Walker Lake (Mountain Meadows Res.) in California

Trip Overview

Mountain Meadows Reservoir is the official name on the maps, but locals call it Walker Lake after the town's founder. Just south of the community of Westwood, CA (no, not the ghetto surrounding UCLA, the real Westwood - in northeast California in Lassen County).

Lake is about 7 miles long east-west and about a mile at its widest. Roughly crescent shaped. It's a shallow lake with lots of marshy bays and coves and small islands. About 3/4 of the shoreline is densely forested, the rest is meadow. Roads completely surrounding the lake, so you can launch from anywhere. The roads are also very suitable for mountain biking.

A few fisherman will use trolling motors or small outboards on their flat bottom boats. Anyone with a ski boat or PWC has a death wish -- shallow with barely submerged obstacles all over the lake. Water level drops off later in summer. Frozen and inaccessible in Winter.

Wildlife and good fishing. Easy to find solitude both in the water and on shore. Scenic backdrop of mountains and meadows. Mostly locals use it. Very little non-local use.

Accommodations: No camping along shoreline. Mostly privately owned forest. Campgrounds are nearby at Lake Almanor/Chester area. Motel in Westwood.

Fees: None

Directions: Highway 36 between Susanville and Lake Almanor passes thru the town of Westwood. The road to the dam at the west end of the lake is easy to find. Other roads to the rest of the lake may require help. Ask in town or e-mail me.

Resources: General area info from Lassen Natl. Forest website.Topo maps. Lassen NF visitor map.