Lopez Lake Park
The Place to Hike, Bike, Ride, Boat or Slide
By Jennifer Best
 | | Photo By Jennifer Best |
| | Lopez Lake offers trails galore, sailing, windsurfing, boating and beautiful views. |
"Early morning hikes at Lopez Lake are among the most peaceful activities found along the Central Coast.
Deer graze along the 22 miles of shoreline as a red-tailed hawk glides quietly over the calm green water. From shore, early morning hikers may hear the buzz of a fisherman's reel as he casts, the splash of largemouth bass jumping for a morning bite, or birdsong from any of 150 species of birds found here. Herds of turkeys trampling through the brush are among the loudest noises during the waking hours.
As the temperature increases, so does activity in this San Luis Obispo County Park 10 miles east of Arroyo Grande. The lake is formed by the Lopez Dam, which sits at the mountainous east end of the Arroyo Grande Valley. High above the valley floor behind the dam, Lopez Lake is in the perfect spot to catch the Pacific Ocean breezes - making it the perfect spot for wind surfing. Most summer days, you can see schools of windsurfers out on the lake, riding the waves while holding jewel-toned sails.
But you don't have to wind surf to enjoy the park. There's plenty to do there. It's also well known locally for its fishing, water skiing, windsurfing, camping, hiking and waterslides. Lopez Lake Park also offers trails for horseback riding and bicycling.
In fact, the park has more than 15 miles of trails, most of which are open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders alike. In the lake itself, fishermen regularly catch trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, crappie, bluegill and red-ear.
Perhaps the easiest hike in the park is the half-mile Marina Trail. It begins just inside the park entrance past the old barn. Another easy option is the 15-minute walk through the oaks out to Rocky Point, a popular fishing spot overlooking the lake's Arroyo Grande Arm.
The most popular trail among mountain bikers is the Tuoski-Two Waters Trail-Dune Vista Trail loop off the lake's Wittenberg Arm. Hard-core climbers enjoy the Wittenberg Trail, which leads up the steep ridge to Hi Ridge Trail.
Visitors with a boat might consider boating out the Lopez Arm. Parents can drop their children with an adult guide at the Two Waters Trail, then boat peacefully around to the Wittenberg Arm to pick up the walkers at the trail's end.
 | | Photo by Jennifer Best | |
| The Mustang Water Slides at Lopez Lake throw kids some curves. | |
Mustang Water Slides a Must for Kids
Children and adults alike enjoy the park's Mustang Water Slides. There are no monstrous drops here. The attraction includes two half-pipe waterslides that follow the natural slope of the mountain. There are also three smaller slides in the separate Pony Pools below.
"It's pretty cool," said 16-year-old Sara Ball during a visit from Harrisville, Utah. "It was more fun to watch what people could do because I can't do a lot of that."
Her 18-year-old sister, BreaAnne Ball, agreed. "They hang their toes over the edge of the slide and spray water all over the place. Plus, some of the boys are hot. That doesn't hurt," BreaAnne said with a giggle.
When they're not grabbing mats and heading up the hillside for a run down the pipe, visitors bask in the sun, lounge under canvas umbrellas and enjoy picnics on the lawn, picnic tables, under the shelter of oak and honey locust trees at the Mustang Water Slides.
A three-hour half-day pass to the waterslides is $12.50; a full-day pass is $15.50. The Pony Slides area for small children charges $4.50 for a half-day pass and $8 for a full-day pass. Parents who just want to go supervise their kids at the water slides can pay $1 to get in - though they might want to pay $6.50 for a one-hour pass to the Mustang Water Slides. The bit slides offer heated spas that are a nice place to soak while the bigger kids play. For more details on the Mustang Water Slides, check out their website at www.mustangwaterslides.com or call them at 805-489-8898. Remember, you still have to pay the $5 per car park entry fee if you're going to the waterslides.
If lakeshore sunbathing is all you're after, there is plenty to be had. Begin exploring the shore at Cove Beach off Grizzly Drive, then venture further into the park for more privacy.
Lopez Lake Park is home to more than 300 campsites. It also hosts several special events throughout the year including fishing contests and Fishing For Kids Days, which include free park entry, fishing rod loans for children and help from adult "fishing buddies."
All sorts of lake equipment are available for rent at the marina store. Borrow a powerboat, kayak, canoe or fishing rod for an hour or the day.
If you go: To get there from Highway 101, take the Grand Avenue exit in Arroyo Grande and head east. The road becomes Lopez Lake Drive and leads over the dam directly to the park. Entry fee for a day at the park is $5 per car, plus another $5 for each Jet-ski or motorized boat you bring, $2.50 for every non-motorized boat and $1 for every sail boat. For details, call the park at 805-788-2381.
For more information about rentals, call (805) 489-1006. For campground reservations, call (805) 788-2381.
Writer Jennifer Lopez is a Central Coast Native who enjoys hiking at Lopez Lake with her husband and toddler.
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