Lake Berryessa is close enough to Sacramento and the Bay Area for a day trip and just far enough away to serve as a weekend destination that doesn't require much time behind the wheel. Day-trippers accompanied by leashed dogs will enjoy the easy, 2.6-mile Smittle Creek Trail from Smittle Creek Park to Coyote Knolls in Oak Shores Park. The well maintained path follows a shoreline route alongside a quiet strait popular for canoeing and kayaking. Easy access to the water is abundant, and there are plenty of opportunities for Daisy to fetch sticks and swim.
Lake Berryessa is managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, and its 135 miles of shoreline are dotted with public day-use areas. Private resorts and concessions offer services ranging from tent and RV camping facilities to boat launches, houseboat rentals and activities.
You don't have to own your own Chris-Craft to get out on the water, should that be your inclination. Berryessa Boat & Jet Ski Rental at Markley Cove can fix up you, Fido and friends with a patio boat that will open new horizons on the largest body of water in Napa County. Want to make a weekend of it? Accommodations at Markley Cove Resort include two pet-friendly units—one with a lake view, the other tucked into the woods—that sleep four humans in addition to four-legged visitors. Don't sit on your tail; check it out!
Photo: "Lake Berryessa Houseboat" – Jon Wiley (CC)
