DWR’s Lake Oroville Offers Vacation Season Recreation

Lake Oroville is one of the largest lakes in California, offering vacationers a full agenda of water sports and other recreational fun, even in a relatively “dry” year.

Boating, biking, camping, horseback riding, fishing, hiking, and swimming are all on tap at and around the second largest reservoir in California, located near the historic community of Oroville in the upper Sacramento Valley. Easy to reach via US 99 or State Highway 70, Lake Oroville is located in scenic Butte County, 70 miles north of Sacramento.

“Lake Oroville is a big lake, even when it isn’t full,” says John Ford, Oroville area Guide for the Department of Water Resources (DWR). While Lake Oroville has hit its peak level for this spring, the lake’s huge surface and multiple campgrounds make it a comfortably large and vacationer-friendly lake, less crowded than lakes in more urban settings.

Attractions include championship fishing, sun-dappled lake boating with two marinas, and an extensive 75-mile trail system. This system includes 25 miles of equestrian trails, as well as over 50 miles of bicycle trails. (Hikers are allowed on all of the trails).

This trail system offers a variety of terrain, from many miles of rolling hills and secluded woods, to steep downhill mountain bike courses, to creek crossings, secluded ponds, and remote lakeside access. Most of the campgrounds are connected to this trail system, including an equestrian campground specifically designed for camping with horses. There are large pull-outs for horse trailers, a corral, horse showers and feeder stalls.

A variety of campground choices is available. Included are three vehicle-accessible campgrounds — Loafer Creek, Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle — and Oroville’s signature camping experience — floating campsites. Reservations can be made through Reserve America by calling 800-444-7275. For information about Lake Oroville, call the Lake Oroville Visitor Center at (530) 538-2219.

Fishing is a prime lure at Lake Oroville, venue for numerous fishing tournaments, and a favorite of Northern California bass anglers, from professionals to novices. A new Lake Oroville record for bass was set Easter Sunday this year when Mark Rigsby of Yuba City caught a 15.48-pound Florida-strain largemouth bass. That hefty fish surpassed the previous bass record of 14 pounds, 15 ounces.

Abundant fish stocking in 2006 should lead to high catch rates of coho salmon this year at Lake Oroville, the only lake in California where coho salmon are caught. These hard-fighting fish are known for their acrobatic jumping abilities, and are among the tastiest coldwater fish found anywhere.

Houseboats, fishing craft and water skiing boats may be rented at the lake’s two marinas: Bidwell Canyon Marina (800-637-1767) and Lake Oroville Marina (800-225-5561). Information on Lake Oroville area recreation, including fishing tournaments, is available online from the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce at its Web site at www.lakeoroville.net

The Lake Oroville Visitors Center, overlooking Oroville Dam and the lake, provides visual displays, videos, maps and publications describing the lake and regional attractions. Videos show filmed history of the dam’s construction during the 1960s as part of California’s State Water Project (SWP).

A 47-foot viewing tower offers visitors a commanding view of the lake, second only to Lake Shasta in size among California reservoirs.

Operated jointly by DWR, which administers the lake and dam as State Water Project facilities, and State Parks, the Visitors Center is open free of charge to visitors daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. The center phone number is (530) 538-2219. For information on Oroville Dam and project facility tours, call John Ford, DWR Tour Guide in Oroville, at (530) 534-2306.

The key State Water Project storage lake in Northern California, Lake Oroville has a total storage capacity slightly exceeding 3.5 million acre-feet. The State Water Project provides at least some of the water used by more than 24 million Californians and irrigation water for about 750,000 farmland acres. Lake Oroville is operated also for flood protection and provides flows benefiting fish and the environment, including the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The Department of Water Resources operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs.

Contact the DWR Public Affairs Office for more information about DWR’s water activities.