State Parks and National Parks

The bass fishing here is so good that professional bass fishing organizations have designated Clear Lake as the best bass lake in the nation.

Anglers also catch catfish, Sacramento perch, crappie and bluegill.

Located on the shores of California’s largest freshwater lake, Clear Lake State Park is popular for many types of water recreation, including swimming, fishing, boating and waterskiing.

Bird-watchers can view wood ducks, mallards, coots, gulls, valley quail, woodpeckers, western grebes, blue herons, mourning doves, white pelicans, scrub jays, goldfinches, horned owls (at twilight), wrens, bushtits, black birds, red-shafted flickers, osprey, Cooper's hawks, turkeys and turkey vultures.

Hikers enjoy the Indian Nature Trail, a self-guided trail that details how the Pomo tribal people utilized the area’s resources for centuries. The trail passes through the site of what was once a Pomo village. The park visitor center features displays about the area’s cultural and natural history.

During spring, wildflowers bloom in abundance. Unique wildflowers include the shooting star, the western redbud, the baby blue eye, the purple wild iris and the California buckeye, which has white flower spikes five to seven inches long.

Manzanita, mountain mahogany, chamise and Toyon berries appear in the fall and winter.

Campers use 145 non-electric campsites and six wheelcair-accessible sites, one of which has an electric hookup for life support equipment. There is also an accessible path to the swimming beach and picnic area.

The park is part of the state's hike-and-bike system and offers campsites for hikers and cyclists.

Photo credits in order: Courtesy of Clalifornia