Clear Lake State Park

Clear Lake State Park protects the area surrounding California's largest natural freshwater lake, featuring wetlands, oak forests, and extensive shoreline. The park offers campgrounds, boat access points, and hiking trails distributed across its grounds.

The park was established in 1949 to preserve the natural character of the lake and surrounding landscape. The lake itself ranks among North America's oldest and has been protected as a natural landmark.

Native American peoples lived along these shores for thousands of years, using the waters for fishing and gathering. Their connection to this land remains woven into how visitors and locals experience the lake today.

The park has several campground areas and multiple boat launch sites spread around the lake for different access points. Visitors should prepare for seasonal changes as water and land activities offer different conditions throughout the year.

The lake is home to the Clear Lake hitch, a native fish species that migrates upstream each spring in a remarkable natural cycle. This annual movement creates a rare spectacle found nowhere else in North America.

Location: California

Inception: 1949

Website: http://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=473

GPS coordinates: 39.01000,-122.80900

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:49