For those headed to Rte 5 from the South Bay, you've likely passed Pacheco State Park on Hwy 152…read morebefore descending to the San Luis Reservoir. (But don't blink, or you'll miss the exit). Despite the unassuming entrance, it's a surprisingly large and beautiful park. Like a lot of hikes in the Diablo range, your experience will depend much on the season. Summer here is to be avoided, unless you are a heat-freak (or masochist). Fall and winter are much better, but still brown with a capital B. Spring, however, is the time to see sprouting trees and hills bathed in green. I went here with hiking buddy M in early March, and conditions were absolutely ideal. Some wildflowers were already out; and we spotted munching elk on an adjacent hillside (They scattered quickly.) The weather was sunny, windy, and in the 60s. Just gorgeous. (Photos added). Trail junctions were well-marked, but some trails were so faint they sometimes faded into pasture. (For those who want to hike on anything but primary fire roads, a navigation device is recommended.) We had excellent trail maps on our phones, so we were able to explore some more remote trails. Note: Being next to Henry Coe State Park, I had thought to call this a "mini Coe" but that's not accurate. It feels a little less wild and is windier (a wind farm borders the eastern side). Believe it or not, my biggest issue with the park was in leaving. To get back to the Bay Area - and starting from a dead stop - we had to cross two lanes of busy, eastbound traffic on Hwy 152 while also merging with two lanes of 70 mph traffic heading the other way. Patience pants were required, size XL. Hiking Spot Checklist: -- Parking: Self-register lot (paid) after entering gate, but there's also free parking 0.1 mi away (outside the gate) -- Bathrooms: Pit toilets at main entrance -- Potable water provided: No (bring plenty, especially in summer) -- Maps provided: Yes (but not very good); bring good maps on your phone -- Highlights: Unspoiled oak woodland and expansive views

Without GPS you would be completely lost hiking these trails. At least 40% of the trails are…read morebeautifully overgrown with wildflowers. There are at least a dozen places to make a wrong turn, but as long as you're not in a hurry, the wrong turn will likely leave you to a steep beautiful hillside. I did this hike on a beautifully sunny and cool April 1st. On a blazing hot day I think it would be miserable unless you have a good hat and plenty of water. Almost zero cover. April 1st 2023, the wildflowers were amazing. So many wildflowers that you couldn't find the trail. Check out my GPS track for this trail and you'll see how chaotic it got. But all the time it was amazing and beautiful.

We made a quick stop here in the heat of the day last week. The wetland was dry, so not many birds…read morearound, but I bet this place is full of birds in other seasons! I walked the wetland trail a bit, but it was very hot so I didn't spend much time. We unfortunately did not know there was a visitors center and we never saw one. Definitely bring binoculars and look for birds especially when it's not summer!

Bird loop was good but so windy. Many egrets and grebes. Visitor center is closed on Sunday but…read morethere is a bathroom outside

We had a privilege of going on a " Path of the Padres" guided tour here at Los Banos Creek…read moreReservoir on 2/25/2018 Sunday. There's no exit from 152 or I-5 to get to the reservoir , you'd have to drive to Volta Rd , then on to Canyon Rd to get to the boat launching area. A little winding but not too bad. A beautiful lake full of wildlife , while we were riding on a tour boat we saw a couple of ospreys , deer, koots, herriers , red-tails ( hawks). While we hiked our 9 -mile trail , we saw tons of cows, footprints of raccoons and deer, coyote scats . Bobcats and mountain lions been spotted here also. We learned history of Yokuts Indians , saw a could of acorn grinding holes on a rock, learned about the native plants such as wild cucumbers, Willow , dark blue elderberry trees and how the Yokuts Indians used to use them for medicinal purposes. We were welcomed by the nice cool breeze and the warm sun while we hiked but it was freezing cold while sitting in a boat. Luckily , we were prepared and had our down jackets , scarves and gloves. The tour is guided by two extremely knowledgeable and friendly park rangers. Richard has 14 year of experience in this area and very knowledgeable about the Yokuts Indian and the history of California. Nathan is a very skilled boat operator and friendly, skilled outdoor ranger. They made this experience much more memorable and fun. We hike an extra mile and a half to see the abandoned barn and houses by Basque immigrants. Old abandoned barns were pictureristique . It was fun watching the cows grazing up close and walk away as we approached them. Two of the ospreys we saw were so beautiful and majestic. They were perched proudly on the tree branches. Some area of the trail are very steep , narrow and slippery. We had to do some creek and river crossings. I wouldn't recommend it for small children but they do offer school trips there. Overall, a great outdoor experience of hiking , learning and a boat riding. $20 per person for the tour and you have to register through California State Park website. Tours only offered on the weekends during end of February to April.

Oct 2021 I stopped by the reservoir to fly RC Gliders. Jorge the ranger was very helpful letting…read moreme know where to go, unlocking the gate and welcoming this first timer to the park. Had a great time flying my Pittbull fully ballasted the first day in 15 + mph winds till sunset. Next day the lift wasn't so good, but I had a great time flying other planes. I told my other RC Glider buddies and they are stoked to make a trip up. Talking with Jorge and knowing this great park is so welcoming to RC Glider and RC planes, I will sure plan another trip out here in 2022.

Great place to visit and walk around. Highly recommend to go mornings or evenings cause it gets…read morehot. Hardly any shade so bring an umbrella/hats/sunglasses if you can't stand the heat, definitely no heavy clothes you will sweat and bring comfortable shoes as well a lot of gravel. The walk and the self car tour took us about 2hr and 30 min to explore. Bathrooms are a nasty but open and bring water too. There's 3 trails for walking.

Bring your binoculars. Amazing birds. Very few people, even on a Saturday. The auto trail is well…read moreworth it and only one way. Saw many many sandhill cranes. Don't use the bathroom. It is gross.

I've had three massages from three different therapist and they were all good and a bit different…read moretechniques, but definitely good.

Great gym... old machines but they still do the job (: and the military discount here is insane …read more. plus the staff is always really friendly

While spending the day exploring Chowchilla and trying to get a feel for the area, I came across…read morethis park. It's definitely the largest park in this town with plenty of open green space, picnic tables and some shaded areas. There is some sort of sports field near the restrooms and a children's play area that seems fairly new. I had to take a star off for the restrooms as they were pretty disgusting, but the rest of the park is definitely usable. They also had what looked like a fairly new pickleball court. While I was at the park, I looked up its namesake and it's a pretty cool story. The park is named for the school bus driver who became a local hero during a school bus kidnapping in the '70s. He helped all the children survive and escape. It was interesting to learn it out. This is a really nice community Park and it's definitely worth stopping by and checking out if you're in the area.

Always greeted with a hello, good afternoon, or good morning whichever it might be. Plenty of bait…read moreto choose from, as well as huge selection of tackle to choose from. Prices are fair. And they have live bait.

Nice clean store . Greeted upon entering Friendly staff. Great customer service. Got a little bit…read moreof everything when your ready to go fishing. Fishing poles, Live Bait, tackle ,snacks ,beverages and you can get your fishing license. Love the employees Missy & Cindy they're so helpful with positive attitudes such sweet girls.