From bike riding to bird watching, boating and bass fishing, to wine tasting and hot springs, come explore Lake County outdoors.

Hike Around Upper Lake

If you just want to check out the countryside around town, ask the front desk for a map of a nice 45-minute hike up on the Middle Creek levies with an additional 45-minute extension through a residential area to the cemetery, high school and back to the Hotel.

Day Trip to Snow Mountain

The Hotel also has a map that can show you how to get to the trailhead leading to Snow Mountain, Lake County’s highest peak.  This trip is best taken in the summer or fall when the creeks are low.  The reward is a wonderful and not-to-strenuous circular route around the mountain.  A great day trip in good weather.

Hikes on Mt. Konocti

At 4,200 feet, Mt. Konocti towers over Clear Lake, and access to its two main peaks is now available through recent acquisition and creation of Mt. Konocti County Park.  Hiking is mostly on gently sloping service roads from the parking area to the top.  Check out the web site for hiking information and directions.

State Parks

There are two first-rate state parks in the County.  Clearlake State Park is located off Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville and offers oak-shaded camp sites, an interpretive center, a marina, a swimming beach, great birding and trails through the oak woodlands.

Anderson Marsh State Park features the extensive wetlands around the Lake exit into Cache Creek near the town of Clearlake.  Well-maintained trails lead to excellent birding opportunities.  The park headquarters in the old Anderson ranch house is well worth the visit.

Lake County Land Trust

The local Lake County Land Trust is working to preserve large areas around the lake shore in their natural state.  A good place to check out what they’re doing is at the nearby Rodman Slough Preserve Nature Center, located just 10 minutes away at the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff exit from Rt. 29 to Lakeport.  Weather permitting, they offer guided tours most Saturday mornings.

Kayaking Rodman Slough

If you’ve brought your kayaks along, you can’t do better than launching at the Rodman Slough County Park on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff where Middle Creek enters the Lake.  Kayaking is a great way to see the wide variety of wildlife in the slough, including egrets, herons, muskrats, otters, geese and even Bald Eagles.  See the Kayaking page on this tab for details and further suggestions.

Swimming and Boating at Blue Lakes

The cool and clear Blue Lakes Region is located just 15 minutes northwest of Upper Lake on Hwy 20.  The Lodge at Blue Lakes offers nice electric boat rentals and both Pine Acres and La Trianon Resorts offer day passes for swimming.

For more information about Lake County and the Upper Lake area, please visit the official Lake County, CA Official Website.  Therein you can find driving directions, pet-friendly accommodations, events in other parts of the county, and more!

Here are links to other great outdoor ideas: