Lake Nacimiento, California, USA

Also known as:  Dragon Lake

Located in central California in northern San Luis Obispo County, Lake Nacimiento is truly a sight to see. This 18.6 mile long beauty received the nickname “Dragon Lake” because of its many arms which include Snake Creek, Dip Creek, Las Tablas Creek, and Franklin Creek. With 5,727 water acres, 163 miles of scenic shoreline, and grassy slopes scattered with pine and oak forests, Lake Nacimiento is abundant…
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    • All About Lake Nacimiento, CA

    Lake Locations: USA - US West Region - California - Central Coast Region, CA -

    Located in central California in northern San Luis Obispo County, Lake Nacimiento is truly a sight to see. This 18.6 mile long beauty received the nickname “Dragon Lake” because of its many arms which include Snake Creek, Dip Creek, Las Tablas Creek, and Franklin Creek. With 5,727 water acres, 163 miles of scenic shoreline, and grassy slopes scattered with pine and oak forests, Lake Nacimiento is abundant in wildlife, river canyons, mountains, and spring waterfalls. Private residential communities dot the shoreline.

    Started in the 1950’s and completed in 1961 by the Monterey County Water Resources Authority (MCWRA), Nacimiento Dam, a 210-foot earth fill dam, forms Lake Nacimiento by impounding the Nacimiento River. The lake provides irrigation water, flood control, hydropower, and recreation. Lake levels are lowered in the winter to make room for heavy rains and snowmelt upstream, refilling to capacity around May 1. Construction of the Nacimiento Dam Spillway Modification Component, scheduled from Spring of 2008 to Fall of 2009, will help to stop seawater intrusion into the lake and increase flood protection at the dam. Without these improvements, MCWRA would have to lower lake levels an additional 17 feet (to 765 feet elevation) in winter for increased flood protection.

    Lake Nacimiento is almost 200 feet deep at the dam’s spillway. Its clean waters maintain an average temperature of 72 degrees. Anglers flock to Lake Nacimiento, since it is the only lake in California containing white bass. In addition to the exclusive white bass, the lake is also home to largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish, and bluegill. As always, make sure to get a California fishing license before you get here, as you can’t fish without it. Anglers should follow the California Sport Fish Consumption Advisories (see link below).

    Lake Nacimiento attracts visitors throughout the whole year for recreational boating and water sports such as water skiing and wakeboarding. Two public boat launches and a full-service marina are available. Boat rentals range from leisurely paddle boats and pontoon boats to bass boats for anglers. Accommodations range from lodge rentals to camping and RV facilities.

    With its fantastic long open water ski areas, slalom course, and over 400 campsites, visitors are sure to be satisfied with all the natural attractions “Dragon Lake” holds. From its unspoiled wilderness to its beautiful accommodations for guests, Lake Nacimeiento is surely a must-see.

    Fees:
    Day use is $7.00.
    After April 1st $10.00.
    Annual day use is $125.00.
    The LAKE USE fee is $5.00 per day.
    Annual LAKE USE fee is $75.00 and is good for both Nacimiento and Lake San Antonio.

    Feel free to contact these phone numbers for more information:
    Main Phone (805) 238-3256
    Marina (805) 238-1056
    Lake Patrol (805) 238-2376.
    Lake Nacimiento-Monterey County Parks Department (805) 238-2376 or (805) 472-2311.

    Things to Do at Lake Nacimiento

    These are some activities in the Lake Nacimiento, CA area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Water Skiing
    • Wakeboarding
    • Camping
    • Waterfall
    • Wildlife Viewing

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Nacimiento?

    Lake Nacimiento has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Catfish
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Sunfish
    • White Bass
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Nacimiento

    If you’re considering a Lake Nacimiento lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Lake Nacimiento Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Nacimiento lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Nacimiento Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Monterey County Water Resources Authority

    Surface Area: 5,727 acres

    Shoreline Length: 163 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 800 feet

    Maximum Depth: 200 feet

    Completion Year: 1961

    Lake Area-Population: 2,176

    Drainage Area: 350 sq. miles

    Lake Nacimiento Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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