| Visitation: 350,000 | ||
| Area: 25,000 Acres | ||
| Lat: 35.862483 | ||
| Lon: 121.024532 | ||
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Parham Pourahmad
Larry Whiting
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| Lake San Antonio - Site # 114 | |||
| Sixteen miles long, this enormous lake features a resident herd of more than 400 black-tailed deer, up to 100,000 migratory waterfowl, and the largest wintering population of bald eagles in central and southern California. | |||
| Background: | More than 50 bald eagles, 12 resident golden eagles, and ospreys roost on shoreline snags. The best viewing is from the county's large tour boat, which provides inforamtion and binoculars. In the spring, golden eagles nest in trees near the shore. Canada geese, Clark's and western grebes, American white pelicans, wood ducks and herons gather on the lake; miles of muddy shoreline are proved by American avocets and killdeer. Resident acorn woodpeckers, wild turkeys, and California quail are joined by many migrants, including California thrashers, cedar waxwings, and yellow-billed magpies. | ||
| The Habitat: | The lake consists of roughly 50% oak woodland savanna and 50% chaparral. | ||
| The Experience: | It is a consistent over-wintering site for wildlife, with bald eagles being the most significant resident. Between the 1930s -1980s bald eagles were nonexistent. Reintroduction efforts brought back bald eagles during the 1980s-2000. | ||
| Wildlife and Where to Find It: | Car, Boat, Horseback- (North Shore Park), hiking- 25+ miles of trails on North and South shore, Easy to moderate difficulty, hot and dry in summer- hike early. | ||
| Viewing Tips: | 100 bird species. High probability of seeing eagles and other birds of prey from December 15 to March 10. Also see waterfowl in winter. American white pelicans from fall through early summer. Look for songbirds in spring and summer. Deer, bobcats, and squirrels are seen year-round. Eagle boat tours for fee, reservations required. Call 1-888-588-CAMP. | ||
| Site Notes: | In the summer the lake is extremely popular for camping and water recreation enthusiasts. Visitors are able to relax at a lake without feeling overcrowded whether on land or lake. In winter, the parks are quiet and peaceful, with extensive wildlife viewing. The off season visitor will feel they have the lake park to themselves. | ||
| Nearby Viewing Sites: | Piedras Blancas | ||
| Festivals & Events: | Monterey Bay Birding Festival | ||
| Visitor Information: | Travel Paso - - https://go.travelpaso.com | ||
| Viewing Site Hours of Operation are: | |||
| Staff On-site: | Yes | ||
| Open: | Everday | ||
| Hours: | 24 hours | ||
| Year Round: | Yes | ||
| Road Information: |  Paved. | ||
| Road Hazards: Ice in winter | |||
 Number of Parking Spaces: 100 | |||
| Parking Fee: | |||
| Proximity to viewing area:20' | |||
 Pull-Through Parking: Yes | |||
| Parking Notes: | |||
| How to Get There: | From north of King City on Highway 101, take Jolon Road/G-14 exit west 24 miles. Go right on Interlake Road. After 12 miles, turn left to lake on San Antonio Road. Drive 4 miles to lake. OR, from Paso Robles on Highway 101, take Lake Nacimiento exit. Turn left on Highway 46/G-14. Follow G-14 for 26 miles to San Antonio Road and turn right. | ||
| Contact Information | |||
| Managing Agency: | Monterey County Water Resources Agency | ||
| Agency Site URL: | www.co.monterey.ca.us/parks | ||
| Physical Address: | 2610 San Antonio Road Bradley, CA 93426 |
Agency 2: | 2610 San Antonio Road Bradley, CA 93426 |
| Manager Phone: | 805-472-2311 | Contact Us: | by Email |
| Site Phone: | (805) 472-2311 | ||
| County: | Monterey | ||
| Addition Website: | |||