Sierra Nevada
Lake Tahoe ↗
A big blue-water escape with mountain towns, shoreline trails, and a whole weekend of possibilities.
TRY THIS Rubicon shoreline hike ↗California lake living & golf communities
Explore the places where a lake weekend could become an everyday lifestyle.
Find the trip that fits you.
Compare community character and year-round access before exploring properties. Public recreation lakes and private residential lakes have different access rules. Nearby golf does not necessarily mean membership or lake privileges are included.
An introductory selection from our 150 profiles, grouped by activity rather than ranked. Confirm current access with the official sources on each lake page.
8 places to start exploring
Open directory filters ↗North Coast & Inland
Clear Lake ↗
Lake County towns and state-park access offer a relaxed base for a lakeside getaway.
TRY THIS Wetland Discovery Trail ↗Shasta Cascade
Lake Almanor ↗
Mountain communities and forested shorelines make a starting point for a longer lake-country stay.
TRY THIS Lake Almanor Recreation Trail ↗Southern California
Big Bear Lake ↗
A mountain community where lake outings can be paired with trails and a town-based stay.
TRY THIS Alpine Pedal Path ↗Sierra Nevada
Donner Lake ↗
Walk a gently graded lakeside interpretive route, then settle into the forested shoreline near Truckee.
TRY THIS Lakeside Interpretive Trail ↗Sierra Nevada
Bass Lake ↗
Take the interpretive route for a land-based introduction to the lake setting and a viewpoint above the water.
TRY THIS Way-of-the-Mono Interpretive Trail ↗Central Coast
Lake Nacimiento ↗
Use the developed marina-side recreation area as a base for a lake visit, with the Pine Knoll camping area close to the water and services.
TRY THIS Pine Knoll lakeside base ↗Southern California
Lake Arrowhead ↗
See the lake from the Queen tour boat, a visitor option that does not require owning a lake-rights property.
TRY THIS Lake Arrowhead Queen tour ↗