Benbow Lake, Garberville, CA

SFBoater — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:16:24 +0000

Benbow Lake is located near Garberville, CA

Phone:

707-923-3238 Summer

707-247-3318 Winter

About the Lake:

Benbow Lake is a beautiful manmade lake that was created as a result of a nearby dam. It is located off of the Eel River and was made in 1928. The lake was named for a prominent local family, and they have been very active in making sure that the lake was preserved. In the mid-1950's, they lobbied to put the lake under state control. In 1958, the special Benbow project was approved and the lake is now managed by the state.

Boat Launches:

There is a boat launch at the lake and there is a day use fee:

Boat Launching

$5 - $8

Is Camping Allowed?

Yes, there are several campsites located around the lake. Most are developed, and all are run by the state of California. There are some additional fees that may be required at some campsites. We have listed these at the bottom of this review.

Fees for Camping:

Family - Developed Sites

$11 - $25

Primitive (Undeveloped)

$9 - $15

Group - Developed Sites

$53 - $450

Primitive (Undeveloped)

$23 - $186

Premium Sites

$10 additional per site

Peak Season Rate

$3-5 additional per site

Enroute/Overflow

Same as campsite fee

Horse (Add $2 per horse for more than 2 horses)

$25-$30

Trail/Hike and Bike

$3-5 per person

Cabin Rentals

$35 - $60

What Kind of Fish Can Be Found Here?

The winter months are actually the best time to catch fish on this lake. While some campers have luck during the summer, you will be most likely to catch fish during the winter. The fish include salmon and steelhead.

Are there any Fishing Regulations? The usual state limits apply in regards to the amount of fish that you are allowed per day.

Special Notes: The state has actually set up a feature where you can book your campsite online. There is a registration fee, but it is well worth it to be able to lock in a specific date. This is a very popular lake and the nearby resort also does a lot of business during the summer months. We found the campsites to be incredibly well maintained, so if you are interested in roughing it, you'll still be guaranteed a nice place to sleep.

The fishing here was particularly good and we were surprised by the size and quality of the fish. Definitely one of the nicest lakes we've ever visited and we are making plans to return in the future.

Nearby Inns and Marinas:

Benbow Hotel and Resort

Garberville, CA

Please note that in addition to accommodations at the hotel there is also an RV Park and a golf course located nearby.

View Larger Map

Other Miscellaneous Fees:

Vehicle Parking (Day Use Fees)

Private Vehicles - Developed

$4 - $14

Undeveloped

$2 - $4

Metered

$0.50/30min

Buses

10-24 passengers

$50

25 or more passengers

$100

Group Day Use Sites

$23 - $450

Supplementary Fees

Showers

$0.25 - $0.50

Sanitation Dump Use - Campers

Free

Sanitation Dump Use - Non-campers

Same as day use fee

Hook-ups

$9 additional per site

Additional Motor Vehicle (Driven, not towed)*

$4 - $14

Originally posted 2008-10-07 05:45:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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