Lodi Lake: A place to get away from it all
Every year, some 200,000 people visit Lodi Lake. And, with the number of activities available at the lake located in the northern part of Lodi, it’s no surprise.
From a public beach with life guards to a bicycle trail to night time boat tours, there’s something for everyone.
Even when it’s too cold to swim, the 58-acre Nature Area gives people a chance to take a quiet walk along trails sometimes speckled with fall leaves or spring blossoms. Open from 8 a.m. to dusk, the area offers a variety of options on the lake and the Mokelumne River, which feeds into Lodi Lake.
The swimming season starts each Memorial Day in May and runs through Labor Day in September. A beach with swim access that is blocked from boats is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., said Park Program Coordinator Grant Plath.
The beach area may also be reserved for private parties.
Those who want to have parties at the lake may also reserve one of five sheltered barbecue areas around the lake. Free barbecue pits and picnic tables are scattered around the lake and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Overnight camping is not allowed, but groups with a minimum of 12 RVs, at $21 per vehicle, are allowed to camp at the lake if booked in advance.
Boating is also an option, and eight open trailer slots are available for $5, in addition to the lake’s vehicle entrance fee. Speeds are limited to 5 mph on the lake, though open speed is allowed on the Mokelumne River between noon and 7 p.m. From 7 p.m. to noon, river speed is also limited to 5 mph.
Fishing is allowed in season, with a valid license.
For those who do not own boats, rentals are available for $5 per half hour. The boathouse, located near the entrance to Lodi Lake, has a variety of rentals, including kayaks, canoes and peddle boats.
Three-hour kayak and canoe excursions on the Mokelumne River are available for $10 per person, with a limit of 20 people per outing. Boats, paddles, life jackets and a guide are provided. The excursions, which last from 9 a.m. to noon or from 7 to 10 p.m., are offered on various Saturdays from spring to fall, Plath said.
Guides also lead hourlong walking tours through the nature area. The tours detail the riparian habitat near the lake and river, and are offered by reservation year-round, weather permitting.
Annual events are also held at the lake, with the largest being the Oooh Aaah Festival, a July 4 Independence Day celebration with numerous vendors. The day culminates with a fireworks show after dusk.
Also in July, Lodi Adopt-A-Child, a local-based charity, holds a show combining hot-rod cars and Harley Davidson motorcycles. All proceeds go to the nonprofit organization that provides needy children with clothing and Christmas presents.
The lake is also home to the Fishing Derbies and the Trix Run, both in June, and the annual Salmon Festival in October. A five-kilometer Christmas Tree Run is also an annual event.
For teens, the Lodi Youth Commission sponsors Wet and Wild, a beach party held the first Saturday in August.
Younger children and their parents can attend Wading Tales, a story time session at the wading pool next to the beach.
Children and adults alike may also visit the Discovery Center, which is open and free of charge on Saturdays between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The center features various mounted animals, displays and exhibits.