Lake Oroville
While Lake Oroville is famous as one of the premier bass fishing destinations in the West, it has plenty more to offer. Outdoor activities at Lake Oroville include boating, water skiing, swimming, houseboating, camping, and hiking.
With easy access from Highways 70 and 99 in California's northern Mother Lode country, Lake Oroville attracts visitors from up and down the coast and across the country. The lake's surface area of 15,500 acres, makes it the second largest reservoir in California (behind Shasta Lake).
Similar in configuration to Shasta Lake, Lake Oroville stretches out behind its dam in several long, twisting arms created by four branches of the Feather River: the North Fork, the Middle Fork, the West Branch, and the South Fork.
Lake Oroville is part of the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area.
Entrance Fee: $10
Boat Launch Fee: $10
Fees may be higher on summer weekends and holidays.
Boating
Lake Oroville is everything you would want for boating. 167 miles of shoreline offer a variety of places to explore. Quality marinas and launch ramps make for easy entry to the lake. Surface temperatures in the summer at Lake Oroville range between 70 and 78 degrees. All types of boats are allowed on the lake, including personal watercraft.
Fishing
Fishing at Lake Oroville is one of the most popular activities there. Besides its five varieties of bass, the lake is home to salmon, trout, catfish, sturgeon, mackinaw, crappie, and blue gill. Lake Oroville was the only place in the state where you could fish for Coho Salmon, but Coho plantings were discontinued in 2012 and it is unlikely that any Coho remain in the lake. Scores of annual fishing tournaments are held at Lake Oroville.
Campgrounds and Floating Campsites
Lake Oroville is a State Recreation Area. It's campgrounds offer amenities not often found in other areas. The most unusual camping feature at Lake Oroville is its Floating Campsites, 20' by 24' moored, pontoon boats which can accommodate up to 15 people. Each two-level floating site has a restroom, sink and sun deck.
Lodging
There is no lodging available right at Lake Oroville other than to rent vacation homes, which are numerous along the western shores. Several resorts and a number of motels can be found in nearby Oroville.
Scenery
With its seemingly endless channels, Lake Oroville is an intriguing place to explore by boat. Low, forested mountains flank the lake on several sides.
Nearby Communities
The city of Oroville is only five miles from Lake Oroville, making it convenient to pick up any needed supplies that you can find around the lake or to take an afternoon off to watch a movie or visit a night club. Twenty-five miles to the northwest is the college community of Chico, while an equal distance to directly north is Paradise, ravaged by fire in 2018 and now gradually rebuilding.
