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 2023
Fall is a great time to visit Clear Lake, after the summer heat and crowds have gone. Days are often beautiful and sunny although it starts getting chilly at night. Clear Lake Campground makes a great base for RV campers to enjoy activities around the lake during fall or just have a relaxing getaway. We also have 3 glamping tents available through early fall and tent campers are welcome through early fall, too.

What is there to do in fall near Clear Lake Campground?
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• ​Go fishing. Fishing is often great in fall. You can usually fish right from Camp but there are several places to fish around the lake. 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.
• 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 fall, 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.
• Watch Birds. Clear Lake is a birder's paradise and birds are usually plentiful in fall. Birds you may see include Coots, Mallards, Grebes, Great Blue Heron, Cormorants, Red-Shouldered Hawks, Anna's Hummingbirds, and blackbirds. 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! Explore Anderson Marsh and Cache Creek with this boating itinerary starting from Camp.
  
• 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, especially later in fall. Several wineries have picnic tables and a small store that sells picnic items. Here are our recommendations for 8 Wineries to Visit that are less than half an hour from Camp.
• Visit Historic Sites. Lake County has several historic places to visit including Anderson Marsh State Historic Park near Camp and 4 history museums. Lake County has several historic cemeteries that are peaceful places for a stroll. 
• Go Shopping. Head to the charming Main Street in downtown Kelseyville, about 25 minutes from Camp, for a variety of small-town shops and eating or drinking options. Or visit Middletown, about 20 minutes south of Camp for shops, food, and a museum. For antiques, head to the northern shore of Clear Lake, to Upper Lake and Nice, where you'll also find Clark's Collectibles with an entertaining Lunch Box Museum.
• Go to a festival: The last Sunday in September is the big Kelseyville Pear Festival. Pears are one of the county's top 3 agricultural products. 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.
• Relax with Family and Friends. One of the best things to do at Clear Lake Campground in fall is to enjoy a stress-free vacation in your RV. Invite your friends or family to join you with their RVs and we can usually accommodate you in spaces next to each other, an easy way to have a get together. Our pool is open through early fall and we have a small children's playground and outdoor seating area. Have a barbecue at your site, sit around a campfire, or just enjoy nature. We hope to see you soon!

Fall is a good time to turn your visit into a road trip. No matter which direction you're coming from, we have suggestions for things to see on your way to Clear Lake Campground. 

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.

Note: Starting in 2024, Clear Lake Campground is no longer open in winter. Please plan to visit us between April 1 and October 31.

Winter can be a nice time to visit Lake County if you don't mind cold weather. While you may get some rain and very cold nights, you're likely to have some beautiful crisp days and clear, starry nights. Winter is prime season for star-gazing and bird-watching. Fishing is often very good during winter too.

Although it's too cold for swimming in winter, there are many nice days when you can go out in a boat or sit by the creek and fish. Fewer people on the creek and the lake make it easy to find a peaceful fishing spot along the shore or enjoy boating without crowds. Big tournaments don't usually start until March, the first being the Clear Lake Team Bass Tournament. You can also rent a kayak and enjoy a peaceful paddle.

For birding opportunities or for short hikes, head to Anderson Marsh State Park. It's just across the creek from the campground and a short drive to the entrance. Part of the park is an Audubon bird sanctuary. The winter bird count usually shows over 300 bird species. If you're here on New Year's Day, the First Day Hike is a great way to start the new year. There are also smaller group guided walks the second Saturday morning of the month starting in February.

While some wineries close during the winter season or have shorter hours, there are still good places to taste wine, especially on weekends.

Soper Reese Theater in Lakeport has concerts and special performances throughout the year, including 3rd Friday Live each month and a special New Year's Eve party.

Lake County has several popular casinos too and they usually broadcast the football games on the big screen if you want to keep up with sports. Check the casinos for other special events, including New Year's Eve celebrations.

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.

Spring is a beautiful time to come to Clear Lake. The hills are green, water in the lake is high, and fishing is usually good.

Then there's the kayaking. Oh, the kayaking!

This isn't the place that sinewy, unshaven, and fearless men shoot through rapids and torpedo down waterfalls. Kayaking Clear Lake--especially along Cache Creek, can be a family affair. In spring the water is at its highest, and the flow out the dam is just enough to give you some exercise as you paddle towards the lake. On the return you can drift lazily if you wish, gazing at the great blue herons, blindingly white egrets, and, if you are lucky, Clear Lake's famed white pelicans that can fill the sky, long vees of them turning from white to silver and back again as they bank into the wind.

Smaller birds are more easily heard than seen; they fill the air with songs city dwellers probably haven't heard before.

But here's the thing about springtime along Cache Creek. When the water is high (and as I write it's very high) you can duck into places with your kayak that you can't get into at other times of the year. Anderson Marsh is flooded, leaving reedy expanses for you to explore and get lost within. You need to have a good sense of direction to avoid getting helplessly lost, but have no fear, you are hemmed in by mountain slopes planted with vineyards, blossoming walnut trees and orchards of Bartlett pears.

If you are a visual person, you might enjoy a little video we've made with an old cell phone. It starts along the main creek, then heads toward the marsh and out again as we drift past the colorful trees just awakening from their winter slumber.

Remember, you can rent kayaks, canoes, or small motor boats right at Clear Lake Campground...
​book a boat rental now.