Houseboating Adventures - Issue 17 - (Page 74) California – Lake Oroville State Park Lake Oroville Marina Covering about 28,450 acres and located near the City of Oroville, this man-made lake was formed by the tallest earth-filled dam (770 feet above the stream bed of the Feather River) in the country. According to Marina General Manager Bill Harper, boaters who have yet to visit Lake Oroville need to know Lake Oroville has four distinctly different boating experiences - in one remarkable destination. And the launching spot, Lake Oroville Marina, is within an easy twenty-minute drive from Chico. There's the West Branch of Lake Oroville with lava rock and other rock formations. And the South Fork, which is all about open expanses of water, sandy beaches and small islands. Then, there is the Middle Fork, noted mostly for Feather Falls, an immense waterfall (the sixth tallest shoreline and the rugged peaks behind; they often glide right past where they intended. No matter. At Trinity Lake, the next place is every bit as good as the last. California – Lake Berryessa Pleasure Cove Marina While the masses have discovered California's Wine Country, still relatively unknown is Lake Berryessa, a mere 45-minute drive east of Napa Valley. Houseboating on this lake is a "find" in itself, says Terry Sparkman, General Manager of Pleasure Cove Marina on the lake's southwest shores. The lake, a glistening ribbon of waterway three miles at its widest point, winds its way for twenty-three miles through the Blue Ridge and Cedar Roughs. Houseboaters glide along generally smooth waters, past hillsides of oak and ground-hugging Manzanita trees with their distinctive twisted branches of orange or red bark. With 165 miles of shoreline, Terry says there are all sorts of opportunities for houseboaters. What is the ultimate appeal of Lake Berryessa? According to Terry, "it's the area's mild weather and the lake's warm water, which can reach 75 degrees in the summer." waterfall in the U.S.) that can often be viewed from the water. Bill's favorite spot on the lake is North Fork. "With winding waterways and steep canyon walls thick with trees, North Fork is quiet, shaded and scented with the sweet, clean smell of cedar. French Creek and Chino Creek, toward the back of the canyon, are excellent spots for anchoring a houseboat," according to Harper who has been boating on Lake Oroville for the past 20+ years. Uniquely the lake has a four-season Mediterranean-type climate with summer temperatures ranging from the lows 80s to the low 100s, perfect for summer water sports. In the evenings, thermals from the valley below gently cool the lake. Texas – Lake Amistad National Recreation Area Lake Amistad Marina Once home to desperadoes whose fates were often decided by Judge Roy Bean, the Del Rio, Texas area is now known for Lake Amistad. The lake is a fresh water haven located on the Texas/Mexico border boasting 67,000 acre feet of crystal clear water and over 850 miles of limestone cliffs, sandy beaches and archeological sites. "The fall, spring and winter months are the best times to take a houseboat out on the lake," stated Larry Lively, General Manager. A National Recreation area, )6B@" A05("%C&5AB9&@
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