I didn't know this area is called Annabel Lake! My husband and I walk around the lake, about a…read moremile around with our doggos. It's got dog poop stations, facts about the lake, lots of places to sit and relax and there's a coffee shop open on the weekdays. We usually park near the Target, Super Duper Burgers and then just walk over. It's a nice relaxing stroll.

What a pleasant place to be after hanging out at the mall across the street…read more This was a quiet very peaceful Park with a lake. It is behind an office building. You can easily come here to have a quiet picnic. We walked around and it was actually a pretty big lake area. Probably about 20 minutes to 30 minutes walk. There were a lot of small gray color fish in the water and they would chase us as we walked around. A charming place to get away from the bustle and hustle of the mall across the street where we just had a nice udon lunch.

Series of gravel walking trails that line the Watsonville Wetlands throughout town. Kind of a…read morehidden gem, I really don't see a whole lot of people out there, but they're such a great resource. Most of the access points aren't really obvious from the road, but the website has a decent map. Most of the trails are pretty much flat, and have benches and plaques telling you about the slough. Great for all skill levels. Because of the way the city is laid out, most people never see (or may not even know of) the sloughs. The trails are a great way to experience them. Some of the trails get a little slushy after it rains, so bring worthy shoes. Remember to pack your trash and respect the landscape. :-)

Excellent location for hosting a large gathering. Landscaping and water look beautiful. Centrally…read morelocated and very close to freeway.

If you are not a member, you need to join!!! It is a private get away, right in Tracy!! Swimming,…read morekayaking, paddle boards, fishing and hiking!

We loved the lake and stories about Nesty as they call the dragon. Fun stuff. The people are sweet…read moreand it's easy getting around. The food is great. I want to go back.

Getting there and having to pay for limited parking is the worst, but if you can stomach that,…read moreyou'll be rewarded with a nice serene lake! It's still pretty much a secret and for pretty good reason.. The road to there is rough and windy. There's also not much at the park. The prices for boat and water stuff rental is pretty reasonable.

Lake Elsman Santa Cruz Mountains, CA Tue 4/9/24 Beautiful…read moreprivately owned water reservoir! © Lake Elsman is not accessible to the general public. There's no access, no swimming, no fishing, no way to approach. It's an absolute beauty located in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains, a secret place, well guarded. It is quite large, but you can't see it unless you hike up the mountain and find a spot where it's seen in the distance. Trust me, I've tried. You can't access Lake Elsman legally. There are armed guards & security has been strongly maintained. Nowadays, there are drones patrolling the skies to detect the unwanted visitors, should one slip by the prohibition signs and try to trespass. The area is pristine but this is not an alpine lake, it's a reservoir that supplies water to a few million people. The lake and its 10,000 acre watershed are vigorously protected by the San Jose Water Works, the company that owns it, & is a source of 12% water supply. Lake Elsman reservoir has been created on Los Gatos Creek by a dam built in 1950. The lake took two quakes of 5.3 & 5.4 magnitude back in 1988 & 1989 which transferred the stress and ultimately resulted in major Northern California earthquake, magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta quake of 1989. It did damage the dam. These days Google maps are your best chance to take a pick!:) *Down in the street Under the still budding trees You feel the pull of the reservoir But that water's not for me Oh And downtown The people walk around You try to find, what you lost But it's nowhere to be found Oh [ Review #807 w 2 pics Post Dec 22 from Apr 9, 2024 ] Photo courtesy of Mountain Network News! Lake Elsman Santa Cruz Mountains CA Photo courtesy of Google maps! Lake Elsman Santa Cruz Mountains CA

This picturesque lake is so impressive. I went here to fish, but there's something to do for pretty…read moremuch everyone. There is a $6 entry fee, and plenty of parking in multiple spots, and closes when the sun goes down. The fish limit is 5 fish per person. There is a lot of fishing space, some on muddy terrain, and some over rocks and grass. People were paragliding and hang gliding on the beautiful lush green hills next in the back. If the only thing you can do is walk, then it's a great one filled with much wildlife like cute hawks and birds; not too short not too long with plenty of shade if you stick near the lake with dispersed picnic tables, and that wonderful view. Cell phone service here sucks. They have barbecue pits and fish cleaning stations. Definitely a hidden bay area gem.

We recently had a large group picnic at the Sandy Wool Group Area, which is a reservable picnic…read moresite right next to Sandy Wool Lake. The Sandy Wool Group Area includes a giant gazebo with a new-looking roof providing shade, a large BBQ grill in the center, and plenty of picnic tables surrounding the grill - plenty of space for our group of 30+ to spread out. Very peaceful area, even on a weekend. + Plenty of parking available ($6 per car) + Clean restroom, even stocked with pads and tampons + Dogs allowed Note: none of us had any cell phone service there, so make sure to coordinate beforehand and enjoy the present moment! I'll have to come back another time to walk around more and maybe try my hand at catching some fish in the lake.

The water is near full pool and the north shore shoreline camping is awesome again! Great thing is…read morenot to many people out here at all.