Lake Miramar, San Diego CA

Lake Miramar or Miramar Reservoir (top picture) (location) is in the north eastern portion of the city.  It is popular for jogging, walking and biking since it has a 5 mile trail around it with very few (if any) cars.  There is also a dirt path you can mountain bike around the lake on.  You can also kayak, boat (there is a boat launch), or fish, but it is less popular for those activities.  The lake generally gets windy in the afternoons, but is relatively cool (70s or 80s).  You may see typical canyon animals, squirrels, lizards, rattlesnake, rabbits, maybe a coyote.  A portion of the lake is blocked off from entry.  The view from the dam is good (bottom picture).  Entry and parking are free, fishing requires a license.  Gates close at 8, so don't get trapped inside the parking lot.  Definitely a local destination and not something to go out of your way for if you're out of town.

Scott's Flat, CA

Scott's Flat Lake is about 90 minutes from Sacramento, California up highway 49.  The campground is big, expensive, and crowded on weekends.  They do have pay showers and reasonably nice restrooms though.  In July the lake water was perfect and swimming was great, the lake wasn't that crowded, boats and water skiing are allowed, personal watercraft are not.

Loon Lake, CA

Loon Lake Reservoir is in the Eldorado National Forest about two hours east of Sacramento, California.  It has a campground and boat ramp.  Loon Lake is at a higher elevation than Ice House Reservoir (which you drive past to get to Loon Lake), so it opens later in the year and is usually less crowded.  A general store is nearby at Ice House for supplies and showers.  My wife claims the boating at Loon Lake is superior to that at Ice House, but you really can't go wrong either way.

Ice House Reservoir, California

Ice House Reservoir is in the Eldorado National Forest is about 80 minutes east of Sacramento, CA.  It is a bit cold in June, but its the lowest elevation of the Sierra lakes on Hwy 50.  We saw a bald eagle flying around while we were on the lake.  It has a paved boat ramp, a few camp grounds, and a $7 day use fee.  Just a couple miles away is a general store where you can fill up on the things you forgot.

Lake Tahoe Paddle Boats

Miss Dixie II at Zephyr Cove, NV (its close enough to California for this blog) is one of several big boat tours available at Lake Tahoe all year around.

Lake Tahoe, California

We went up to Lake Tahoe again, I can not resist it. You have to weave your way on a very tame snow mobile trail to get here, more later.

Lake Tahoe, CA

This is the view of Lake Tahoe as you come in on Highway 50 from Sacramento. Lake Tahoe is a great place to visit, even in the winter, California storms are generally well predicted in advance, so just make sure that one is not forecast, and go for the weekend. Even in good weather, the road to emerald bay may have chain controls, so you may miss out on that.

Lake Del Valle

Lake Del Valle near Livermore is popular on hot summer days.

Lake Tahoe from the top of Squaw Valley Gondola

Lake Tahoe Beach

Winter Lake Tahoe

Its not always pretty.

Lake Tahoe California.

Point Pinole

I went to Point Pinole in Richmond, California the other day and thought I'd share some pictures. Overall its a nice place, but not worth the $5 parking fee, when so many similar places nearby are FREE. Dogs can run around off-leash on the trails, but there is a $2 dog fee. The parking lot is nice though, they have a shuttle that runs to the 1200 ft long pier and back, that way you don't have to carry 100 lbs of fishing gear out there.


There are ton of non-indigenous eucalyptus trees planted by the explosive companies, some of them are pretty big. To the right of the ruined foundation is one of the more minor paths, which look great for mountain biking, overall its probably a little bit limited spacewise for really tearing it up for more than an hour.


There is a freshwater pond with a couple large fields nearby.


And of course, as with any San Francisco bay area coastal park, you get great views.



Bay Area Hiker has a hike guide and more photos.

Lake Del Valle, California

Photo Theme Thursday: Water

The delta

I can't resist, one more aerial shot, this time of the delta area, east of San Francisco. You can see a bunch of wind turbines on the hills. The town might be Pittsburg California, but I'm not sure. More delta pics from PJ's Universe.

East bay hills.

Unfortunately, the green in the East Bay hills near Tilden Park only lasts a few months. More at Elongation to Break and The Greatest Blog in the Entire World!

Lens day Entry: Green

Inspiration point.

Inspiration point is a point in the east bay where people go to be inspired, it overlooks San Pablo reservoir.

A beach at Lake Tahoe.

This beach is on the North shore of Lake Tahoe, near the Nevada state line. There is still plenty of snow on the mountains even though it is June, the beach was plenty warm however. Tahoe is well worth a visit, especially in the summer.

Lake Tahoe California.

Clearlake California.

Clearlake is what I would call the budget shopper's lake Tahoe. Its a bit closer, warmer, and a whole lot cheaper in general. Unfortunately its not nearly as much fun and is more of a destination for locals too lazy to drive the extra couple hours to Tahoe, unlike Tahoe you can make a day trip out of a visit to Clearlake. June Cho likes it.