Wakeboarding has become just about as popular as surfing when it comes to watersports. A lot of people have found it a more accessible, just as fun option to let some water pass underneath their feet for a good time during summer. People also love it because it’s a bit easier than a waterski and those with a good bit of balance can excel into being able to get some decent air after a bit of practice. This begs the question: Where are the best places to go wakeboarding? Well, we’ve compiled a nice list of lakes, rivers, and parks for you to enjoy. And where better to enjoy a little wakeboarding than California? So, here you have it. Our top ten of the best places to wakeboard in California
| Our Top Picks for Wakeboarding in Cali |
|---|
| California Delta |
| Lake Shasta |
| Wake Island |
| Lake Tahoe |
| Canyon Lake |
| Colorado River |
| Redding Wakeboard and Ski Park |
| Bullards Bar Reservoir |
| Lake Nacimiento |
| Velocity Island Park |
Best Places to Wakeboard in California
California Delta
Honker Bay in the California Delta
The California Delta is an awesome place for fishing, dining, boating, and, best of all, wakeboarding. Located near Sacramento and San Joaquin, the water out in the Delta is generally flat, great for getting a smooth ride in and the weather is generally temperate with little to no wind.
Additionally, the shape of the body of water with its various tributaries and open areas make it a neat place to carve around in. During the week, you will find that there is next to nobody out on the water. Even the weekends stay relatively calm. If you’re into mixing in some nightlife, the Delta is even close enough to several hot spots for such activity. All told, the Delta is a great spot to get in some quality wakeboarding all around.
Lake Shasta
Shredding Shasta
Located in O’Brien just a bit above Redding, Lake Shasta is definitely one of the best places to wakeboard in California. Shasta, to many, is the best lake in California for just about anything because it is so scenic. People love the camping, boating, and, most importantly, wakeboarding experiences that the lake has to offer.
Lake Shasta is especially beloved by wakeboarders for its incredibly smooth water all year round. Pro tip: Save your energy for riding in the morning and evening. While the water is pretty much always great quality, the most people are out on the lake during the middle of the day. So, if you can get yourself out of bed early or be out on the lake late, you’ll get to enjoy the glassiest water.
Wake Island
To be honest, Wake Island is more than a wakeboarding park near Sacramento. They have a floating obstacle course, beach volleyball, pedal boats and paddleboarding all set up in two manmade lakes that look like tons of fun. But we’re concerned with the wakeboarding pool.
This cable park has everything you need to have a sweet time carving up some water – and terrain. The park features boxes of several different shapes for you to grind and jib on as well as kickers for you to get some big air on. There are even a couple of different launching styles available at the docks for beginners all the way up to experts. Altogether, this place looks like not only one of the best places to wakeboard in California but also a great place for some all-around fun.
Lake Tahoe
Morning at Lake Tahoe
Tahoe is one of the more popular lakes on this list and offers a little bit of a different experience, if you are up for it. Lake Tahoe, to most northern Californians, is a vacation destination, meaning it will attract a lot of non-wakeboarding traffic. This might chop up your water a little bit but the lake is big enough that this shouldn’t be a huge problem if you are even mildly experienced.
If you really want to experience the glassiest water Lake Tahoe has to offer, show up on a weekday. Most patrons of Lake Tahoe are weekend warriors that head home for work on Monday. So, if you can manage it, you’ll get some of the smoothest water in California on a weekday.
Canyon Lake
Canyon Lake Wakeboarding Tournament | Credit canyonlakesocal.com
Canyon Lake in Southern California is an awesome place just inland from Lake Elsinore. Its scenic views and beautiful water make it a great place to experience some wakeboarding – but this also means that Canyon Lake is prime real estate. Unfortunately, the local homeowners who have built mansions and other waterfront properties on this lake would like to keep it quiet, which has led to a bit of tension between the natives and the weekenders.
Thankfully, the leaders of the community have continued leaving the lake open to the public for wakeboarders but the Canyon Lake inhabitants have kept up a strong fight to keep the lake private. So, for now, the glassy waters of Canyon Lake make it one of the best places to wakeboard in California – but you might want to make your trip sooner rather than later.
Colorado River
Havasu Lake
The Colorado River starts up in the Rocky Mountains and continues all the way down to Mexico, creating a natural border between California and Arizona. It also offers some of the finest opportunities for wakeboarding out on a river in California.
The river can look a lot different depending on what stretch of water you find yourself on so you can definitely find a length that is right for you. Certain bits have less people but shallower water and vice versa. The depth of the different stretches of water is controlled by a series of dams along the river so you’ll have to talk to the locals or search the internet for when the water will be up. But if you do get the opportunity and find yourself on the Colorado River, be sure to take your board out and carve some water for some of the best wakeboarding around.
The Colorado River feeds into Havasu Lake which boasts some of the most picturesque wakeboarding scenery around.
Redding Wakeboard and Ski Park
Found in Redding, this is the first wakeboard park ever in Northern California. The park employs a cable system to take you around a park that has all of the necessary features for you to get some nice action in on. The park has a ten foot box, a big kicker, and a forklift that you can have brought up out of the water to work some jibs on.
To be truthful, this may be a park that a few friends built together and enjoy when they don’t have any customers. However, this doesn’t mean we should sell it short. The intimacy of this place is what makes it so great. The park has full RV hookups, lessons, memberships, and reservations available. If you’re looking for that grassroots feel, Redding Wakeboard and Ski Park is the place for you.
Bullards Bar Reservoir
Bullards Bar from the air
The Bullards Bar Reservoir is often considered one of the best places to wakeboard in California. In fact, it is one of the reputable watersports lakes in Northern California and for good reason. When looking for a combination of smooth water and a lot of it, Bullards Bar is second to none.
Additionally, it is one of the better kept secrets in California, despite being so scenic. This makes it a great option for visiting both on weekdays and on the weekend. All told, Bullards Bar is one of the best places to wakeboard in California. If not, it’s the best.
Lake Nacimiento
Lake Nacimiento
Lake Nacimiento is a reservoir found in the northern part of San Luis Obispo that wakeboarders love to head to. The lake is quiet and one of the lesser known lakes that get used by lake-goers. The lake is 15 miles long with plenty of arms that give you a chance at finding some nice, glassy water.
The lake is said to be absolutely empty on weekdays by those who frequent it and is still relatively quiet on weekends. It is a decent jaunt away from any larger civilization, adding to the secluded feeling that you are sure to love. Oh, and it’s gorgeous. There’s no doubt you will enjoy carving up the waters of Lake Nacimiento.
Velocity Island Park
Velocity Park | Credit velocityislandpark.com
Velocity Island is probably the most professional and polished park here on our list. Found in Woodland, this park has all of the features that both a beginner and advanced rider would love. The park features a System 2.0 cable system to help beginners learn to get up on their board or advanced riders to nail that trick that has been eluding them.
The features in this park are also professional grade. The park has an XL kicker for getting massive air and four interesting rail options that advanced riders are sure to love getting innovative on. The park is even right next to the freeway, making it easy to access. For an advanced rider, this is probably the best park on this list to spend your time at, considering the features that Velocity Island has to offer.
Altogether, this list gives you a ton of options for some awesome wakeboarding in California. We made sure to give you a good combination of places to ride both tow and park boarding depending on what you prefer as well as locations throughout the state. No matter your preference, the right option for your next wakeboarding trip can be found on this list. Now, get off your computer and go tear it up.