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Cachuma Lake - Destination Recreation
A wide variety of natural wonders and recreational opportunities are available at Cachuma Lake
(Marina photo courtesy of Cachuma Lake Nature Center)
by Sherrie Petersen
(Article photos courtesy of Cachuma Lake Nature Center, Tom Lemp and Graham Williams)

Take a drive on Highway 154 between Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley and it’s hard to miss the surrounding beauty. The fog hugging the rugged peaks, the red-tail hawks soaring into towering trees, the occasional glimpse of a bobcat or bald eagle, make the drive unique each time.

  Cradled between the hills lies a sparkling reservoir, the water source for most of Santa Barbara County. But more than just a water supply, Lake Cachuma Recreation Area offers visitors more than 9,000 acres to explore and enjoy.
  Formed in 1953 when the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation built Bradbury Dam, Cachuma Lake is home to bass, crappie, bluegill, redear, sunfish, channel catfish, and rainbow trout. Although thousands of fish are planted each year for events like the Trout Derby, thousands more have been hiding in the rocky drop offs, luring anglers hoping to set a record.
Birds and Nature
If you think Cachuma is only about the lake, think again. Liz Mason Gaspar, one of the Cachuma Lake Park Naturalists for more than 10 years, enjoys the diversity the park offers.
  “For me, nature and the people are the most rewarding things,” she says. “Every time we go out on the Nature Cruise, there’s always somehting new to see, and there are always new people to turn on to nature.”
  The Nature Cruise is just one of many ways non-anglers can enjoy the park. The 2-hour lake tour, led by a park naturalist, takes visitors out on a pontoon boat and introduces them to some of the wildlife and flowers found onshore. In the winter, naturalists point out visiting birds as well.

“Winter is probably my favorite season because it’s bald eagle season,” says Gaspar. “There are a lot of aerial displays and bird sightings, birds of prey, water birds–there’s just a lot to see!”
For those who prefer to stay on land, the Nature Center is a welcome surprise. Tucked behind the General Store, the Cachuma Lake Nature Center offers history, geology and hands-on displays as well as an overview of the plants and animals found in the area. As the lake gains in popularity, so does the Nature Center.

Accomodations Range From Campsites to Cabins

Accomodations at Cachuma Lake range from campsites to RV hookups to yurts to cabins.
(Cabin photo courtesy Tom Lemp. Shore photo courtesy of Cachuma Lake Nature Center)

  “There are still a lot of people who don’t know about the Nature Center, but more people are finding out about it,” says Gaspar. “We just had a second grade class from Solvang School come through yesterday. It has gained in stature and visibility in the community and it’s now a destination for many locals.”
  Over the past few years, the naturalists at Cachuma have been working with local avian enthusiasts to record bird sightings in a database that they share with the Audubon Society. “The Santa Barbara birding community is extremely active and skilled and enthusiastic,” says Gaspar. “They’re helping us maintain information that is valuable to keep track of the health of the environment in a much more thorough way. And it’s a benefit to science in general.”
To Camp or not to Camp
There are those who like to pitch a tent, light a fire and enjoy the great outdoors. For them, Cachuma Lake has more than 400 campsites. But the beauty of this recreation area, is that you don’t have to rough it if you don’t want to. About 90 of the sites have full RV hookups, to provide all the conveniences that a motorhome can offer. And for those who don’t have access to a camper, Cachuma Lake still has alternatives that don’t involve a tent stake.
  Yurts have been a popular choice since they made their debut on the bluffs above the lake. With fabric sides, platform beds, a lockable door, lighting and heating, yurts make camping more comfortable. Up to six people can sleep inside. Because there are only three yurts at the lake, reservations are required and the wait can take as long as six months.
  Central Coast Cabins recently began accepting reservations for one-bedroom cabins at the lake as well. Featuring kitchenettes, bathrooms and private porches, these new cabins take the camping experience to a new level. As with the yurts, only three cabins are available, so reservations need to be made well in advance.

A young buck and doe enjoying spring foliage.
(Deer photo courtesy Graham Williams)

The 12th Annual Cachuma Lake Nature Centter Trout Derby was held April 21-22.
(Lake photo courtesy Cachuma Lake Nature Center)

But Wait, There’s More!
What makes Cachuma Lake Recreation Area a true destination vacation is the fact that there really is so much to do there. The Family Fun Center opens every Memorial Day Weekend and offers two pools, miniature golf, video games, and a snack bar. The pool is open daily during the summer, and it’s important to get there early to purchase swim tickets ($1 per hour) because staff does limit the number of people in the pool at any given time.When you get tired of franks and beans, you can get a cooked to order meal at the snack bar and grill in the boat marina. And while you’re at the marina, why not rent a boat? In addition to motor boats, the marina rents row boats, patio deck pontoons and paddleboats. You’ll also find bait, tackle and fishing licenses available at the marina store.
If hiking is your preferred way to get your blood pumping, Cachuma Lake has trails ranging from a mere 1/4 mile loop up to an eight mile trek on five self-guided trails. Trail guides are available throughout the park and also map out trails in the neighboring Los Padres National Forest.In addition, naturalists lead a nature walk every Saturday year-round from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

There are several playgrounds in the park, as well as fishing piers, hot showers, a general store and a coin-operated laundry. And if all the activities are just too much, there’s plenty of open space in which to sit quietly and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
“People take good care of Cachuma,” says Gaspar. “Attendance has increased with the population, but it’s a pretty clean lake and I think there’s been a growing public education about the value of natural resources.”
Whether you go for an afternoon or a week, the Cachuma Lake Recreation Area has plenty to offer everyone.
For prices, a schedule of events or to make a reservation, visit www.cachuma.com or call (805) 686-5054.