Lake Cachuma

CA

Santa Ynez Valley lake with eagle cruises and a big county campground.

34.580°N 119.940°W703 ft
BoatingCampingFishingPaddlingRV
Storage84%of capacity · California Data Exchange Center
Lake level742.3ftCalifornia Data Exchange Center · down · history
Today77°FPartly Sunny · low 49°F
Wind5 to 10 mphS · NWS
Rentals, stays & trips for Lake CachumaPartner links · same price for you
Rent a boat on Lake CachumaPontoons, ski and fishing boats from local ownersBoatsetter Stay near Lake CachumaLake cabins, vacation homes and hotelsExpedia · Vrbo Fishing charterHalf and full-day trips, gear includedViator Private campsiteWhen the public sites are fullHipcamp

Heads up: Off-season trips are quieter. Many owners still rent on calm, sunny weekends.

Rent a boat on Lake CachumaBoatsetter · partner link→
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenFreeMap · USGS 3DHP

Quick facts

Type
Lake
State
California
Elevation
703 ft
Boat ramps
1
Campgrounds
1
Fish species
None recorded

Get on the water

Ramps & rentals

Boat ramp

· 0.9 mi from the water
© OpenStreetMap contributors

Cachuma Marina & Boat Rentals

Rocky Mountain Recreation Company · Rocky Mountain Recreation Company
· 1.0 mi from the water
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Boat rentals

Rent a boat for Lake Cachuma

Pontoons, ski boats and fishing boats from local owners, with or without a captain.

Affiliate link

Where to stay

Camp near the water

Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

Santa Barbara County Parks · Santa Barbara County Parks, fee: yes
yes · 1.1 mi from the water
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Public sites full?

Private sites nearby

Ranch, desert and waterfront sites hosted by landowners.

Affiliate link
Rather sleep indoors?

Cabins and hotels near Lake Cachuma

Lake houses, cabins and hotels close to the water, with free cancellation on many stays.

Affiliate link
No rig? No problem

RV delivered to camp

Some owners will drop a trailer at the campground and pick it up when you leave.

Affiliate links

Off the water

Nearby trails

California Mission Trail - stage 07 Mission Santa Barbara to Mission Santa Inés

· 5.0 mi from the water
© OpenStreetMap contributors

Trailheads from OpenStreetMap and hand-checked notes. Open the trailhead in your hiking app for full route details.

Before you launch

Gas, bait & supplies nearby

Gas and fuel docks

  • Gas station
    1.1 mi
  • Mobil
    8.3 mi
  • 76 7798 Calle Real, Goleta
    10.4 mi
  • 7-Eleven
    10.6 mi

Bait and tackle

  • REI 321 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara · 10:00-19:00
    18.1 miCall
  • Surf N Wear's Beach House 10 State Street, Santa Barbara · Mo-Th,Su 09:00-18:00; Fr-Sa 09:00-19:00
    18.4 miCall
  • Mountain Air Sports 14 State Street, Santa Barbara · Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 10:00-17:00
    18.4 miCall
  • Stearns Wharf Bait and TackleBait 230 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara · Mo-Su 09:00-17:00
    18.7 miCall

Groceries and ice

  • Cielo Store
    8.2 mi
  • 7-Eleven 7390 Calle Real, Goleta · 24/7
    10.6 miCall
  • Nielsen'sIce
    10.7 mi
  • Valley Fresh MarketIce
    10.7 mi

RV dump and fresh water

  • RV dump stationDump station
    1.1 mi
  • Thousand TrailsDump station
    10.3 mi
  • Flying Flags RV ResortDump station
    14.6 mi
  • Marborg IndustriesDump station Mo-Fr 08:00-16:00, Sa 08:00-12:00
    18.3 mi

Ranger stations

  • Santa Barbara District Ranger Station
    8.9 miCall

Hospitals and urgent care

  • Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic
    8.9 mi
  • Santa Ynez Valley HospitalEmergency 2050 Viborg Road, Solvang · 24/7
    10.7 miCall
  • Cottage Urgent Care 7070 Hollister Avenue, Goleta · Mo-Su 08:00-20:00
    10.9 miCall
  • Hydration Room 5707 Calle Real, Goleta · Mo-Fr 08:30-13:30,14:30-17:30; Sa-Su 09:00-13:30,14:30-17:00
    11.7 miCall

Distances are straight-line from the water. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors; hours change, so call ahead. In an emergency, call 911.

Trip planner

Build your weekend

Saturday79°FSunnyWind 0 to 5 mph NW
Sunday80°FMostly SunnyWind 0 to 5 mph NNW

National Weather Service forecast. Afternoon wind builds on big lakes; plan crossings for the morning.

How many days
Who's coming
Main thing

Packing list

Don't forget

Good to know

Lake Cachuma FAQ

Can you rent a boat on Lake Cachuma?

Yes. Boat rentals for Lake Cachuma can be searched on Boatsetter, where local owners list pontoons, ski boats and fishing boats, some with a captain. Availability changes by season, so book early for summer weekends. Public launches include Boat ramp, Cachuma Marina & Boat Rentals.

Where can I launch a boat on Lake Cachuma?

Boat ramps and marinas listed for this water: Boat ramp, Cachuma Marina & Boat Rentals. Fees and hours change by season, so check with the managing agency before you tow.

Where can I camp near Lake Cachuma?

Campgrounds near the water include Cachuma Lake Recreation Area. When public sites are full, private sites nearby are listed on Hipcamp.

What is the water level of Lake Cachuma today?

On 2026-10-19, Lake Cachuma was at 742.34 feet, 84% of capacity. That's down 0.54 feet from a week earlier. Source: California Data Exchange Center, updated daily.

Is there gas near Lake Cachuma?

The closest listed fuel is Gas station, about 1.1 miles from the water.

Where can I buy bait near Lake Cachuma?

Bait and tackle nearby: REI (18.1 mi), Surf N Wear's Beach House (18.4 mi), Mountain Air Sports (18.4 mi). Hours change, so call ahead.

Keep exploring

Nearby water

Castaic Lake76 mi · 90% fullLake Isabella111 mi · 25% fullKern River117 miLake Elsinore161 mi

Sources: USGS 3DHP, Recreation.gov RIDB, OpenStreetMap contributors, CDFW and AZGFD, GBIF, NWS. Photo credits are listed on the photo credits page. All outbound links are affiliate links.