12 Dreamy CA Lakes To Fish, Swim, Boat, And Float In This Summer

CALIFORNIA — The Golden State is the ultimate playground for residents who love sun, sand, and surf, but according to those in the know, its oft-overlooked inland offers some of the best water activities in California.

We've dipped a toe into the lakes where Californians love to fish and frolic across the Golden State so that you can dive into this list of favorite lakes to swim, fish, water, jet ski, hike, and bike around this summer.

According to Visit California, lakes are part of what makes the state the 'Ultimate Playground.'

"Few things are as relaxing as time spent on the water, whether you’re sending up rooster tails on a wakeboard or water skis, savoring the quiet of an early-morning paddle, reeling in a rainbow trout, or jumping into a chilly alpine lake."

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Southern California has alpine lakes in the mountains surrounded by pines and reservoirs in unexpected places, according to Visit California.

Big Bear Lake: Plan a weekend to enjoy all this Southern California mountain lake has to offer. It has a half-dozen marinas and a pine-rimmed shoreline lined with shady hiking and biking trails. Rent a kayak and paddle around Big Bear Lake's tranquil coves, cruise on the Miss Liberty Paddlewheel Tour Boat, rent a pontoon boat or take a tour on the Big Bear Pirate Ship. Hike up Castle Rock Trail for close encounters with massive granite boulders and peek-a-boo lake views, then cool off with a swim at China Island.

Lake Cuyamaca: Just outside San Diego, find Lake Cuyamaca for a mountain setting of pine trees, green mountains, and picturesque towns. The lake offers many adventure opportunities such as bird watching, hiking, and fishing. A variety of fish stock the lake, including trout, which is available all year. You can spend the night camping or at a lake-view cabin. A visit to this lake can't be completed without a stop in Julian for fresh-baked apple pie.

Lake Elsinore: This area is ideal for outdoor adventure enthusiasts, offering skydiving, hang-gliding, wingsuit-gliding from above or boating, jet skiing, and windsurfing on the lake's surface. At 3,000 acres, Lake Elsinore is Southern California's largest freshwater lake. Its massive size endears it to water skiers, wakeboarders, and personal watercraft riders. The lake's main body has an "unlimited" speed zone, with boat rentals at Lake Elsinore Marina or Launch Pointe.

Lake Hemet: Fishing and camping lovers, the mountain lake of Lake Hemet offers glamping and lakefront cabins, boat rentals, and a swim zone near the mountains of Idyllwild. It is seasonally stocked with rainbow and lightning trout and fish year-round for bluegill, crappie, bass, and catfish.

Lake Murray: The lake is within Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego, an 8,000-acre outdoor recreational area. Throughout the day, locals come here to jog, walk, rollerblade, or bicycle along the designated paths. Fishing is at its best from December through September when black crappie, bass, bluegill, and catfish abound. If you are not into fishing, you can still enjoy time in the water, Visit California advises. Rent a motorboat, rowboat, carp, kayak, or pedal boat. Afterward, relax by the lake and enjoy the various picnic and barbecue areas.

Pyramid Lake: The Los Angeles County, 700-foot-deep reservoir at the Vista del Lago Visitor Center. Step out on the viewing deck and check out the exhibits on the California Aqueduct, the state's world-famous water delivery system, according to Visit California. Below the visitor center is Vaquero Beach, a vast sandy stretch for swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding (rentals are available). For more adventure, rent a pontoon boat at Emigrant Landing. Cruise over to one of the lake's small islands, tie up at the courtesy dock, and set up a picnic on the beach.

NORTHERN/CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

Bass Lake: An easy jaunt from Yosemite National Park and close to Fresno, Bass Lake's 3,500-foot elevation allows the water to warm to 80 degrees in summer, making it ideal for waterskiing, wakeboarding, and swimming. There's fishing, too—bass and kokanee salmon in summer and rainbow trout in spring and fall—and rustic cabins for rent at Miller's Landing or The Forks Resort. Rent a fishing boat, Jet Ski, or wake-surf boat at Bass Lake Rentals, according to Visit California.

Cachuma Lake: Despite no swimming in this sprawling reservoir near Santa Barbara, Cachuma is a great spot to fish for largemouth bass or trout. (Rent kayaks or patio boats at the marina.) Many visitors come to Cachuma simply for a camping or glamping getaway in a lakeshore yurt or cabin. Suggestions from Visit California include packing binoculars and visiting the Neal Taylor Nature Center to sign up for the weekly "wildlife cruise" around the lake.

Clear Lake: California's largest natural freshwater lake spans 68 square miles and is surrounded by oak woodlands and Lake County's bounty of vineyards and tasting rooms, according to Visit California. Spend the morning fishing for largemouth bass —Clear Lake has a well-earned reputation as the "Bass Capital of the West"—or send up big spray waterskiing across the 43,000-acre lake.

Lake Berryessa: Less than an hour from Napa Valley's wineries, you can swim in solar-heated water at Lake Berryessa. Hugged by the oak-dotted Vaca Mountains, the 23-mile-long lake has quiet coves for kayakers, stand-up paddleboarders, swimmers, and sunbathers, and the water warms up to a pleasant 75 degrees in summer. For high-velocity boating, head to the main body of the lake to rev your engine and churn up a big wake. Plus, fishing here is off the hook.

Lake Tahoe: Lake Tahoe is a bucket list item for many and a go-to destination for Californians. The 22-mile-long lake can fill a record book with its statistics—it's the world's 10th deepest lake and the second deepest in the U.S., and it boasts 72 miles of shoreline. Each of Tahoe's lakeside towns—including South Lake Tahoe, Kings Beach, and Tahoe City—has marinas that rent motor boats and personal watercraft and outfitters offering paddleboard and kayak rentals and tours.

Shasta Lake: Shasta Lake is California's largest reservoir. It has 30,000 surface acres of water, 370 miles of shoreline, over a dozen campgrounds, eight full-service marinas, and six public boat ramps. You can go wakeboarding or waterskiing, fish for 20 different species, or spend a week on a luxurious houseboat. Exploring Shasta's multiple arms, inlets, and coves would take all summer.

As visitors flock to shorelines, lakes, and the beach, which lake will you choose?