| Lake San Antonio | |
|---|---|
| Location | Monterey County, California |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | San Antonio River |
| Primary outflows | San Antonio River |
| Basin countries | United States |
Lake San Antonio is a lake in southern Monterey County, California. The lake is formed by an earthfill dam on the San Antonio River. The dam is 202 feet (62 m) tall and was completed in 1965 under Monterey County District Engineer Loran Bunte Jr . The lake and dam are owned by the Monterey County Water Authority. The lake has a capacity of 335,000 acre feet (413,000,000 m3)
Lake San Antonio's primary purpose is to provide groundwater. Without the lake, the river would be nearly dry in the summer months. With water in the river year-round, more of it can seep into the ground.
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Boating, waterskiing, fishing and camping are popular recreational activities at the lake, particularly in the summer. Visitors can bring their own boats or rent them at the lake.
Horseback riding and mountain biking are also popular; the South Shore of Lake San Antonio has 26 miles of trails. The North Shore of Lake San Antonio is unique, as it is one of the few lakes in California that permits you to camp on the water's edge. Because of this, it has gained a growing popularity with boaters, who are allowed to keep their vessel in the water by their campsite. There is ample shoreline camping at North Shore. Most campers prefer North Shore over Lake Nacimiento (Located 9 miles south), because of the much larger campsites, and ability to camp on the water's edge.
Lake San Antonio has over 500 campsites. Many campsites have RV hookups. Sites are available both directly on the north shore and on the south shore of the lake, as well as in the more forested areas a short walk away.[1]
Deer frequent the campsites, even lounging around during daylight hours near campsites. Other wildlife that may be spotted include bears, snakes, and wild pigs. Eagles frequent the lake and tours are offered during select months. The North shore offers campsites on the shore where you can leave your boat moored in the water rather than launching it every day.
Lake San Antonio is a popular winter spot for the bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States. Monterey County Parks provides tours in January and February to show interested visitors the bald eagle in its native habitat. These tours must be reserved in advance, as they usually sell out weeks before they take place.[2]
Lake San Antonio is the site of the annual Wildflower Triathlon, one of the largest triathlon events in the world. The course, a half-Ironman, is considered to be especially gruelling.