Whether you enjoy bird watching, fishing, strolling along trails or gazing at ancient volcanos the Clear Lake area is getting more and more known for its ecotourism. There are all sorts of maps available at the at the Featherbed Railroad to help you discover the beauty of this area.
If you are interested in land trails, water trails, bicycling paths or any form of viewing nature the new Lake County Trails web site has all sorts of great maps and resources.
Kayaking
Whether you bring your own or rent a kayak from the Featherbed Railroad, Clear Lake and its waterways are an excellent place to kayak. With the warm, shallow water on the lake and incredible unspoiled nature you will enjoy your time on the Lake year-round. For a sampler, check out this kayaking video.
Fishing
One of the more popular activities on Clear Lake is fishing. We have some excellent fishing guides in the area who will show you the best places to catch the bass, catfish, crappie and other species which thrive in the waters of Clear Lake.
Lake County Bird Watching
Lake County has many resident bids that are fun to spot including Great Blue herons, Clark's and Western Grebes, Osprey, Green Heron, Double-crested Cormorants, and Black crowned Night Herons, to name just a few. You will find a wider variety of birds here during the winter months and early spring. Bird watching is best in the morning before 10 o'clock as the birds are actively gathering food. The use of binoculars greatly enhances birdwatching. A7 X 35 magnification is recommended. The Lake County Bird Watching page has a good selection of what you might see.
A local company, Eyes of the Wild, also does guided bird watching boat tours that are well worth considering.
State and Regional Parks
There are some terrific opportunities to see nature in Lake County. With many hundreds of acres of unspoiled land, this is one of the few areas in California where you can get back to nature and see it as it has always been. After all, we are one of the oldest lakes in North America! Two great places to visit are Anderson Marsh State Park and Clear Lake State Park. Both have trails and much to do and see. There is a good list of state and regional parks on the County's visitor's site.
Lake County Agritourism
A wide variety of agricultural products are grown and raised in Lake County, from traditional products such as pears, walnuts and wine grapes, to more unusual products such as buffalos and goat cheese. There are plenty of farms and gardens you can visit while here. Lake County products are available at farmers markets and several produce stands located throughout the county, and many grocery stores offer locally grown produce in season.
Geothermal
With all of Lake County in the shadow of a volcano, Mount Konocti, on what is known as the Pacific Rim of Fire we have some interesting geology here. One of the more interesting things is the largest geothermal plant in the world, known simply as The Geysers. You can tour this fascinating place and learn more about it.
