What Are Some Hiking Ideas for Lake County? Hiking or walking is a favorite activity of campers at Clear Lake Campground. Lake County has hiking trails to satisfy everyone, ranging from easy to strenuous. We recommend that you always carry water, use sunscreen, and wear a hat. During summer, it's best to hike in the morning. Be sure to check regulations too as each place has their own set of rules for hikers to follow. Here are 5 Great Places to Hike in Lake County: Anderson Marsh State Historic Park Right across the creek from Clear Lake Campground, the entrance to Anderson Marsh is just a 2 minute drive. At the park you'll find a parking area (fee), a large picnic area, the historic ranch house (closed except for special events) and a network of hiking trails shown on the map posted at the parking area. An easy nature trail (shown in the photo below) leads to the creek where there's a bridge and a platform for bird watching or just enjoying the scenery. McVicar, the longest trail, is a 3.5 mile walk along the western boundary of the marsh leading to Clear Lake. The park includes several habitats including oak woodlands, freshwater marsh, riparian, and grasslands. In addition to birds, you may see deer or even rattlesnakes, so take care especially when it's sunny and hot. Dogs, horses, and bicycles are not permitted. Address: 8400 Hwy 53, Lower Lake See Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association for more information Clear Lake State Park Clear Lake State Park, on the lake shore, has several hiking trails ranging from an easy 1/2 mile self-guided nature trail to moderately strenuous trails in the hills. In the park are picnic areas, boat launch, fishing areas, and a beach from where you can swim. You may see a variety of birds and water fowl as well as turtles, squirrels, muskrats, and minks. There's a fee for day use. Dogs are allowed on a leash but not on the beach. Address: 5300 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville, 20 miles from Camp Web site: Clear Lake State Park Six Sigma Ranch and Winery Six Sigma has 7 free hiking and biking trails ranging from an easy 2 mile hike to a very hard 3.1 mile trail with steep hills. Visitors should sign in at the tasting room and sign a liability form before starting. Also available are picnic tables and the winery shop where you can buy wine and picnic items such as local cheeses and crackers. Address: 13372 Spruce Grove Road, Lower Lake, about a 20 minute drive from Camp More information on the Six Sigma web site Highlands Springs Recreation Area: Highlands Springs, at an elevation of 1483 feet, is about half an hour from camp. Visitors can use hiking and biking trails and there are picnic areas with BBQs, a large grassy area, horseshoe pits, a beach area with swimming, fishing spots, and water access for non-motorized boats. It's a great choice for families and favorite place for kayaking and swimming in summer. Most of the hiking trails are fairly hilly and rugged, providing good views. Bring water as there's no potable water available. Address: 3600 E. Highland Springs Rd., Lakeport, off Hwy 29 (left turn coming from Camp) More information: Highland Springs Mt Konocti County Park For a strenuous hike, head to Mt Konocti County Park in Kelseyville. From the upper parking lot, the steep Wright Peak Summit Trail heads to the top of the dormant volcano for fantastic views. It's a little over 6 miles round trip with a 1600 foot elevation gain. The park is open for hiking only and smoking is not permitted due to fire danger. Address: 5413-5553 Konocti Rd, Kelseyville, about 20 miles from Camp Wright Peak Summit Trail Map and Description Directions and information: Mt Konocti County Park Bird Watching Lake County is a bird watchers paradise. You are likely to see birds at any of these hiking spots. These are the most common birds to look for around Clear Lake. Anderson Marsh photo credit: Anderson Marsh Interpretive Society, used by permission Explore More Activities at Clear Lake Campground: 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.
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Calling all northern Californian campers: It's always a good time to dream about your ideal vacation in your RV or camper even if you're not ready to travel yet. Are you dreaming of a great place to fish right at camp? Do you want to kayak or launch your boat? How about bird-watching or access to nearby hiking trails. Or maybe you just want a convenient, relaxing place to escape for the weekend with your family. Clear Lake Campground, on the shore of Cache Creek in Lake County, is the perfect place for any of these activities. We're a small, friendly vintage RV park with full hook-ups that's easy to access from the Bay Area, Sacramento, and many places in northern California. Anderson Marsh State Park is across the creek from us, so from the waterfront camp sites you'll have a great view of nature. From our shore you can fish for catfish, crappie, and blue gill and if you have a boat, you can easily get to Clear Lake, known as the best lake for bass fishing west of the Mississippi. Anderson Marsh has hiking trails and is a good place for bird watching. The entrance is just a few minutes drive from camp. Planning your vacation can be a fun activity itself and research shows that it can be good for your mental health. So browse our web site and blog posts to fuel your camping dream and plan to visit us when we reopen:
This summer plan a vacation close to home and discover new places and things to do in northern California. Bring your RV or camper to Clear Lake Campground and explore the natural beauty of Lake County. Sign up for Clear Lake Campground's newsletter
to get more ideas for your camping vacation. We look forward to seeing you soon! Clear Lake Campground is happy to be the venue for the Old-Time Fiddle Campout sponsored by California State Old Time Fiddlers Association, District 10. Fiddlers and students of all levels and ages are invited to the campground for a weekend of fun and music July 20 through 22. If you'd like to participate, contact Don Coffin (drcoffin@att.net) or Janette Duncan (janettefiddler@gmail.com) immediately to secure your place! The event fee is $45 per person or $60 family rate for 2 people, children under 12 are free.
Note: This event has been cancelled for 2020 Events start with Friday afternoon check-in followed by an evening potluck and open mic. Saturday starts with a continental breakfast and continues with a variety of workshops, kid's activities and jam sessions. Saturday evening features a Contra Dance and potluck. Participants can use all the facilities at the campground, too, including the swimming pool, playground, boat dock, and spots to fish right along the shore of Cache Creek. Kayaks and canoes are available for rent and there's a small store with basic supplies and fishing bait. There's plenty to do and the location is great, on Cache Creek across from Anderson Marsh State Park. Participants who wish to camp in either a tent or RV space for the weekend ($50 fee) should reserve directly with Don or Janette. The entire campground has been reserved for the fiddle weekend so we won't be taking any camping reservations directly at the campground.
Monthly Fiddle Music If you can't come for the weekend but like fiddle music, the group also holds a Fiddlers' Jam the first Sunday of the month from noon to 2:00 at Ely Stage Stop Museum, 9921 Soda Bay Rd in Kelseyville, just 15 minutes from the campground. Everyone is welcome, whether you want to join in or just listen, and there's no fee. It's a fun way to end your weekend of camping at Clear Lake Campground. Blue Grass Festival at Ely Stage Stop Mark your calendar for an exciting blue grass music festival, also at Ely Stage Stop, on September 8, 12:00 to 5:00, featuring Blue and Lonesome as the headliner. This would be a great weekend for a camping getaway as the music festival is just a short drive from Clear Lake Campground. 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.
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 2022 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. In mid-August, the Lakeside Hot Car and Boat Show is usually held in Lakeport with music, vendors, food, cars, and high-performance boats making passes by Library Park. 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 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. More about when to visit Clear Lake Campground: 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 2023 Clear Lake is well-known to bass fisherman as the best lake for bass fishing west of the Mississippi and it's often named as one of the top bass fishing lakes in the US. The lake is a great habitat for bass because of its warm, shallow water. Since Clear Lake doesn't freeze over, it's possible to fish any time of year, too. Bass fishing is best done from a boat although it's possible to catch them from shore, both in the lake and along Cache Creek. The annual Clear Lake Team Bass Tournament, held in late March (2023 date is March 25-26), draws bass fishermen from all over California and beyond. Clear Lake's record largemouth bass weighed in at 17.52 pounds. While bass may be the most popular fish to catch, Clear Lake and Cache Creek are excellent spots for catching catfish, bluegill, crappie, and carp. These fish can easily be caught from shore, making fishing one of the most popular and enjoyable activities at Clear Lake Campground, right on Cache Creek. Catfish are the fish most commonly caught at the campground but campers also catch smaller fish, carp, and sometimes bass from our bank. Even kids have a great time fishing off the bank and hauling in their catch! There's a fish cleaning station right by the pier too so it's easy to clean your fish if you don't want to throw them back. You don't need any special lures for these fish either, night crawlers or small minnows are good for bluegill, crappie, and catfish. Catfish will bite on other things too including crawdads, chicken liver, mackerel, and even hot dogs. It's not uncommon for catfish to weigh close to 20 pounds. Catfish Derby winners range from 22.24 to 24.87 pounds. Just remember that catfish have prickly spines so it's best to wear gloves when you handle them. The annual Catfish Derby, held in May, is billed as the "largest catfish tournament west of the Mississippi". We have our own Camper Catfish Derby right here at Camp in May, too (2023 date is May 19-20). Clear Lake Campground is the perfect place to spend lazy days fishing, watching ducks swim by or birds flying overhead, and enjoying the peaceful view of Anderson Marsh right across the creek. Our store stocks live night crawlers and frozen bait including mackerel, sardines, chicken liver, anchovies, and clams. We also sell hooks and weights but for bigger items and more selection, Clearlake Bait and Tackle is just 2.5 miles away at 14699 Lakeshore. So just book your campsite and bring your pole - we'll be waiting for you! Remember that you do need a fishing license to fish, even for a day. You can get one online from California Department of Fish and Wildlife or buy one in town at Clearlake Bait and Tackle. If you'd like to spend a day with a fishing guide, you'll find several listed on Clear Lake Fishing. More Activities to Enjoy at Clear Lake Campground: 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.
Where to Go
From the launching ramp at Clear Lake Campground turn right and continue on Cache creek with your back to the highway. Our itinerary takes you into a marsh, past a blue heron rookery, and out into the lake where a stand of tules hosts a clamorous array of red-winged, tri-colored and yellow-headed blackbirds. Amongst the cottonwoods, valley oaks, California buckeye, California bay, and native California black walnut that line the creek you'll see plenty of birds, and in late April and into May you'll likely encounter large carp mating noisily in the shadows and you might come upon turtles sunning themselves on low branches and rocks. Let's take a look at the Map:
If you're wondering what the distances for the itinerary might be, it's approximately 1.9 miles to Indian Island.
Freshwater Marsh Birds
"The marsh’s waters are home to mallards, double-crested cormorants, and various
Riparian Woodland Birds You Might See
Great Blue Herons, Red-shouldered hawks, great horned owls, Anna’s hummingbirds, American crows, wood ducks, phainopepla, golden eagles, and northern orioles thrive in Riparian Woodland.
Enjoy your kayak trip. Don't let go of that camera. Find more places for bird watching around the lake. 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. More about when to visit Clear Lake Campground: AuthorMartha Bakerjian is a travel writer who divides her time between Clearlake and northern Tuscany. She writes about Italy on her site, Martha's Italy. Winter can be a nice time to visit Lake County if you don't mind cold weather. Come to Clear Lake Campground in your small RV or 5th wheel and enjoy the peace and solitude. 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. At Clear Lake Campground we have great fishing spots right on Cache Creek where catfish, bass, and crappie can be caught. Water birds often put on a show along the creek, too, so you can sit by the creek and enjoy watching Blue Heron, Egrets, Western Grebes, and other water fowl. Migrating pelicans come to Clear Lake each winter and sometimes show up right by the campground, a beautiful sight. You might also spot a deer across the creek or an otter swimming along. For more 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. A special wine and chocolate tasting event is usually held at wineries in February. Boatique Winery, about 15 minutes from the campground, has an unusual collection of rare wooden boats along with good wines. Rosa d'Oro and Wildhurst have tasting rooms right in downtown Kelseyville and there's a brew pub, Kelsey Creek Brewing, for those who prefer beer. 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. In Clearlake, the Spot sometimes has live music on weekends. Other places to look for live music include Kelsey Creek Brewing, Richmond Park Bar and Grill, O'Meara Brothers Brewing Company in Lakeport, and the Blue Wing Saloon in Upper Lake. 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. More about when to visit Clear Lake Campground:
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. |
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AuthorMartha Bakerjian is a part-time employee at Clear Lake Campground and writes a web site about Italy: |