FAQs
Can I make a reservation for next year?
You may make reservations for next year. However, as our rates are approved on an annual basis by Bureau of Reclamation you will be making the reservation at the current price. These prices are subject to change and you will be responsible for the difference when you check in to your campsite next year.
Can I reserve a campsite for 1 night?
On weekends there is a minimum 2 night stay. On holiday weekends (Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends) there is a minimum 3 night stay.
Are there electrical or water hook ups or dump stations for the RVs?
At this time there are no hook ups or RV dump stations. All sites are dry camps.
How many tents are allowed per site?
More than one tent is allowed per site as long as all tents remain within the tent site boundary and you do not exceed the maximum amount of people allowed. A maximum of 6 people are permitted per campsite.
Is there boat and jet ski rental available at Berryessa Shores?
We do not yet have boat and jet ski rental. Please contact Pleasure Cove or Markley Cove for boat rental.
Is swimming allowed at the concession sites?
Yes, swimming is allowed.
When was Lake Berryessa made and by whom?
Lake Berryessa is a reservoir formed when the Bureau of Reclamation built Monticello Dam on Putah Creek in 1957. Reclamation is an agency of the Department of the Interior.
May I hunt and fish at Lake Berryessa?
Commercial activities are not allowed on Federal property without a permit and authorization by Reclamation. For information on activities that require a permit, please visit http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/berryessa/visitor_info.
What is the Solano Project?
Lake Berryessa is part of Reclamation’s Solano Project, managed by the Region’s Central California Area Office. Project purposes include flood control and municipal and industrial and irrigation water supply. For electricity, the Monticello Hydroelectric Powerplant was built in 1983 and is owned and operated by the Solano Irrigation District. Electrical power is generated by three hydroelectric units with an installed capacity of 11.5 megawatts; the electricity is then transmitted to Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s power grid.
Who owns the lake?
The Lake Berryessa Recreation Area is Federally owned, public land administered by Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Region, headquartered in Sacramento.
Why “Berryessa”?
The origin of the name “Berryessa” is from two brothers, Jose Jesus and Sisto Berryessa, who owned a significant portion of the land in and around the town of Monticello, now covered by the waters of Lake Berryessa.