Lake Sonoma Boat-in Sites
Open year-round. Reservations available through Recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance. Peak season (April 1 through September 30) requires 2-night minimum on weekends and 3-night minimum on holiday weekends. Some sites may be temporarily inaccessible during periods of low water levels.
Coastal Flood Advisory issued August 9 at 10:28AM PDT until August 13 at 2:00AM PDT by NWS San Francisco CA
* WHAT...Up to 1.6 ft of inundation above ground level is possible in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways. * WHERE...Bayshore locations along the San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, and Monterey Bay. * WHEN...Until 2 AM PDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Flooding of lots, parks, and roads with only isolated road closures expected. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...At the San Francisco tidal gauge, high tide is expected to be 1.5 ft above normal (7.34 ft MLLW) at 9:02 PM Sunday 8/9, 1.5 ft above normal (7.36 ft MLLW) at 10:01 PM Monday 8/10, 1.6 ft above normal (7.44 ft MLLW) at 10:57 PM Tuesday 8/11, and 1.3 ft above normal (7.14 ft MLLW) at 11:49 PM Wednesday 8/12. These predictions include both astronomical tides and roughly 3-6 inches of additional water mainly from a combination of thermal expansion and accumulated sea level rise since the tidal datum was established (1983- 2001). High tide varies up to 90 minutes earlier or later along the Pacific Coast and through the San Francisco Bay, respectively.
About
Lake Sonoma's boat-in campsites are spread across 15 primitive campgrounds with approximately 109 individual sites along the lake's shoreline. Managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the sites are accessible only by boat or hiking trail with no vehicle access. Each campsite features a fire ring, picnic table, and lantern holder. Vault toilets are provided at the campgrounds but no potable water is available, so campers must bring their own water supply. The lake sits in the coastal foothills of Sonoma County with typical Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers averaging in the upper 90s and cool, foggy, wet winters. World-famous vineyards surround the area. Recreation opportunities include boating, swimming, fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, sunfish, and native rainbow trout. Hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders can explore miles of trails along the shoreline. During peak season (April 1 through September 30), weekend reservations require a 2-night minimum stay, with 3-night minimums for holiday weekends including Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. Be aware of steep and slippery hillside conditions, wasps and yellowjackets at some sites, and rattlesnakes in the area. California law requires children under 13 to wear lifejackets on moving vessels.
Directions
Take Highway 101 north of San Francisco to the town of Healdsburg and exit on Dry Creek Road. Travel west 11 miles to reach the visitor center on the right. The public boat ramp is 1.5 miles further up the road.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | — |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | — |
| Price | $30 - $80 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| lakesonoma@usace.army.mil | |
| Phone | +1 (707) 431-4533 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | Yes |
Availability
Photos
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