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Hike and Fish at Nicasio Reservoir

Nicasio, California

5.0/5
based on 1 reviews

Details

Distance

3 miles

Elevation Gain

300 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Josh Currie

A beautiful little reservoir with great hiking and fishing, only an hour from SF and 15 minutes from Point Reyes!

Nicasio is a quaint town just inland of the more popular coastal town of Point Reyes. It's most known for it's wine country, rolling hills, and the home of Skywalker Ranch, George Lucas's getaway home. Most visitors of this area either pass right on through for Point Reyes or use it's scenic roads for cycling. The land has a lot to offer, especially with hikes, streams, and small lakes for fishing so a stop here will never disappoint. From San Francisco it's only one hour to the lake, so a day trip is very doable, but I suggest finding a place to stay so you have more time to explore the area!

Parking along the Nicasio Reservoir is free and very accessible. There are many areas to pull off and leave your car safely on Nicasio Valley Rd. Once you've geared up it's just a short walk to the water's edge where you can set up your rod and cast out. Unfortunately, there is no swimming or boat launches but you can hang out anywhere on the beach. Naturally, the best times to fish, as well as hike along the lake, will be early in the morning or evening since it does get quite hot during the summer days. Once you're ready to take a break from fishing, the hike is about 3 miles along the waters edge with some elevation gain, giving you expansive views of the reservoir and surrounding country.

The lake is stocked with all kinds of fish, mostly large and small mouth bass with the occasional catfish and trout. The only complaint I have with the location is the amount of traffic passing by the lake. You don't quite get the serene, "just you and your rod" type feeling that you can have in the more privy destinations, but it's still incredibly peaceful and easy to lose yourself in the surrounding beauty. Once the sun starts to set, and the horses come out to roam the hillside, there is a distinct magic about the place that makes you feel like you're all alone. Enjoy!

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Features

Fishing
Photography
Hiking
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Lake
Romantic
Scenic

Reviews

Beware if you hike around the Lake or a trail there are a lot of ticks I mean A LOT! I wouldn't recommend bringing your dogs to this lake, if you do, have fun picking them all off your dog.😅

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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