Los Gatos Lakes

Lakes Around Los Gatos

It’s summertime and that means it’s time to start planning your upcoming family vacation. If you’re looking for a fun destination, consider visiting a lake near Los Gatos. A lake vacation can be perfect for those that enjoy the outdoors too, because they offer opportunities to see birds, fish, turtles and other animals in their natural habitat.

There are countless brilliant motivations to visit a lake in Los Gatos during the warmer months – the water is refreshing on hot days, fun summer activities like boating, fishing or swimming. You’ll find that some lakes have beaches that are ideal for working on your tan. Browse through the local listings below and have a look the options from swimming lakes to larger lakes for you to visit.

Lakes Near Los Gatos

A Day at the Lake: An Itinerary

When you visit a lake near Los Gatos you’ll find all kinds of things to do for families, couples, or with a group of friends. Whether you’re just looking for a day trip or take a longer vacation at a hotel on the beach to enjoy yourself more fully.

Let’s look at some of the options available to you when you visit a lake near Los Gatos:

Partake in some delicious delights outside. The lakes near Los Gatos offer a wealth of excellent picnic areas for you to pack up some culinary delights, or something as simple as crackers and cheese and a cold beverage by the water. For a romantic evening, good food and a view is hard to beat.

Get a little crazy with the water sports. If you’re able to get access to a ski boat, why not get out on the water and start kicking up a wake demonstrating your athleticism and water sports talents? Hit the water and go wakeboarding, skiing, or tubing as the all sports lakes provide you with several choices.

Go fishing. For those that love to fish, finding a good fishing hole shouldn’t be too hard to help you have a relaxing day with a line in the water whether you’re out on a boat or tossing a line in from the dock.

How to Prepare for a Day at the Lake

Everyone’s beach getaway will be unique depending on the lake you’re heading to, what time of year it is, and what your perfect itinerary looks like. While every trip is its own animal, we took the time to make a list with some of our favorite ideas for your watery excursion to ensure nothing gets forgotten!

Common lake items

For a day spent on the water you’ll probably want to bring some of these things so that you’ll be feeling good, healthy, and getting the most out of your getaway.

  • Sunblock
  • Sunglasses
  • Swimsuits
  • Insect repellant
  • Proper footwear
  • Sweatshirt and sweatpants
  • Plates, bowls, utensils, cups
  • Something to dry off with
  • A picnic basket
  • Bluetooth speaker

Specialty lake items

Depending on your planned activities for the day and your guests, the following items might also prove useful and adding to your checklist prior to departure.

  • Your tackle box
  • Baby gear (if necessary)
  • Toys for the beach
  • Worms or other bait
  • Rafts and floaties
  • Something to clean up with like sanitizers or wet wipes
  • Fishing poles
  • Safety gear like life jackets
  • Licenses and registration for boating and fishing
  • Wine key

Staying Safe on a Lake

Yes, being on the water can make for a memorable day, it’s important that you remember to keep safety top of mind. Here are some general tips that will make sure that everyone stays safe while around the lake.

  • Be aware of your surroundings and know where you are in relation to land
  • Always wear a life jacket when boating, kayaking or paddle boarding
  • Stay close to shore and avoid areas with shallow water or where the current is strong
  • Keep your distance from wildlife
  • Don’t mix alcohol with swimming
  • Always wear sunblock
  • Make sure no one swims alone

Some More Tips

Not everyone has had a chance to visit the amazing lakes around Los Gatos and likely have a lot of questions on ways to maximize their fun. Obviously, each lake near Los Gatos is going to possess unique qualities and surroundings, but it’s worth noting a few things to look into when making plans that might help you end up with a winning itinerary.

  1. Make the most of unique assets in the area. If there’s time for a longer trip, look for local state campgrounds and parks which give you the option to camp directly on the water for a reasonable price.
  2. Rent a boat. It’s common that lakes will have nearby marinas where you can rent a boat. Boats are expensive to own, but a rental will still allow you to enjoy a relaxing day of fishing or taking the kids out for some wakeboarding or tubing. Using a search engine can typically allow you to locate a marina that has what you need.
  3. Do homework on the beaches. Depending on the time of year, sometimes the beaches near Los Gatos can get very crowded. To find some more space to spread out, do some digging on a variety of lakes in the area to see if you can find one that’s less crowded if you want a more relaxing vibe. If you want to be where the party’s at, then look for the biggest, most happening beach!