What are the top things to do at Clear Lake Campground in spring?

Spring is the perfect time to visit Clear Lake Campground. Days are longer, wildflowers are blooming, fish are biting, and birders will spot a variety of birds around Lake County. It's a good time to rent a kayak, go wine tasting, or just relax at camp. Here are top 5 things to do near Clear Lake Campground on your spring visit to Lake County:

• Look for Birds. Clear Lake is a birder's paradise and birds are usually plentiful in spring. Birds you may see include Coots, Mallards, Grebes, Great Blue Heron, Cormorants, Red-Shouldered Hawks, Anna's Hummingbirds, and blackbirds. See more top birds to see in Lake County. Besides watching for birds along the creek or in the trees across from Camp, there are several excellent places for birding around Clear Lake. We have 7 suggestions for places to go for bird watching in Clear Lake Birding Hot Spots.
• Kayak or Canoe. Explore Cache Creek in a kayak or canoe. You can launch your own (free to those staying at Camp or a $5 launch fee) or rent a kayak or canoe right at Camp. We have the only boat launch on Cache Creek! See our suggested kayak or canoe itinerary from Camp.
• Take a hike. Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, right across from Camp (a 2 minute drive to the entrance) is a great place to hike in spring, whether you want an easy, short nature walk or a longer trail. It's an excellent place for spotting birds and you may also see deer, squirrels, and other wildlife. If you're looking for a strenuous hike with great views from the top, Mt Konocti County Park is just 20 minutes from Camp. See details about these and other places in 5 Great Places to Hike in Lake County.
• Taste Wine. Lake County is one of California's top wine regions. Most wineries offer tasting in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere but it's best to call in advance to check current opening times and make a reservation. Some are only open on weekends. Several wineries have picnic tables and a small store that sells picnic items and most are in beautiful settings. Here are our recommendations for 6 Wineries to Visit that are less than half an hour from Camp.
• Go fishing. Fishing is usually very good in spring. You can fish right from Camp, especially for catfish, but there are several places to fish around the lake. Top Lake County spring fishing tournaments include the April Fishing tournament in Clearlake and the May Catifsh Derby, the largest catfish tournament west of the Mississippi. We even run our own catfish derby for registered campers some weekends in spring. If you have a boat, use the boat launch at Redbud Park, just a couple miles from camp, to access the lake. There's also a fishing pier at the park. Clear Lake Guide Service posts weekly updates about current fishing conditions and offers a guided fishing experience.

Spring Holidays and Special Events:

• Easter is a good time for a family camping trip. Several special Easter events with activities for kids and an Easter bunny take place around the lake, usually including Easter Egg hunts on Cobb and at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport  and an Easter Extravaganza at Twin Pines Casino in Middletown. Restaurants often have Easter brunch too.
• Mother's Day is in May so if your mom likes to camp, treat her to a weekend at Clear Lake Campground or book several sites and have an extended family get-together. There's usually a special Mother's Day concert at Soper Reese Theater in Lakeport and several restaurants serve a special Mother's Day brunch.
• Memorial Day is a good weekend to plan a family or small group camping trip. Spend time with family or friends in a relaxed atmosphere, swim in the pool, play outdoor games, and have a cook-out. Lakeport has a big parade on Main Street.
• Lake County Wine Adventure is a 2-day event in May. See Lake County Winery Association for details and tickets.
• Relive the wild west in June: Upper Lake Wild West Day is usually held the first Saturday of the month, with a parade, ice cream social, BBQ, live music, and activities for kids. Next is Middletown Days, with a parade, BBQ, horseshoe tournament, chili cook off, hay rides, and even Cowboy Church on Sunday.

Updated for 2022:
Do you like lake fishing? If so, Clear Lake could be the ideal vacation spot for you. Clear Lake is known for some of the best catfish and bass fishing in the western US. Bassmaster consistently rates Clear Lake in first place for bass fishing in Western lakes. The record largemouth bass weighed in at 17.52 pounds.

Bass Tournaments

Bass fishing tournaments kick off with the big Clear Lake Team Bass Tournament in March, one of California's top bass tournaments. 100% of the entry fees are paid in prizes.

From March through November there's usually at least one bass contest a month - see the Clear Lake fishing contests list on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website. Smaller local tournaments are even held in winter months.

Follow Clearlake Bassmasters on Facebook for more about bass fishing, contests on the lake, and local updates.

• Check the schedule, sign up, reserve your camp spot and bring your boat.

Catfish Tournaments

The annual Catfish Derby, held in May, is billed as the "largest catfish tournament west of the Mississippi".  The 2021 winners caught catfish weighing 23.72 pounds in the adult division, 22.62 pounds in the ages 11 to 15 division, and 22.43 pounds in the kids up to 10 division. In 2017, 11 year old Tanner Castillo was the youngest ever to win the derby with a 28.81 pound catfish.

Catfish were first introduced in Clear Lake in 1910, having been brought west from Mississippi to California in 1874 and stocked in the San Joaquin River. The all-time record catfish for Clear Lake weighed 33.33 pounds. 

The Catfish Derby is a fun family event featuring food and entertainment too. It's held in Clearlake Oaks, just 15 minutes from Camp.

Clear Lake Campground also holds a camper catfish derby in spring for fish caught right at the campground. But even when there's not a contest, you can fish on Cache Creek right from our shore, you don't even need a boat and we sell some bait in our store. Catfish are often caught throughout the year. Just reserve your space and bring your pole!

Read more about Fishing on Clear Lake and Cache Creek

Updated for 2024

Clear Lake Campground is the perfect place to spend those lazy days of summer. Start your morning with a kayak or boat ride, a walk in Anderson Marsh State Park or fish right off the shore. Spend the hot afternoons lounging by the pool or going in for a swim. Evenings are often beautiful, a great time to kick back, have a barbecue, and enjoy your spot along Cache Creek. There's something for everyone whether you like to fish, experience nature, or just relax.

At Camp we have canoes and kayaks for rent, boat ramps for launching your own boat, fish-cleaning stations, and a small store selling frozen bait, night crawlers, hooks, and weights. Because Clear Lake is a shallow lake the water is a greenish color and swimming in Cache Creek is not usually recommended in summer although it's fine for fishing and boating. We have a nice pool where you can swim during the day and deck chairs and picnic tables by the shore of Cache Creek where you'll often see heron, egrets, ducks, and even otters. If you want to swim in the lake, we recommend these places to swim in Lake County.

Lake County has several special events in summer. Experience the days of the the wild west in mid-June at Middletown Days, a great family event with a parade, BBQ, horseshoe tournament, chili cook off, live music, and hay rides. Celebrate Father's Day with a camping trip.

Fourth of July celebrations are spread over several days with fireworks at different locations around the lake. In Clearlake there's a carnival at Austin Park June 30-July 4 and a small parade followed by the International Worm Races, then a concert in the park and fireworks on July 2. Lakeport holds a street fair on July 4 and fireworks.  The CDFW usually schedules a free fishing day on the weekend before July 4 so you can fish right at the campground even if you don't have a license. The following weekend is the Lake County Rodeo, held at the Lakeport Fairgrounds.

A highlight of summer is the Lake County Fair, held Labor Day Weekend at the Lakeport Fairgrounds. Saturday night features top musical entertainment and there are lots of fun family activities and shows during the day both Saturday and Sunday.

Free concerts are held in Austin Park in Clearlake some Saturdays. In Lakeport's Library Park are often held Friday evenings at 6PM from mid-June through mid-August. The third Thursday evening from June through September, Kickin in the Country is held in downtown Kelseyville with live music, food, and vendors. Clearlake Art Gallery holds a third Friday Gala of art and music is held, 6 - 8PM. Head to Ely Stage Stop the first Sunday of the month for the fiddlers' jam (see historic places to visit for more information). Live music is held in several venues around the lake on Friday and Saturday nights during summer.

Anderson Marsh State Park (also listed in historic places to visit), across the creek from Clear Lake Campground, holds guided nature walks the second Saturday of the month, usually starting at 8:30. But you can hike on your own in the park any day, early mornings are usually the best time to go in summer.

Summer is a good time to visit Lake County wineries - see wineries to visit near Camp. Most are open for tasting on weekends and some are open every day in summer but you may need to book in advance for tastings. Wineries often hold special events in summer, too. Visit the Farmers' market, with live music and food, on Saturday mornings at Shannon Ridge Winery, off Highway 29 in Kelseyville. Have a picnic and play bocce at Vigilance Winery in Lower Lake, just a few miles from Clear Lake Campground. Or take a jeep tour at Six Sigma Winery.

For more special events and the live music schedule, see the Lake County Chamber of Commerce Events Calendar. Plan your weekend with our 36 Hours at Clear Lake Campground itinerary.

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.

Updated for 2023
The last Tuesday of January is National Plan Your Vacation Day and it's the perfect time to book a camp site at Clear Lake Campground. Camp opens March 1 and there are activities and things to do in Lake County in all seasons.  By planning and booking in advance you'll often save money and be assured that you get the type of campsite you want. Whether you want solitude or a vacation with family or friends, a camping vacation has many benefits. 

Clear Lake is a top place for fishing and has been rated as the second-best lake in the United States for bass fishing. Campers often catch fish right from our shoreline. Clear Lake is a prime location for birding, kayaking, or just relaxing. Lake County also has live music, special events and activities year-round. Monthly events include the Fiddlers Jam at Ely Stage Stop the first Sunday of the month and guided walks at Anderson Marsh most months on the second Saturday morning.

To learn more about Clear Lake Campground and nearby activities, see our FAQ page.  If you have an RV, why not plan a monthly camping vacation? Tent camping is also available from early spring through early fall and we even have 3 partially-furnished  canvas bell tents already set up for you.

Here's a sampling of top events planned for each month (please check in advance to see if they are being held this year):

March is when fishing really starts picking up. The Clear Lake Bass Tournament is held in mid-March. Wildflowers start blooming and birds are abundant. March is also a good time for visiting nearby wineries, taking a hike, or bird-watching.

April is usually a top month for kayaking and boating. Kayak and canoe rentals are available right at the Clear Lake Campground. Spring break is a great time to come to Clear Lake Campground with your family or friends.

In May one of the top events is Heron Days, sponsored by the Redbud Audubon Society. Some events are held right at Clear Lake Campground, activities include pontoon boat tours in Anderson Marsh. The Catfish Derby, held in Clearlake Oaks, is billed as the largest catfish tournament west of the Mississippi. A Wine Adventure Weekend is usually held in late May, with more than 25 participating wineries. Mother's Day is in May so if your mom likes to camp, treat her to a weekend at Clear Lake Campground. There's usually a special Mother's Day concert at Soper Reese Theater in Lakeport and several restaurants have a special Mother's Day brunch.

June is the month to relive the wild west. Upper Lake Wild West Day is usually held the first Saturday of the month, with a parade, ice cream social, BBQ, live music, and activities for kids. Mid-month is Middletown Days, with a parade, BBQ, horseshoe tournament, chili cook off, hay rides, and even Cowboy Church on Sunday. A camping weekend makes a good Father's Day gift, too.

4th of July is a great time to come to Clear Lake Campground. Fireworks are spread out over several nights at different locations around the lake and there's a street fair in Lakeport. In Clearlake there's a small parade followed by the International Worm Races. See last year's 4th of July events in Lake County. The CDFW usually schedules a free fishing day on the weekend before July 4 and you can fish right at the campground. 

August events include free Friday night concerts in Lakeport's Library Park and the Lakeside Car and Boat Show in mid-August with music, vendors, food, and high-performance boats making passes by Library Park.

The first weekend in September is the Lake County Fair held in Lakeport with lots of fun events for the whole family. The Kelseyville Pear Festival, a huge street fair and parade celebrating Lake County's agricultural heritage, is the last weekend of the month. 

The first Saturday in October is the Konocti Challenge Cycling Race. Participants can sign up for one of 4 different bicycling routes around Clear Lake, ranging from a 20 mile family fun ride to a century ride. Shannon Ridge Mercantile usually holds a Harvest Festival the second weekend of October, with lots of fun activities for the whole family. 

In November there are several arts and crafts fairs including the Dickens' Faire, the last Saturday of the month in downtown Lakeport. November is still a great time for birding, hiking, and wine tasting.

Clearlake's Christmas parade is held the first Saturday of December. The annual bird count takes place in early December. Anderson Marsh usually holds a special Christmas at the Ranch in December with music and Santa. 

For more special events and the live music schedule, see the Lake County Chamber of Commerce Events Calendar.

Fall is a nice time to come to Clear Lake. Although nights start to get chilly, days are often beautiful and sunny, especially in early fall. With the summer heat gone, temperatures are usually good for hiking, biking, or kayaking in the creek. Fishing is often fantastic during fall and there are still lots of birds.

Fall events in Lake County start with the Kelseyville Pear Festival held the last Sun in September. Pears are one of the county's top 3 agricultural products and there's a special exhibit about farming and pioneer families in the Pear Pavilion. Special pear events include a pie eating contest and pear dessert contest and there are a variety of delectable pear products available for purchase at the food booths. A parade down Main Street gets things going in the morning. The all day festival includes music and dancers on three stages, wine tasting, art, food, and other vendor booths, and kid's activities. It's a fun family event with something for everyone.

Bicyclists won't want to miss the Konocti Challenge Cycling Race the first Saturday in October. Participants can sign up for one of 4 different bicycling routes around Clear Lake ranging from a 20 mile family fun ride to a century ride. Courses start in Lakeport with the 65 and 100 mile riders starting by 8:30 AM and the more leisurely 20 and 40 mile groups starting by 10.  

The Steele Wines Harvest Festival is the second weekend October. This 2-day event features fun for the whole family including a 4H BBQ, music, arts and crafts show, grape stomping, pie eating contest, games, and activities for kids. Of course there's wine tasting, too. On Saturday morning there's also a farmers' market and the annual Run for Literacy offering 5 and 10K runs and a more relaxing 5K walk.

Halloween events happen at various venues around the lake both the weekend before Halloween and on October 31. Activities for kids include the annual Trunk or Treat in Clearlake and Trick or Treat on Main St in Lakeport, both on October 31. A fun family activity is the corn maze at Renker Farms, 2297 Argonaut Road in Kelseyville, usually open from 9:00 to 6:00 through November. So if you're coming to Clear Lake Campground on Halloween weekend, be sure to bring your costume!

Arts and crafts fairs and Christmas markets start in November. One of the best is the Dickens' Faire held the last Saturday in November. Main Street in Lakeport comes alive with arts and crafts vendors, food booths, music, and activities for kids including photos with Santa. The day ends with caroling and the tree lighting at sunset. There's also a costume contest so come dressed in your vintage Dickens outfit.

Clearlake's Christmas parade is held the first Saturday of December. Starting from Redbud Park at 6PM, it runs along Lakeshore Drive to Austin Park. Santa Claus is sure to make an appearance at this event, too, which is very close to Clear Lake Campground.

For those who would like to attend a special festival or event when you come to Clear Lake Campground, these are five of Lake County's most popular events. Remember that the campground, and other lodging options, may fill up quickly on these weekends, so be sure to reserve your camp site well in advance. Note: check in advance to see if the event will be taking place.

Heron Days:
Sponsored by Redbud Audubon Society, Heron Days usually takes place the last weekend of April in Kelseyville and the first weekend of May in Clearlake, right at Clear Lake Campground. The highlight of Heron Days is the pontoon boat tours into Anderson Marsh for a close-up look at the birds of Clearlake. These boat tours sell out quickly and Clear Lake Campground may fill up too so be sure to make your reservations early.

Enjoy this short video of a pontoon boat tour at the 2017 Heron Days event. This part of Anderson Marsh is also accessible by kayak, available for rent at Clear Lake Campground.

Lake County Wine Adventure:
Later in May, Lake County Wine Adventure is a 2-day event with more than 25 participating wineries. You can buy a passport good for one day or both days and there's a special ticket for designated drivers who can enjoy the food and fun (without the wine). Wineries offer tastings and food and sometimes music, tours or other special activities. It's a great opportunity to visit Lake County wineries.

If you don't want to come for the Wine Adventure weekend, there are still many opportunities for wine tasting. Most Lake County wineries are open on weekends and some are also open during the week, especially in summer.

Fourth of July:
Independence Day is a great time to come to Clear Lake Campground. Fireworks are spread out over several nights at different locations around the lake. Lakeport holds a big street faire at Library Park on July 4 with arts and crafts, music and food and a fireworks display over the lake at dusk. Downtown Clearlake celebrates with a small parade in the morning, followed by the unique International Worm Races at Austin Park and a fireworks display in the evening, usually on the Saturday before July 4. Clearlake Oaks holds a boat parade, also often on the weekend, with fireworks the night of July 3.

The CDFW usually schedules a free fishing day on the weekend before July 4, too, so it's a great time to try fishing if you don't want to buy a license. Clear Lake Campground is on Cache Creek so you can fish right from the campground. Be sure to reserve your spot at Clear Lake Campground in advance as July 4 is a popular time for camping!

Lake County Fair:
The Lake County Fair is held in Lakeport on Thursday through Sunday of Labor Day weekend, the first weekend in September. There's lots going on at the fair from animals, contests, and educational displays to food, music, rides, and entertainment. Saturday night, featuring top musical entertainment, is the most popular time to come to the fair but families will find lots of fun things to do during the day on Saturday and Sunday.

Kelseyville Pear Festival:
The Kelseyville Pear Festival, celebrating Lake County's agricultural heritage, is one of the county's most popular events. Held on the last Saturday of September, Main Street Kelseyville hosts more than 100 food and craft vendors and a wine pavilion featuring Lake County wines. Three stages feature a variety of music and entertainment well into the evening. A pear dessert contest, pear pie eating contest, and horse fair round out the events.

There's something happening in Lake County most weekends from spring through early fall so check the Lake County Events Calendar or the calendar tab on Lake County News for the dates you plan to visit.