Clear Lake

Clear Lake is at the heart of Lake County, and is the largest natural lake in California and possibly the oldest lake in North America with an estimated age of 2.5 million years. Lake County boasts the cleanest air in the state of California.

Clear Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake entirely within California, with 68 square miles of surface area. The expansive, warm water of Clear Lake makes it ideal for recreation, including swimming, water skiing, sailing, and boating. Its scenic beauty and abundant wildlife - combined with the clearnest air in California - make Clear lake an excellent place to slow down, enjoy nature, and just plain relax.Quality grapes, visionary winemakers, and high elevation terroir make Lake County one of California's premier viticultural regions. With 35-plus wineries and almost 9,000 acres planted in winegrapes, the area is reclaiming its pre-Prohibition reputation.

Location & Size

Lake County is in Northern California, north of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is slightly inland from the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Glenn, Colusa, and Yolo counties. Lake County covers an area of 1,327 square miles.

100 miles/2 hours on Interstate 5 from Sacramento

under 100 miles on Highway 29 from Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano and Napa counties

110 miles on Highway 101 from San Francisco

Weather & Climate

Lake County has a Mediterranean-style climate with four distinct seasons, including a lush and vibrant spring, a long dry and warm summer, an autumn with warm days and cool nights, and a wet, mild winter with occasional snow on the mountaintops. Lake County rarely experiences coastal or valley fog, which translates into lots of sunshine - approximately 265 days of clear or partly clear skies on average.

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