No Place Like Home: Lake Nacimiento

Posted: Jun 16, 2011 2:36 PM by Jeanette Trompeter
Updated: Jun 16, 2011 8:55 PM

The heat of summer may be arriving a little late this year, and after a long wet winter, we're all ready. But the payoff of those winter rains are pretty sweet. We took a little trip out to Lake Nacimiento and it's full. And you don't have to be a boat owner to take advantage of the spectacular scenery out there this year. In fact, you can pretty much come empty-handed and leave with all kinds of proof There's No Place Like Home.

It doesn't matter how many times you've been to Lake Nacimiento. You likely haven't seen it like this. It's been almost 30 years since it's been this high, and looked this spectacular. "It's only been this full three times in the history of the lake" says Managing Park Ranger Casey Neilsen.

The 18-mile long lake in northern San Luis Obispo county is surrounded by beautiful terrain that has been more difficult to appreciate in recent years with drought conditions, dry banks, and barren areas. But that is no longer the case. "We drove by this road that goes by San Antonio Lake and Nacimiento, about three weeks ago and we paused right up there on that hill and went, Oh My God." recalls Alison Taggart-Barone. She and her family and friends had planned to be camping in Tahoe instead of Lake Nacimiento, but wet cold weather up north prompted them to head this way. And they were smart enough to realize they didn't need to be boat owners to take in all Nacimiento offers.

"Actually I understand there's pontoon boats, canoes, kayaks, jet skis, a whole bunch of stuff," Taggart-Barone said.

You can rent just about all you need for a lake getaway here. From lake lodges with a view to campsites right on the water this year. To give you a sense of how full the lake is, the picnic tables at the Pine Knoll campground are underwater. And Alison is right. There's a full fleet of boats for rent for whatever level of activity you're up for.

Alison and her crew opted for a pontoon for a day. And in a matter of minutes, were off on a sun-soaked adventure that satisfied their craving for a connection to Mother Nature.

And there are more than boats, buoys and people hanging around this place these days. We had no trouble spotting bald eagles, red tailed hawks and a host of other creatures and critters enjoying the lush habitat our wet winter has provided this spring. "Well we see herons out here." says Neilsen. "We see all kinds of different birds, even some of the larger animals..deer, we see wild turkeys out here pretty regularly, we see wild pig out here pretty regularly.

There are new signs of life everywhere it seems. And for the first time in decades you can go everywhere on the lake. A few miles back in the narrows you don't see any bare land. It's been a few years since you could explore like this.

You can cruise for miles back into territory that was dry this time last year. But there's now plenty of room for exploration and isolation. You'll have an easier time finding some piece and quiet out here than ever before.

And while water sports are big here, Lake Nacimiento is also one of two places in the state where you can catch white bass. "We've got large mouth bass, small mouth bass, crappie, blue gill, there's a lot of fishing opportunity out here, and some of the best fishing on the central coast I've experienced."

Improvements on shore mean you'll have a new place to clean your catch on shore. The state's spiffed up more than the docks and marina facilities.

And you don't necessarily even have to leave shore. Just come on out and soak up a little sunshine, or enjoy lunch on the patio of the Dragon Lake Grill. It has a view of it all. And it's all right in our own backyard.