Bullards Bar Camping Trip Aug 6 & 7 2011

Since I have moved to Northern California, I'm always looking for someplace new to explore. I came across Bullards Bar Reservoir north of Sacramento. I searched the internet and found nothing but good things about it. So we decided to give it a try!

On Saturday we awoke around 6:30am to try and get an early start. We were able to get on the road by 8am. The drive up was pretty easy.

We came in through Marysville. I'm pretty sure the route through the 49 is lots of up and down and winding road.

We launched at Dark Day launch ramp. The launch was free (amazing, right?) and there was no mussel inspection, but the girl at the kiosk said to expect inspections next year. Bummer!

It was around 11am and the ramp was pretty busy. Lots of people going shoreline camping, etc. We got on the water and started motoring around.

Map of the lake (above)

Quite a bit of houseboats out here! (above)

Skipper and first mate (above)

Lots of pine trees and emerald green 80 degree water, my kind of lake! (above)

Love the red dirt too!(above)

Always a place to rock jump!(above)

Cruisin...(above)

It was tough to get a shot of this guy, but I don't see bald eagles very often!(above)

We stopped at this popular cove with the waterfall and climbed up(above)

It's a party!(above)

Pretty big waterfall!(above)

Got out on the wakeboard for a few minutes(above)

We met up with Bruce and Katherine, they got this boat about a year ago, pretty sweet!(above)

Awesome...(above)

Off they go!(above)

We got off the lake and headed over to Schoolhouse campground and setup camp(above)

We cooked dinner and had some smores and hit the sack by 10pm(above)

We were up by 6am and went on a little hike trying to find the lake and saw this guy on the tree!(above)

Adele cooked up a great breakfast!(above)

We launched at 9am and I was testing the ski out. It wasn't running quite right, but I rode for a few minutes. I was warmer in the water than out!(above)

Willow Creek Arm(above)

They are dropping the water level fast, look at the ladder pattern in the shore?!(above)

Someone has been stacking some rocks!(above)

Garden Point camping area(above)

Quite the dam, couldn't imagine if this thing burst!(above)

Relaxin(above)

Dogs wanna have fun too!(above)

Anchored up in a cove(above)

Nice panorama(above)

Headed back to the launch ramp, man I don't wanna leave!(above)

We left around 3 and hit some bad traffic in Sacramento but made it home by 7. I think the drive is normally more like 3 hours. All in all, it was a great trip and I will definitely be back!