36 Hours at Clear Lake Campground

 While there's plenty to do at Clear Lake Campground, you may want to enjoy a few activities around the lake while you're here, too. Here's a 36 hour weekend itinerary for fun things to do near Clear Lake Campground:

Upon your arrival, take a little time to enjoy the beautiful view of Cache Creek from the campground. You may want to take a dip in the pool or do some fishing from our piers for catfish, bass, or crappie.

Friday evening is a great time for dinner at The Spot on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake. The Spot is known for its excellent hamburgers and lakeside dining. Choose an outside table with a good view of the lake. On Friday evenings, and some Saturdays, there's often live music and dancing from 6-9PM - see the music schedule on their web site.

Saturday morning is the perfect time for a visit to Anderson Marsh State Park, just a couple minutes drive down Highway 53. If you're here the second Saturday of the month, you can usually join a free guided nature walk, starting at 8:30 AM by the Ranch House. Several trails take you through the marsh. The easiest trail, to the right of the Ranch House, goes along Cache Creek on the opposite side from the campground. There's often good bird-watching at the marsh, too, including Great Blue Heron and Egrets. You may even see some deer but watch out for rattlesnakes around the rocks when the weather's hot.

A few miles away, off Highway 29, visit Vigilance Winery. This is an excellent place for a picnic so bring some food and buy a bottle of wine. The picnic tables have fantastic views of the lake and Anderson Marsh. There's also a bocce ball court you can use and of course, wine tasting. If you'd like to visit more wineries, see Lake County Wineries for a complete list.

Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing by the pool or renting a kayak or boat to explore the creek. Rentals are available right at the campground but it's best to reserve the day before. You can either head out toward the lake or down toward the dam. Watch for birds, river otters, and deer. Plan to have a barbecue at the campground on Saturday evening or go to The Spot in Clearlake if you didn't go on Friday.

If you enjoy Sunday brunch, try the brunch at Riviera Hills Restaurant, with nice views of the lake. Or take a drive around the lake to the historic Blue Wing Saloon in Upper Lake. They have live music during Sunday brunch, served on the terrace or in the garden when the weather's nice. While you're in Upper Lake, visit the Upper Lake Mercantile shop with products from local artists and craftspeople and the Lake County Wine Studio where you can taste a variety of wines.

If you're here on the first Sunday of the month, head to Ely Stage Stop Museum for the free fiddlers' jam from noon - 2PM. Ely is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 to 3:00 so even if you don't go or the music, it's a great place to explore Lake County's history. Another nearby museum for history buffs is the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum, open Fridays and Saturdays, 11:00 to 4:00.

Of course you may prefer to spend your remaining time at the campground kayaking or boating on the creek, fishing, swimming, or just relaxing. Whatever you like to do, there are plenty of options.

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Author

Martha Bakerjian is a travel writer who divides her time between Clearlake and northern Tuscany. She writes about Italy on her site, Martha's Italy.