Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument

Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument is a large protected landscape in northern California that stretches across seven counties and includes the mountains surrounding Lake Berryessa. The area combines river valleys, rugged terrain, and high ridgelines in a single vast preserve.

The area was designated as a national monument in 2015 by President Barack Obama to permanently protect over 330,000 acres from development. This action used the Antiquities Act to safeguard the region's natural resources and cultural heritage.

Eight Native American peoples, including the Yuki, Nomlaki, and Patwin nations, have deep roots in this landscape spanning thousands of years. Their presence remains woven into the land's ecology and the way the region functions today.

The preserve can be explored through hiking trails across varying terrain, paddling on Cache Creek for those interested in white water, or driving designated routes with four-wheel-drive vehicles. Visitors should plan activities based on season and weather conditions and carry adequate water and supplies.

The preserve is home to rare plants that grow in nutrient-poor soils and have adapted to extreme drought and heat. These specialized plants thrive where toxic minerals in the ground would kill most other species.

Location: Solano County

Operator: United States Forest Service;Bureau of Land Management

GPS coordinates: 39.08760,-122.54727

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:54