California’s Central Valley Recreational Lakes & Reservoirs
(listed from north to south)
North State / North Valley / North Sacramento Valley
Black Butte Reservoir
Stony Gorge Reservoir
East Park Reservoir
Lake Berryessa
Lake Oroville SRA
Thermalito Afterbay
Thermalito Forebay
New Bullards Bar
Collins Lake
Oak foothills of the Historic Gold Country, at the edge of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
- boating
- canoe
- camping
- fishing
- hiking
- houseboats
- kayaking
- wildflowers
Most Central Valley Reservoirs have blooming wildflowers in early springtime. Summer heat can measure triple digits for months as most of these lakes are located below 1000′ elevation.
Central Sacramento & California Delta
- Brannan Island SP
- California Delta – Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta
- Folsom Lake SRA

Central Valley / San Joaquin Valley
Lake Amador
Lake Camanche
Pardee Reservoir
New Hogan Lake
New Melones Lake
Woodward Reservoir
Salt Spring Valley Reservoir
Lake Tulloch
Don Pedro Lake
Turlock Lake SRA
Modesto Reservoir
Lake McClure
San Luis Reservoir SRA
Eastman Lake
Hensley Lake
Woodward Reservoir
Millerton Lake SRA
Redinger Lake
Pine Flat Reservoir
Lake Kaweah
Lake Success
Buena Vista Reservoir
