for Upper and Lower Bayview are located at the entrance to the Upper Bayview Campground.
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RESERVATIONS:Campground reservations can be made by phone or online from two days up to seven months in advance by calling 800-444-7275 or online at www.reserveamerica.com. Reservations can be charged to a VISA or Mastercard.
