You have to hike up to the lake from the campground, you can't even see the lake from campsites. Not alot of shoreline to day camp, and can get quite busy on weekends and holidays, as more and more people hear about the lake. The silvertip day use area cost $5 to park. It can get very busy; you might have to park outsite day use area and walk in. Nice lake for kayaking and sup. Beware there are lots of water snakes. I have had problems with people allowing their dogs to run free. Also, the lake gets very low by August, wher you have to walk a ways down to the water. If it wasnt so convenient for me, I probably would go somewhere else. read more

Lake Valley Reservoir - Lakes Near Me - Placer, California

If you're into flat water kayaking or SUPing, this is a great place to do it. It's a 5mph wake limit here, so boaters go elsewhere and the water stays calm and crystal clear. Less than 2 miles off of hwy 80, this PG&E-run reservoir is really convenient for a day trip from Sacramento as it's only an hour from Roseville. The nearby Lodgepole Campground (located on the south side of the lake from the boat launch) was shut down due to COVID-19, so the crowd at the Silver Tip Day Use/Boat Launch was small and reasonable when I visited. The day use area has several picnic benches above the shore that are shaded by trees, but the beach is unfortunately not large at all. This is definitely the type of day use area that will get crazy busy during non-COVID times and you'll want to come very early to claim a spot on the beach and get a nearby space for your car. There is a restroom (vault toilet) up at the parking lot and there are very few spots big enough for any type of small watercraft trailer. Parking is very limited so come early! If you're wanting privacy, you'll want to hoof it away from the boat launch and try to find a spot down the shoreline. Next time I'll be bringing my kayaks and paddling to a location away from the crowd. Happy Paddling! read more

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Great reservoir, posted signs off the freeway get you to the camp area or day use with a boat dock. Lake was low, well below the dam and there was a decent current headed away from the dam making the paddling a little tough. On the way back to the dock we saw a rock in the lake with a smiley face spray painted on it. 5 stars except for the rough dirt road on the last 1/4 mile into the park. read more

Gorgeous!!! Great place to kayak. Less than an hour from auburn or Grass Valley. Never too crowded. Very quiet lake as I think there is a low speed limit. The water is clean and clear!! One of our favorite kayak places read more

From Sacramento take I-80 East, exit Yuba Gap, turn right on Lake Valley Road, drive .3 miles and turn right, drive 1.1 miles and turn left on Forest Road 19 (a dirt road but a sedan could easily make it). This is a day-use fee area, as of 5-11-13 it is $5 for day use, $10 to launch boats (10 MPH speed limit). THE PROS: Just minutes off I-80. Less than an hour drive from Roseville. EXCELLENT flatwater paddling! Take caution near the shoreline - submerged rocks and tree stumps. As you make your way around the reservoir don't be fooled by the sound of running water - its just a run off. Bathrooms were clean and stocked. So please, pay your fee so they can continue to keep this up! DFG plants rainbows regularly. The reservoir is also known for bullhead catfish. You can literally see the fish jumping until sundown... Fantastic sunset views! THE CONS: Mosquitos were everywhere - they didn't bother me much after I got on the water but on shore it was miserable - I'd recommend some kind of repellent. It is said that towards mid-end summer the water levels are very low. read more

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Great Sierra Mountain reservoir. Water clear. This is a nice quiet place for fishing, hiking on granite and tree lined trails, paddle boarding, kayaking. There are restrooms and picnic tables. read more

Our first time at this lake. I've always driven by the Yuba Gap exit! I agree with all said by the FTR. We walked around the lake from the parking lot, about 5 miles, but fairly easy for the most part. The two exceptions are: on the north side; it is slower going along the shoreline so you may want to hoof it to the road (up the slope. Second, there is a amp about the middle of the lake on the south side. They don't seem very friendly. So.. the lake is very nice and next time we'll break out the kayaks.... read more

Silver Tip day use area. Just off of US 80 near yuba gap. Need to slow down to find turn into lake drive and then to gravel road for a while. Picnic tables, chemical pit toilet, and small parking lot. Closed for the season. There is a campground nearby but did not check if still open. This a PGE area and fees for parking and fishing license. Fish for 30 minutes, nothing. Other fisherpersons hooked a12 in rainbow and another group got some browns. Book mark this to come another time. read more

I have been fishing lake Valley reservior for years and years. Up ubtil about 5 yrs ago it was a peacefull little lake where you could spend the day enjoying yourself and catching a few trout and bull head. then about 5 yrs ago the kayakers invaded the lake like they owned it. that year i had been out there fishing for several hours and so started bringing my boat back to lauch ramp and as i did, a kayaker b acked down and started to unload their kayak. 30 minutes later they were still tying up ramp and despite my repeated requests for them to clear ramp, they just ignored me. finally after about 45 minutes a bank fisherman came over, read the the riot act and told them to get out of there. I didn't go back there a gain that year. The next year i tried it again and agin as i was approaching the launch ramp to take my boat out of water, a small suv backed down and tied up the ramp for one hour and 15 minutes. I yelled, hollered and everything but they just ignored me like they opwned the ramp. Nedless to say, i don't go back to quiet little lake any more. read more

Now for the review- lodgepole campground: there is no true lakefront, so don't worry too much about your location. Kayaks and boats must drive 1 mile down to the Silvertip Day Use/ Boat Launch area, $5 day/ $10 boats. The day use area is along the dam side, so it is not as pretty. You really must kayak or boat to the pretty areas of the reservoir (pretty kayaking!). Boat speed is 10 mph, so no big boats. You can walk about 2 blocks from the campground and over the slightly steep dam and down the other side, but definitely not good for kayaks. Campsites 1,2,17,18,20,25,26,27,28,13,12 are all along the little stream which is nice. 3 is the most private but has no shade. 35 is bordered by the entrance/exit roads, so only problem would be traffic. 29 & 30 are only good for 1 tent. 17,25,30 are prolly only good for rv's- slanted. Best booked together: 1/2, 5/6, 27/28 (or any in the middle areas). read more