Boat-in Sites (Lake Sonoma)

We stayed at Thumb 4 and Thumb 5 and had an amazing trip! We come to Lake Sonoma every year for multiple days, and these are some of our favorite campsites. The views, kayaking, fishing, and overall experience are always incredible.

This year, however, we had two separate rattlesnake encounters that future campers should be aware of. The first happened while we were gathering dead wood for the campfire. We came within about 5 feet of a rattlesnake coiled next to a ground squirrel burrow, and it immediately started rattling. We backed away and left it alone.

The second encounter happened that same evening while we were eating dinner. We heard rustling behind our campsite, shined a flashlight, and found another rattlesnake coiled at the entrance of another ground squirrel hole only about 8 feet from where we were sitting.

I’ve been coming to Lake Sonoma for many years and had never seen a rattlesnake here before, let alone two so close to camp. We respected the wildlife and gave them plenty of space, but it definitely made us much more cautious.

If you’re camping at the Thumb sites, especially Thumb 4 or 5, just stay alert, watch where you step, and use a flashlight after dark. Despite the snake encounters, we still had a fantastic trip and plan to come back next year. It’s a beautiful place—we just hope the area around the campsites can be checked to help make it a little safer for future campers.

We got there a day late. When we got there, some other family had our spot. We couldn’t find the family as Im sure them were on the water. We love lake Sonoma yet tbat was a total disappointment. We ended up still having fun yet because our spot was taken, we ended up going home :(

Great site at quicksilver and the wasp traps were nice

Booked two boat in sites canoeing from YortyCreek. We passed on Rustler as it was too busy but easy to get to. We lucked out at Homestead and enjoyed the mid day shade. Water gets milky near shore as the motor boats generate wake and the fishing is poor. Good water jumps and clean. Wear good shoes for hillside camping a few of us took some nice spills into the dirt.

Beautiful lake beautiful campsite getting in touch with nature and family

For all the years I have sailed, rowed, and camped on Lake Sonoma, I always compliment the person who motors to all of the boat-in campsites, hauling out trash to the dumpster at the Rockpile Road launch ramp.

Great campsites and calm waters w/ good fishing.

Loggers is great. Sites 3&4 give you good shade and a great view of the lake, site 7 is fully exposed and rough. Good times

To prep for trip to the Boundary Waters, a few scouts paddled out and camped at Skunk Creek over Memorial Day weekend. Was expecting it to be crowded with a lake full of boats over the long weekend, but to our pleasant surprise there were barely a dozen cars in the parking lot, only one other group at Skunk Creek, and felt like we had the whole lake to ourselves. Our campsite as with a few others at Skunk Creek and nearby Thumb campground were under water, but there were plenty of sites for us to move into. It was a wonderful, peaceful, and enjoyable time in nature, and even more wonderful that all of us caught fish. First time at Lake Sonoma, and based on this experience will definitely be back many times in the future to spend time boating and fishing at this amazing place.

Great location - camp sites are very close but the overall condition/ maintenance of the sites really need to improve