Lake Almanor

Best kept secret in California and if your looking for a get away this is it. This is not Lake Tahoe with 5 star hotels this is in the country with absolutely stunning views. You can fish the Lakes and rivers or explore the old mining sites and ghost towns. Camping is excellent and there are a few rustic hotels and stores in the area.

Ya might think a lake is a lake and it has water, what’s not to like? Well, this lake is pretty far drained down at this point, although it may fill up in the spring somewhat, but the lake itself is not what makes this whole area a bad place for a vacation. There are not as many access point as there should be to make the water easy to get to. Forget a peaceful time with all the motorized toys buzzing about and the drunk people you will run into. What is it about a lake that makes these people need to get drunk, make a lot of noise and find joy in bothering people who are not doing the same? Forget hoping the police or CHP will instill any sense or order around here. They are too busy generating revenue by stopping every car the can to write any citation they can for, from speeding 2 mph over the limit to trapping cars with pedestrians jumping into the crosswalk and stopping vehicles for not yielding. Small town moneymaker in Chester! Watch Out! If you want a real lake with real mountains, just travel over to Lake Tahoe! Dump this backwater cesspool and all the hillbillies locals, that don’t want you here anyway! Yeah, backwater lakes and drunk people … that’s what you get here!

Absolutely one of the most gorgeous lake settings in the country. Post card perfect with Mt. Lassen in the background. And, it is still relatively «undiscovered.» It does not have the crowds, cold water, or high prices of Tahoe! You can spend the day on the lake boating, skiing, or fishing and hardly see another person all day. Empty golf courses are located throughout the area. This is a great place to bring the kids and enjoy a relaxing mountain lake retreat. The water is warm in the summer… no need for a wetsuit like Tahoe.
Real estate prices are still relatively cheap when compared to Tahoe. People from the Bay area, Sac, and Reno are starting to build beautiful lakefront homes. In 10 years this will be the new Tahoe… too bad for those of us who know the secret already. Enjoy it while you can!

Beautiful place and reminds me alot of Tahoe but way less people. Still gorgeous & serene

Note to self: We need to find the public entrance because most of these entrances are either privately owned or you are stepping onto private communities surrounding the lake.
There is a Pennisula market and Red Onion Grill restaurant near Lake Almanor but we did not venture inside.
It’s best to come in July when it’s warm in the morning and at night. You’ll love it even more if you are boating, fishing, camping type of person

Lake Almanor is a hidden jewel. When other lakes are dry we have water. Think of Almanor as a poor man’s Tahoe. All the beauty, seasons, & water, yet rustic, without casinos or the big money ventures. You want good food? It’s here, just ask around. Even 5 star cooking if you want it at the Peninsula Grill. Organic? Our market carries enough products to get you by… Unrelenting beauty? we have it in spades. Along with hiking, biking, fishing, boating & water sports, kayaking, hunting, birding… No BAD DAYS at Almanor. Carry tire chains in the winter, and for goodness sake get the weather report and road report BEFORE driving up the hill. It will save you a lot of headaches and prevent accidents for all of us! Check in with the Almanor Area Chamber of Commerce website to see what’s happening, too!

Lake Almanor is a large artificial lake in northwestern Plumas County. The reservoir has a capacity of 1,308,000 acre feet and a maximum depth of about 90 feet. It is formed by Canyon Dam on the North Fork of the Feather River, along with other tributaries.
The present dam (130 feet tall and composed of hydraulic fill) was constructed by Great Western Power, from 1926 to 1927 and flooded the meadow-​filled valley generally known as Big Springs/​Big Meadows. In the process, parts of the town of Prattville had to be moved to higher ground. The dam is now owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company. PG&E uses it for hydroelectricity production, but the lake is also a popular recreation area, with fishing, boating, water skiing, swimming and camping available.
Lake Almanor is big and helps keep the nearby town of Chester in business with the various recreational activities and second homes. I spent a nice week at one of these residences and had lunch at a cool place on the West side of the Lake. However, as pleasant as this Lake can be, you’ll usually find me going the other way and exploring the many wonders of Lassen National Park.