Top 6 Lakes in Napa County

Lake Berryessa offers a wide range of outdoor activities. You can enjoy boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, and swimming. Fishing is also popular, with species like sunfish, salmon, various bass, catfish, crappie, bluegill, and trout. The surrounding areas provide opportunities for hiking and camping. For more details, you can visit the Visit Napa Valley website for Lake Berryessa.

At Lake Hennessey, you can enjoy hiking, fishing, and boating with electric motors, kayaks, or canoes. It's also an excellent spot for birdwatching. However, bodily contact with the water, such as swimming or paddleboarding, is not permitted as it serves as a primary local water source for the City of Napa. You can find a pleasant biking route along its shores.

Yes, both Lake Berryessa and Lake Hennessey offer fishing opportunities. At Lake Berryessa, you can catch sunfish, salmon, various bass, catfish, crappie, bluegill, and trout. Lake Hennessey is known for small bass, bluegill, sunfish, and trout.

Swimming is permitted and popular at Lake Berryessa, where summer water temperatures can reach up to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. However, swimming and other bodily contact with the water are not allowed at Lake Hennessey, as it is a crucial drinking water reservoir.

Yes, there are hiking opportunities around both major lakes. Lake Berryessa has trails ranging from gentle strolls to challenging ascents with panoramic views. Around Lake Hennessey, trails lead to places like Moore Creek Park. For more hiking options in the region, explore the Easy Hikes in Napa County guide.

Napa County lakes are great for wildlife viewing, especially birdwatching. At Lake Berryessa, you might spot golden eagles, osprey, hawks, and wild turkeys. Lake Hennessey attracts various waterbirds, migrants, and winter residents, including Western and Clark's Grebes, Osprey, and Bald Eagles.

The best time to visit depends on your preferred activities. For swimming and water sports, summer is ideal at Lake Berryessa due to its warm water temperatures. Spring and fall offer pleasant weather for hiking and birdwatching around both lakes, with fewer crowds and comfortable temperatures.

Yes, both Lake Berryessa and Lake Hennessey offer family-friendly options. Lake Berryessa is excellent for swimming, boating, and camping, which are popular with families. Lake Hennessey provides scenic viewpoints like View of Lake Hennessey and easy hiking trails suitable for families to enjoy nature and birdwatching.

The 'Glory Hole' is the distinctive bell-mouth spillway of the Monticello Dam at Lake Berryessa. Officially known as the Monticello Dam Morning Glory Spillway, it's 72 feet in diameter and activates when water levels are high, releasing excess water through a 200-foot drop to prevent overflows. You can see an overview of Lake Berryessa from a viewpoint.

Yes, cycling is a popular activity. Lake Hennessey, in particular, offers a scenic biking route along its shores, which is a favorite among cyclists. For more cycling routes in the region, check out the Cycling in Napa County guide.

Yes, especially around Lake Berryessa, you'll find several camping sites, including Pleasure Cove Marina and Putah Canyon Campground, some offering cabins and RV spots. While Lake Hennessey is more secluded, the surrounding Napa Valley region is renowned for its culinary scene and offers a wide range of accommodations, cafes, and pubs.

Lake Berryessa is the larger of the two and allows for a broader range of water-based recreation, including swimming, water skiing, and various types of boating. Lake Hennessey, while scenic, is primarily a drinking water source, so bodily contact with the water (like swimming) is prohibited. It's better suited for hiking, fishing from shore or non-motorized/electric boats, and birdwatching.