Lopez Lake Recreation Area Review

#rvlife #travel #california

2022-05-08

We stayed at the Lopez Lake Recreation Area for a weekend and found a great park with lots of amenities and activities. Even though it is close to the bustling Pismo Beach (only about 20 minutes inland from the coast), it feels like it’s miles away with its tall oak trees and grassy hills. This lakeside camping on the California Central Coast is a great family park.

Camping at Lopez Lake Recreation Area

Our site in the cougar section of the campground was a primitive site meaning it did not have electrical, water, or sewer hookups.

The Lopez Lake Recreation Area has over 350 sites available, ranging from primitive sites without hookups to sites with full hookups. Even though the park is huge, the campsites are well spaced apart (for the most part) and further divided into smaller areas to give that small campground feel. There are even small cabins that can be rented in the Hawk area of the campground that can accommodate up to 4-6 people each and large group sites available for private groups. We stayed in the Cougar section, on one of the primitive sites, and enjoyed a hilltop view of the lake surrounded by trees for afternoon shade. It was perfect.

This is one of the cabins available on a nightly basis at Lopez Lake Recreation Site in California. Cabins can sleep 4-6 people.

Amenities at Lopez Lake Recreation Area

Picnic table and firepit on each site.

Amenities at the Lopez Lake campground are abundant. There are, of course, the usual fire pits, picnic tables, showers (coin operated), and bathrooms, but they also have a well stocked store, restaurant, SUP/kayak rentals, propane, boat launch, waterpark, and adventure park. Hiking trails weave through the park as well to make getting around easy and not on the roadways. The one amenity that was not present was a dumping station/sani-station.

Rentals for kayaks, SUPs, and more are available from the store at Lopez Lake Recreation Site.

Wildlife at Lopez Lake Recreation Area

Mel standing next to one of the hiking trail signs at Lopez Lake.

While camping at Lake Lopez, it is important to be aware of some of the wildlife that call this park home. Encounters are rare, but one should know what to do if a bear, cougar, or rattlesnake is seen on the trail. The way to respond to each of these animals is different, and there are signs posted at the rangers office, store, and bulletin boards with more information. We were also advised to check ourselves for ticks after hiking, especially on trails with tall grass, and to stay on the trails to prevent these parasites from latching on. Ticks are particularly prevalent during the winter and early spring months.

Lopez Lake is home to a lot of wildlife including bears, cougars, and rattlesnakes. Signs posted at the entrance and throughout the park detail what to do if these animals are encountered on your visit.

We had a really nice time camping at Lopez Lake. This was one of the most family friendly parks we have ever been to. The water and adventure parks were truly unique features that we were not expecting, the range of options for staying suited budgets of all sizes, and the beautiful rolling hills and towering oak trees offered a fantastic getaway from the nearby bustling towns and cities.

Until next time, keep on living the life you’ve imagined!

Mel, Jay & Benny

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