Boat-in Sites (Lake Sonoma)

We luckily took our boat out to check the campsite out a few days before our trip was planned. We had a couple sites booked, and they were completely under water! So crazy. We are so thankful of the lake being full, but they desperately need to assess the campsites as MANY are totally or mostly under water,

I can't believe rec.gov has the audacity to still charge people to stay at these "campsites." Completely overgrown with weeds, making ticks an even greater problem in the camp, locked bathrooms, broken tables. We hiked around the lake but most camps are inaccessible to boats. These dispersed sites should be free if they are not going to be maintained.

I love camping at Lake Sonoma and have been doing it for 4-5 years. The lake has always been low in these drought years but now it is really low 42%. Last time I was there it was 46%. Back then the hike from where we could land my boat to our actual campsite was a pretty steep about 300 yards. Which is not too bad, but after 3-4 hikes carrying 40-60 pounds of camping gear, it gets rough. Now with the lake at 42% I think I had to land my boat about 600 yards or more away from camp of even steeper, rougher terrain because not only was the water level lower, but finding a spot where you can step off the boat and not end up in mud past your ankle and maybe even up to your knee was not easy. One tip: do not land your boat anywhere that looks like clay or grey in color. Even if it looks kind of dry on the surface, you will sink into mud. You have to find a spot where you can step off onto BROWN, preferably with a sandy or gravely consistency. This 2 star review is not for the quality of the campground, which is very nice considering that it is a primitive campground, and that is how I like it. It is just for the current conditions of the lake being at low level so campers be aware.

Extremely long steep hike to camp area. Not much flat room to put a tent

Sorry, we never arrived. Too much hassle. poor planning on our part.

Poorly stocked bathrooms

The water level is extremely low. Plan on a steep, difficult hike up to all sites. The vault toilets were disgusting and full of spiders. Shoreline is pure mud.

Lake sonoma water levels are very bad.
You should not allow people to reserve boat in campsites. Ours was not accessible and we ended up booking a separate campsite from the marin at the top of the hill.

Not to mention all the hazards with the lake level so low. Boating through trees is not safe.

Shame on you

The restrooms were poorly stocked.

I had a wonderful time kayaking and camping at Lake Sonoma. I was very grateful I picked the site I did because with the water levels so low, I never would have been able to access any of the other sites. My site was perfect! Nice and level and easy to access. I had a beautiful view of the sunrise and a wonderful tailwind on the paddle back. The strong headwind getting to the site was challenging but not impossible. I would definitely do it again. My only complaint is regarding the signage of the sites, it was basically non-existent. If I hadn’t thoroughly researched the site and seen it through a satellite view online, I never would have found it.