Reservoir: Fountain of Activity

San Luis Reservoir, one of the mega-reservoirs of the California State Water Project, is actually three different bodies of water: the main reservoir, O’Neill Forebay and Los Banos Reservoir.

San Luis reservoir is the largest reservoir in the United States that’s not an integral part of a river or creek. You can learn more about San Luis Reservoir and California’s waterworks at Romero Visitors Center, just off California 152 on the northeast side of the reservoir.

Fishing is the San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area’s most popular activity, followed by sail boarding, camping and picnicking. For hikers, the best time to visit is spring, when the usually brown hills turn green and are brightened by such wildflowers as California poppies, tidytips and larkspur. If you arrive in summer, expect temperatures in the 90s or higher. In winter, tule fogs frequently blanket the area.

Path of the Padres is a popular guided hike conducted during springtime weekends at San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area. The boat tour and five-mile hike retraces part of the trail taken by Spanish missionaries.

Unfortunately for most out-of-towners, San Joaquin Valley locals snap up all tickets for the guided hike every year, and this year is no exception: All tickets have been sold. Out-of-area hikers can put their names on a waiting list, but park officials say the chances of getting on a Path of the Padres tour are mighty slim.

Hikers, however, can embark on a self-guided tour of the trail at North Rim Drive. The route uses a lake shore trail around Salt Springs Cove, then heads alongside Los Banos Creek. Your self-guided tour, absent the boat ride up the creek, will be about double the five miles of the guided trip. The trail visits one of the state’s largest sycamore groves and climbs to a ridgetop overlook for views of the western San Joaquin Valley.

Lone Oak Bay Trail (six miles round trip) explores the oak-dotted lake shore on the reservoir’s south side. Golden eagles and red-tailed hawks are frequently sighted from this trail, which offers excellent views of the lake. In spring, California poppies, bush lupine, tidytips, gold-fields and Chinese houses brighten the grassy slopes above the lake.

To begin this trail, follow the park road two miles from Basalt Campground. Just before the road ends at a boat launch site, turn onto a signed dirt road leading to the trail head.

Basalt Campground Trail (1.5-mile loop) is a combination footpath/service road offering hilltop views. Join this trail near the entrance to Basalt Campground.

The path climbs grassy slopes for three-fourths mile to a viewpoint of the reservoir, San Joaquin Valley and Basalt Hill. An interpretive exhibit with a map points out the highlights visible from the viewpoint.

Millions of tons of basalt, the volcanic rock found hereabouts, was used in construction of San Luis Dam during the 1960s. You descend the hill to a park service road that returns you to the trail head.

Directions to trail head: The various units of the reservoir are reached off California 152, about two miles west of Interstate 5 and 10 miles west of the town of Los Banos.

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Lone Oak, Basalt Campground Trails

WHERE: San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area; Lone Oak Trail, Basalt Campground Trail, Path of the Padres

DISTANCE: 1.5 to 6 miles round trip.

TERRAIN: Grassy hills of San Joaquin Valley.

HIGHLIGHTS: Guided historical walk.

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: easy to moderate.

For more information: San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area, 31426 W. Highway 152, Santa Nella, CA 95322; tel. (209) 826-1196.