Yorty Creek Recreation Area

If you want a large sandy beach, still water, no motor boats, perfect for kayaks, some hiking, boat ramp, swimming, dogs allowed, picnic areas with a roof, hot weather, fishing, there is NO place better on lake sonoma. This area is not crowded being far away from the main entrance of Lake Sonoma in Healdsburg and Geyserville. To get there, you go to Cloverdale. From Santa Rosa, it is about 35 – 40 minutes, about 35 miles one way. The downsides are no store, no water (restrooms, yes). The road to is narrow and one lane in places and going there provides a steep ascent with many hairpin 180 degree turns. Use low gear. The road also has many potholes. But, once you reach the top, the road goes down more gradually. Plenty of parking and everything is FREE. Closes at 9 pm in summer. It is a very peaceful place and a great place for all for a few hours.

Very cool spot… I Dropped in a new Hobie Mirage Revolution 13 kayak at 1p on a Wednesday, nobody there. When I came back, just a guy & his girl making out on the beach… pretty quiet spot, & I like that! Awfully fantastic looking boat-​in campsites nearby too, I’m stoked!

It was my best friend’s birthday! She wanted to go swimming and have a BBQ with her husband and his and her family. Of course it had to be on a Monday. It would have been too busy during the weekend. The public school kids had to skip school in order to celebrate.
It took two hours from Fairfield. Really really long trip! Once we got to the entrance to Yorty Creek, it took about ten to 15 minutes to get to the actual recreation area. To get there, you’d have to go up and down a hill with a very windy and narrow path. It kind of made my friends a little sick.
When we got there, there were almost zero people. Duh, because it was Monday! The area was really clean because there were recreation employees that were taking out the trash.
I didn’t feel like swimming once we got there, but it was insanely hot that I had to get in the water. I was dying.
The water was really nice. We saw a frog and the fish were were biting our legs. No joke. The water gets super deep.
The worst thing about here were the bees. They were everywhere! And they stung my friend on her back. :(We had to keep covering the food. It was terrible.
You will not find cell phone reception here. Not at all. I tried calling my worried mother all day and no luck whatsoever. Be sure to call people before coming down here.
There is no sand. All mini-​rocks. It hurt my precious feet.
The restrooms are decent, but my friends complained about the lack of running water and an actual working toilet. hahaha There was this one nice looking hut and a few portable toilets.
I’m glad that we didn’t have to come during a weekend. I bet there would have been zero spots to chill.
I personally wouldn’t come here again because it takes a crazy long time to get here from where I live. And the bees. The bees were a big thing. And no cell phone reception.

Great spot for a sunny day with family and friends. We had an awesome tent BBQ area with picnic tables. There is a small beach area too but can get real crowded on the weekends. I like the lake and this spot is real good for a nice get together. Itsgot a small playground with climbing wall and super swing for the kids and lots of lawn to play on. Warning there are a lot of BEES out here, my friends kid took one for the team. Boat launch is readily available and far less crowded than others on the Lake.

Great recreational area for kids and families! Get there early on warm days to grab a first-​come-​first-​served covered picnic area that even has BBQs! Swimming area and canoe launch in a no wake zone.
Sometimes you have the not so considerate people who play their music too loud, but usually everyone is very friendly.
Animals are not allowed on the beach. The restrooms are decent and at least they are available.
Again — it can get crowded so make sure if you are making a day trip out of it to get there early and mark your spot one the beach with your cooler and chairs.

I’ve been to a couple of birthday here, and there’s always been something not-​so-​great: attacks by bees (they’ve gotten into my friend’s drink and stung her lips); dog poo in the sand; freezing water; car stalling on the crazy, winding roads… it’s an interesting place. At least you don’t have to pay to chill here.