Bethany Reservoir, Reservoir in Alameda County, California, US

Bethany Reservoir is a water reservoir in northern California, set among rolling hills and open grasslands east of the San Francisco Bay Area. The shoreline is mostly flat and open, with areas designated for fishing and launching non-motorized boats.

The reservoir was created as part of the California State Water Project, a large system built to move water from the northern part of the state to drier southern regions. Over time, the area around it was opened to the public for outdoor recreation.

The reservoir lies within Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area, which surrounds it and is known for fishing and windsurfing. A bike trail runs along the California Aqueduct Bikeway. The reservoir takes its name from Bethany, a former town and ferry in San Joaquin County, itself probably named for the ancient town of Bethany.

The site is reachable by car and has parking and basic facilities such as restrooms near the water. Summers here can be very hot, so bringing sun protection and enough water to drink is a good idea whenever you plan to stay for a few hours.

Bethany Reservoir is the planned terminus of the Delta Conveyance Project, a proposed tunnel system to move water under the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. A 1986 survey found the surrounding land to be the northernmost remaining range of the endangered San Joaquin kit fox, though a 2003 follow-up survey using dogs and aerial surveillance found none left in Alameda or Contra Costa counties.