Northern California's Lake Has A Floating Water Park For Outdoor Family Fun And Recreation

Who doesn't love some water park fun in summertime, especially when kids are getting restless and parents need a break? In Sonoma County, Spring Lake Water Park is the answer to your mid-vacation, heat-weary prayers. The California water park, or rather, inflatable floating playground, is situated in the swimming lagoon of the pretty 320-acre Spring Lake Regional Park. It may not be as big as North America's largest inflatable water park, but it still has plenty to keep families occupied from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

Along with slides, climbing walls, bridges, balance beams, and jumps in the 3-acre lagoon area, kayaks, paddleboards, and boats are also available to rent, so you can spend time exploring the peaceful 72-acre lake too. The fun isn't limited to the water; the park also has several trails winding through oak woodlands, open parkland, and along the water's edge, which are suitable for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. You could also prolong your stay by booking into the park's campground. Conveniently situated in Northern California's best budget town, Santa Rosa, it's a short drive east from Highway 101. Spring Lake sits between Howarth Park and the scenic California hiker's paradise, Trione-Annadel State Park, so you can easily turn a few hours at the water park into a full day of outdoor discovery.

While the lake was created as a reservoir in the 1960s to protect Santa Rosa from winter floods, Spring Lake became a regional park in 1974 and now attracts around 650,000 visitors annually. The floating water park was a welcome addition to the swimming lagoon in 2016, and is filled with filtered, chlorinated water to maintain quality standards. Another safety feature parents will appreciate is that the swimming area is watched over by lifeguards, and all visitors to the inflatable park are kitted out with a free mandatory life jacket.

Aimed at kids from age 6 upward, there are multiple play areas to choose from. See who can jump the highest on the trampolines, or test your balance on the bouncy bridges and wobbly logs. The climbing walls will have you scrambling to the top before you launch yourself into the water, and groups will enjoy battling it out on the in-water sports court before hurtling down everyone's favorite, the water slides. If that all sounds too chaotic, there's plenty of room for a relaxing swim, and the lagoon is surrounded by sandy beaches and picnic tables under welcome woodland shade.

Up to 100 visitors at a time are allowed on the inflatable park, and so that more people get a chance to join in the fun, there are four daily sessions — one in the morning and three in the afternoon. Tickets cost from $10 to $14 depending on the session, but sell out quickly, so booking online is highly recommended. Kids must be at least 42 inches tall and have basic swimming skills to enter the park, and swimming in the lagoon is free.

Ten miles of trails wind through Spring Lake Park, including the popular Spring Lake Loop. This easy 2.1-mile stroll around the water's edge is open to hikers, runners, and bikers, and is ADA accessible for part of the route. The park also has all-terrain wheelchairs for loan, which are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Birdwatchers too will enjoy the variety of birdlife, including great horned owls and western bluebirds.

Dogs are welcome in the park, and if you're there in September, the water park turns into Water Bark, when your four-legged friend gets their turn at splashing around. Event tickets start at $12, which goes toward the upkeep of dog-friendly trails in Sonoma County Regional Parks. Out on the lake, fishing is allowed with a license, with largemouth bass, sunfish, and catfish the likely catches. Bring your own boat year round; otherwise boats are available to rent from May to September. If the weather turns and you need to go indoors, head to the Environmental Discovery Center. Located just inside the park entrance, kids can participate in fun activities through interactive exhibits and science experiments. Plus, it's free to enter.

The pretty Spring Lake campground has over 30 campsites among the trees, and caters to tents, RVs, and groups. It's reservation-only through the Sonoma County Regional Parks website and sites are available up to six months in advance. While the picnic tables provide a pleasant spot for lunch by the lagoon edge, the Spring Lake Café is open seasonally for burgers, tacos, sandwiches, and the like. Although the park itself is free to enter, parking costs $8 ($12 in summer), and you're not limited to Spring Lake Park. Venture further via the connecting trails to Trione-Annadel State Park to the east or Howarth Park to the west.