Lake Solano

Quick Facts

Lake Solano

California

Map Directions

Things To Do

Overview

Lake Solano Park is located at the base of coastal foothills west of the town of Winters and offers an array of recreational opportunities. A destination point for outdoor enthusiasts since its creation in 1973, Lake Solano Park caters especially to anglers, boaters, campers, swimmers, sunbathers and picnickers. It is ideal for hiking, bicycling, bird watching and wildlife photography.

Owned by the Bureau of Reclamation, Lake Solano has been administered as a recreational area by the County of Solano since 1971. More than 200,000 visitors a year enjoy a wealth of recreational activities both on and off the water. Lake Solano is formed by Putah Diversion Dam.

Map of Lake Solano

Latitude, Longitude: 38.489528, -122.026605

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Activities

  • Boating

    A free boat launch is available for non-powered vessels.

  • Bird Watching

    Birds nesting at Lake Solano include the scrub jay, quail, the acorn and nutgall's woodpecker, bushtits, sparrows and towhees. There is even a large winter population of European Widgeon that make the lake their winter home.

  • Bicycling

    Bicycling is allowed.

  • Auto/Motorcycle

    Scenic excursions within a two-hour drive of the park include Lake Berryessa and the Napa Valley to the west, the Sacramento Valley and its open farmland to the east and the Delta waterways and the San Francisco Bay area to the south.

  • Camping

    The County operates a campground with 83 campsites, of which 36 have water and electric hookups. There are restrooms which have flush toilets, sinks and hot showers.

  • Fishing

    The lake is considered one of the best fly fishing spots in the Sacramento Valley; popular game fish in Lake Solano include Brown and Rainbow Trout.

    Gracing the park are a number of plants and trees that have adapted successfully to this climatic region with black walnut, buckeye, toyon, willow, valley oak, live oak, digger pine and cottonwood trees abundant in the area.

  • Hiking

    The park is also ideal for hiking.

  • Picnicking

    The day use area has picnic sites, group picnic facilities, a free boat launch for non-powered vessels, parking, restrooms and a public telephone. The picnic area is located directly east of the campground.

  • RVing

    The campground has 40 sites with electric and water.

  • Water Sports

    Swimming and sunbathing are popular at the park.

  • Wildlife Watching

    The lake is home to an amazingly diverse cross-section of animal life, where one can find anything from the tiniest insects to black tail deer. Reptiles native to the area include blue-belly fence lizards and harmless alligator lizards. Ground and tree squirrels, coyotes, raccoons, bobcats and gray foxes can all be found at Lake Solano Park.

Directions

Driving

Lake Solano is located four-miles west of Winters, just off State Highway 128.

From Sacramento: Take I-80 West (26 miles) to HWY 505 (11 miles), at Winters/CA128 exit turn left onto CA128 go (5.3 miles). Turn left onto Pleasants Valley Road/County Road 86. Arrive at 8685 Pleasants Valley Road on right. From San Francisco: Take I-80 East (53 miles) exit right on Cherry Glen Road. Turn right onto Pleasants Valley Road (12.4 miles) to 8685 Pleasants Valley Road. Park will be on your left.

Links

Comments

A mile of hiking trail along Lake Solano is excellent for viewing ducks and geese. The upland trails are good for wildflower viewing in the spring. The peacocks are not native birds, but they win the prize for being big and colorful.