November is a wonderful time of year at Cachuma Lake and marks the beginning of “Eagle Season”, highlighting resident and migratory bald eagles around the Lake.
Cool weather makes for comfortable day hikes or relaxation around the park. The lake still has many coves to fish and explore, along with 80+ foot lake depths. Cachuma Lake Recreation Area is a beautiful outdoor destination set amidst oak woodlands in the picturesque Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County.
For easy trip planning, Cachuma Lake takes online reservations for all camping options. At Cachuma Lake you will find practically everything you need for a relaxing lakeside getaway in the great outdoors: Year-round cabin, tent, yurt, and RV camping, boating, boat and kayak rentals, fishing, wildlife cruises on the lake, the Neal Taylor Nature Center, bird watching, hiking, photography, picnics, and a general store.
Mild temperatures, typically sunny skies, and good fishing conditions make year-round camping here exceptionally rewarding.
Located off scenic Highway 154 in the Santa Ynez Valley, Cachuma Lake is midway between the coast of Santa Barbara, area wineries, and the Danish community of Solvang.
Cool weather makes for comfortable day hikes or relaxation around the park. The lake still has many coves to fish and explore, along with 80+ foot lake depths. Cachuma Lake Recreation Area is a beautiful outdoor destination set amidst oak woodlands in the picturesque Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County.
For easy trip planning, Cachuma Lake takes online reservations for all camping options. At Cachuma Lake you will find practically everything you need for a relaxing lakeside getaway in the great outdoors: Year-round cabin, tent, yurt, and RV camping, boating, boat and kayak rentals, fishing, wildlife cruises on the lake, the Neal Taylor Nature Center, bird watching, hiking, photography, picnics, and a general store.
Mild temperatures, typically sunny skies, and good fishing conditions make year-round camping here exceptionally rewarding.
Located off scenic Highway 154 in the Santa Ynez Valley, Cachuma Lake is midway between the coast of Santa Barbara, area wineries, and the Danish community of Solvang.
NEAL TAYLOR NATURE CENTER AT CACHUMA LAKE:
Neal Taylor Nature Center
- Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, and Sunday, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
- The Neal Taylor Nature Center is located at 2265 Highway 154 in Santa Barbara and in the historic white ranch house behind the Cachuma Lake General Store.
- Exhibits and hands-on displays for all ages feature local wildlife, birds, plant life, geology, local history, as well as a gift and book shop.
- Free admission with $10 per vehicle Park day use fee.
Book and Treasures Sale at the Nature Center!
- Saturday, November 29, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
- The Neal Taylor Nature Center is located at 2265 Highway 154 in Santa Barbara.
- Spend the Saturday after Thanksgiving browsing through a wide selection of books, clothing, jewelry, fishing poles & tackle, Christmas decorations and other treasures. You name it; we’ve got it, at great prices. Sales benefit the Neal Taylor Nature Center.
OUTDOOR RECREATION AT CACHUMA LAKE:
Cachuma Lake Hiking
There are four miles of trails for self-guided hikes within the Park. Pick up a trail guide at the front gate. $10 Park Admission per vehicle. Also, within a 15 minute drive of Cachuma, you can access multiple hiking trailheads in Los Padres National Forest.
There are four miles of trails for self-guided hikes within the Park. Pick up a trail guide at the front gate. $10 Park Admission per vehicle. Also, within a 15 minute drive of Cachuma, you can access multiple hiking trailheads in Los Padres National Forest.
Junior Rangers (Ongoing)
- Kids, join a Santa Barbara County Park Naturalist to learn about Cachuma Lake wildlife and earn a cool Junior Ranger badge. Parents you're invited to participate with your kids. Children under the age of ten must be accompanied by an adult.
- Learn about nature, wildlife, and the environment, and earn a cool patch! Ages 3 to 6 may earn an Acorn Woodpecker patch; 7 to 9, a Great Blue Heron patch; 10-11, a Mountain Lion patch; 12 and older, a Bald Eagle patch. Junior Rangers have a special responsibility to take action in their environment and to set an example for others. Junior Rangers can earn their patches by picking up litter from park grounds, and by participating in activities led by a park naturalist at the Cachuma Lake Nature Center.
- Your first assignment is to bring to the Nature Center on Saturday at 12:30, a bag of trash or recycling you have picked up around the campground.
- The Junior Ranger Program runs year-round on Saturdays from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM.
- Meet at the Nature Center. Call 688-4515 for more information.
- Fees: $2 per child plus $10 vehicle Park Admission.
Nature Walk (Ongoing)
- Saturdays: 10 to 11:30 am
- Meet at the Nature Center 10 am
- Free with Park Entry Fee
- Join a Cachuma Lake Park Naturalist or Park Volunteer for an easy-paced 1/2-mile walk exploring the oak woodland and lakeside ecology on the Don Wimpress Nature Trail. Bring water, hats, and please, no pets.
- For more information, call the Park Naturalists at (805) 688-4515
Cachuma Lake Fishing & Bow Fishing for Carp
- Fishing from shore in the campground or from a boat is open all year with a valid fishing license. The lake supports healthy populations of rainbow trout, large- and smallmouth bass, crappie, and channel catfish.
- Bow fishing is permitted at Cachuma Lake. Permits are free and obtained at the lake.
Cachuma Lake Marina & Boat Rentals
- Open daily:November 3-15 from 6:30 am-5:00 pm & November 16-30 7:00 am-4:30 pm.
- Boat rentals, party boats, pontoon boats, kayak rentals, slip rentals, 1-day fishing licenses and a full bait and tackle are available.
- Call (805) 688-4040 for prices and specific times.
- $10 Park Admission per vehicle.
Eagle Cruises
Come for a two-hour guided lake cruise aboard the Osprey, a pontoon boat with 30 comfortable swivel seats. A Park Naturalist will take you on a narrated ride, exploring coves and shorelines amidst gorgeous scenery, looking for bald eagles, as well as many other species. November is a great time of year to see migratory birds, such as white pelicans, common goldeneye, peregrine falcon and geese.
Schedule
For more information on cruises click HERE
Schedule
Cruise Fees:
- Adults $15
- Kids $7 (ages 4-12 year old; please no children under 4)
Cruise Reservations:
- RESERVATIONS ARE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED in person at the main gate, or call:
- (805) 568-2460 Weekdays 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- 805) 686-5055 After 3:00 PM on Fridays and Weekends
- Meet at the Marina CRUISE WAITING AREA 1/2 hour before departure. The boat departs promptly on the hour.
Register Now for Summer 2015
Kids Learn Birds! (Summer 2015)
Kids Learn Birds! (Summer 2015)
- One 2-Day Session: Tuesday July 21 & Thursday July 23 - 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM each day.
- This is a fun field workshop over two days for kids ages 8 - 12.
- This is an interactive class giving kids the opportunity to learn the basics of birding--How to look at and identify birds, how to find them, how they are wonderful and important, about their habitats, and how to use field guides & binoculars (provided). We spend time outdoors in the park, on a pontoon boat, & in the classroom. A healthy snack is included.
- Offered by Cachuma Lake Recreation Area with assistance from the Neal Taylor Nature Center.
- Limited space; registration is required.
- Fees: $15 per child and $10 per vehicle Park Admission if parent/guardian stays in Park.
- To register and for more information call county park naturalist Liz Gaspar at (805) 688-4515, or email Lgaspar@sbparks.org.
Check out all Cachuma has to offer by visiting them online at www.sbparks.org.
