Headed out to a SLO County lake for Memorial Day weekend? Here’s what you need to know

Mackenzie Shuman
·3 min read

Crowds flocking to a San Luis Obispo County lake over the Memorial Day weekend can expect quite the juxtaposition: Campgrounds full ... lakes, not so much.

As one could expect, the campgrounds are almost completely booked at each of the three recreation-friendly reservoirs: Lopez Lake, Santa Margarita Lake and Lake Nacimiento, according to park rangers and campground managers.

Only lodging and drive-in campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis at Lake Nacimiento, so the resort’s general manager Layla Decker advises those wishing to snag a spot to “get there early.”

Campfires are banned at both Santa Margarita and Lopez lakes, but allowed at Lake Nacimiento.

Day-use lake goers will find limited boating options at Lopez Lake. The public boat ramp closed May 16 due to the lake’s low levels, although small, hand-launch crafts such as kayaks, canoes and float tubes can still be launched, according to Park Ranger Miles Tuinstra.

The public boat ramps at Lake Nacimiento and Santa Margarita Lake are still open.

The Lopez Lake boat launch ramp will close May 16 due to low water levels, but hand launched crafts like kayaks can still be launched.
The Lopez Lake boat launch ramp will close May 16 due to low water levels, but hand launched crafts like kayaks can still be launched.

Where can you swim and fish?

Swimmers can jump into the waters at Nacimiento and Lopez Lakes, or ride jet skis and waterboards. Body contact at Santa Margarita Lake is prohibited, however.

Additionally, Lopez Lake has the Vista Lago Adventure Park, opening on May 27 with tickets starting at $30, and Mustang Water Park, opening on May 28 with prices starting at $22, for those wanting other fun opportunities.

Fishing is allowed in all of the lakes. Cast a line and see if you can catch a white bass in Lake Nacimiento, catfish in Lopez Lake and trout in Santa Margarita Lake, or another species.

Lake levels and weather forecast

Regardless, all of the lakes are seeing lower-than-normal levels for this time of year due to the ongoing drought.

Lopez Lake is at about 28% capacity, whereas this time last year it was sitting at 37% capacity, according to the San Luis Obispo County Public Works Department. That’s much lower than what it was at in 2020, which was 51% capacity, the agency’s data show.

Santa Margarita Lake is measured at 60% capacity, down from 67% this time last year and 87% in 2020, according to the county Public Works Department.

And Lake Nacimiento is resting at 26% capacity, or about 732 feet in elevation above sea level, a common unit of measurement for lakes and the only long-term historical measurement available for the lake. That’s down from 736 feet last year and 760 feet in 2020, according to the Monterey County Water Resources Agency.

Decker said that rangers have been out on the lake all week to mark for hazards that may have arisen as the lake’s levels dip. Boaters should still be on the lookout for any unexpected shallow areas, she noted. Lake Nacimiento Resort has posted several safety tips to their Facebook page, Decker said, which are helpful for anyone visiting any of the lakes.

Weather-wise this weekend, lake-goers can expect warm temperatures in the 70s to 80s, standard for this time of year in San Luis Obispo County.

“Have fun, be safe and follow the rules,” Decker said.