California's Dragon-Shaped Lake In The Santa Lucia Mountains Offers Fun Outdoor Activities
You might think a mythical dragons resides in California if you are reading the map of Santa Lucia Mountains for the first time. But look carefully, you'll realize It isn't a dragon as it first appeared, but a lake shaped like a dragon. It is the popular Lake Nacimiento, the place where nature decided to go creative. Lake Nacimiento — sometimes shortened to Lake Naci or simply called the Dragon — might not rank among the natural wonders of the world, but it is one of those places you visit and wonder, "Why don't more people talk about this?"
Beyond its unique shape, it boasts a clean, beautiful 165-mile shoreline, and is home to a cozy resort that offers fun and adventure for the entire family. And because the lake maintains a close link with the Nacimiento River, the water always retains a constant temperature of about 72 degrees, reaching no more than 80 during the summer. It's the perfect nature getaway for swimming, boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, fishing, and enjoying scenic lakeside hikes.
Close to the central coast of California, the lake is about a three or four-hour drive from either Los Angeles and San Francisco, both of which have international airports. Alternatively, you can fly into San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) to cut your drive time down to an hour. It's about 35 miles away from Lake Nacimiento and services direct flights to major cities including Portland, Dallas, ad Denver.
Why Lake Nacimiento is an ideal destination for fun outdoor activities, and what to do
It doesn't matter if you're an outdoor adventurer, a nature enthusiast, or a noncommittal traveler who just wants to unplug and recharge, Lake Nacimiento's many narrow coves create sheltered spaces ideal for paddling and quieter exploration, making kayaking and wildlife viewing especially rewarding. Anglers can come for the warm-water fishing, for the lake is a popular home to white bass, crappie, and catfish. Make sure you grab a fishing license from the Lake Naci General Store. The lake's wider stretches also provide a lot of space for boating and water-sports without you feeling crowded. For water skiers, you can test your skills at the specially designed slalom course.
If you prefer staying on land, the surrounding oak and pine woodlands offer scenic, moderately challenging hiking opportunities. While the lake is too expansive to see its full dragon shape from any viewpoints, you can still find a scenic overlook of the lake's twisting shape.
Where to stay and where to eat near Lake Nacimiento
The resort has different types of fully kitted-out lodges and cabins, and you can rent one of several pretty swanky RVs. Though, of course, if you prefer to travel in your own home-away-from-home-on-wheels, you can park up one of the full hook-up sites on the resort grounds, or book a regular tent site. The Lake Nacimiento Resort has more than 350 campsites to choose from, and some are even pet-friendly. The boutique Oak Hill Market grocery store is just a short drive from the resort and has everything you need from a deli and bakery to wine and sunscreen if you forgot anything at home or want to cook the perfect camp meal. For a wider range of accommodations, Paso Robles is the closest town to Lake Nacimiento, only about a 30-minute drive from the lake. Paso Robles and the prices of hotels around there range from $75 to $300.
While the resort has its own restaurant, you should also head into Paso Robles for a range of great dining options. Although it may not be among the U.S. cities with the best soul food, you can get tasty BBQ at Jeffry's Wine Country BBQ or farm-fresh meals at Thomas Hill Organics. You can also explore many other simple cafés and restaurants in the area. If you're a wine lover, Paso Robles is an underrated wine region loved by Samantha Brown.