Boat Launch Closures In California: What's The Deal?

California is a haven for water enthusiasts, with numerous boat launches across the state. From the Antioch Marina in Antioch to the Clarksburg Public Boat Launch Ramp in Clarksburg, there are plenty of options for boaters. Sonoma County also offers a range of boating sites, including Doran Regional Park, which provides access to Bodega Harbor for boats up to 20 feet, and Guerneville River Park, which offers a launch point for kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. Long Beach is another popular destination, with several launch ramp facilities, including the Davies Launch Ramp and the South Shore Launch Ramp, both of which are open 24 hours a day and offer convenient amenities for boaters.

Boat launch sites in Sonoma County

Boat launches are available at Regional Parks throughout Sonoma County. Here is a list of some of the boat launch sites in Sonoma County:

Doran Regional Park

Doran Regional Park has a launch on Bodega Harbor for boats up to 20 feet and a wheelchair-accessible kayak launch. It also has a two-mile stretch of sandy beach, making it a popular place for visitors to picnic, build sand castles, fly kites, surf, fish, and stroll. A rock jetty at the harbor mouth provides access for fishing, crabbing, and exploring sea life.

Westside Regional Park

Westside Regional Park features a three-lane launch on Bodega Harbor and a wheelchair-accessible kayak launch. With its boat ramp, boat-rinsing station, and fish-cleaning station, this park is ideal for fishing. A large vehicle and boat parking lot is located next to the launch.

Cloverdale River Park

This small park in northern Sonoma County features a paved launch on the Russian River for small craft.

Guerneville River Park

Close to downtown Guerneville, this community park offers a boat launch for kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and other non-motorized watercraft, plus a parking area.

Steelhead Beach Regional Park

Steelhead Beach in Forestville offers a gravel launch on the Russian River for drift boats, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. Providing river access for small craft, this is an excellent spot for birding, viewing river wildlife, and picnicking. Park amenities include a beach area, picnic areas with barbecues, and flush toilets.

Spring Lake Regional Park

Spring Lake is a 72-acre lake with a paved launch for boats up to 16 feet. Electric motors only. The year-round boat launch is at the bottom of the park's Newanga Avenue entrance. Summer kayak and paddleboard rentals are available daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

Hudeman Slough Boat Launch

This launch, about 10 miles south of Sonoma, provides access to the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It allows you to explore the marshy waterways edging San Pablo Bay. The launch is open year-round and can accommodate boats up to 24 feet.

Spud Point Marina

Spud Point Marina is located on Bodega Harbor and is a popular destination during crab and salmon seasons. It is the only Northern California ocean marina with no bar to transit when entering and exiting a harbor. Spud Point offers many amenities, including a free waste pump-out station, fuel dock, public restrooms, and Wi-Fi.

Wohler Bridge Fishing Access

Wohler Bridge provides a seasonal launch in Forestville, where small craft can be off-loaded from October 1 to May 15 with a gate key from the Regional Parks' Santa Rosa office. A fishing access permit is required to use the ramp, which includes a key for access to the ramps at Wohler Bridge and nearby Steelhead Beach.

Launching vessels from mobile trailers in Long Beach

Launching a vessel from a mobile trailer in Long Beach is made possible by the Long Beach Marine Bureau, which offers several conveniently located facilities for this purpose. There are five Long Beach Launch Ramps:

Davies Launch Ramp

The most popular of the Long Beach launch ramps, Davies Launch Ramp is located at 6201 E. Second St. in East Long Beach. It is open 24 hours a day, all year round, and is perfect for multi-day trips to Catalina. It offers multiple boat launch lanes, public restrooms, short-term dock space, complementary pump-out stations, and coin-operated wash-down stations. Parking is limited to cars with trailers, but there is parking available for cars without trailers down the street at the Alamitos Bay Marina.

South Shore Launch Ramp

Located at 590 Queensway Drive, near the Queen Mary and the south end of the 710 freeway on the west side of Long Beach, the South Shore Launch Ramp is open 24 hours a day. It offers multiple boat launch lanes, public restrooms, short-term dock space, and free wash-down facilities. There is a section of the lot for vehicles without trailers, and a small park with tables and benches. This launch ramp is popular with boaters going to Catalina as it is the closest launch ramp to the island.

Marine Stadium Launch Ramp

Just down the street from Davies Launch Ramp at 5255 Paoli Way, Marine Stadium was originally opened in 1922 for the Los Angeles Olympic's rowing events. It is now shared by boaters and rowers and is open generally from 8 am to sunset. It is strictly limited to vessels less than 23 feet in length and wake boarders during the day. There are public restrooms available, but no wash-down rack or pump-outs.

Claremont Launch Ramp

Located at 5300 E. Ocean Blvd, the Claremont Launch Ramp is a sand launch open from 8 am to sunset. It is restricted to catamarans and small sailboats (no PWCs) and there is no metered parking. There are only five dedicated parking spots for boat launching, so it's best to arrive early.

Granada Launch Ramp

The Granada Launch Ramp is located at 1 South Granada Avenue, across the parking lot from the Belmont Pool, and is open from 8 am to sunset. It is a sand launch restricted to PWCs (jet skis, wave runners, etc.), catamarans, and small sailboats. There is a short cement pathway that leads to the sand, where you would need to transfer your vessel to a dolly as vehicles are not allowed on the beach. There are no gate arms to control access to the area, and vehicles launching vessels are expected to pay $12 at the machine at the entrance.

The per-day rate for use of these facilities is $12.00. Cash, debit cards, and credit cards (MasterCard and Visa) are accepted at the launch ramp pay stations.

Boat launch fees in Sonoma County

Sonoma County in California offers a range of boating opportunities, from ocean marinas to lakes and rivers. Most of the boat launches in Sonoma County are free to use, although there is usually a parking fee of around $7, unless you are a Regional Parks member. The Regional Parks membership also exempts you from launch fees for trailered boats at Regional Parks throughout the county. Doran Regional Park, Westside Regional Park, Cloverdale River Park, Guerneville River Park, Steelhead Beach Regional Park, and Spring Lake Regional Park are all part of the Regional Parks system.

The launch fee for trailered boats at Regional Parks in Sonoma County is $4, or free for Regional Parks members. Doran Regional Park and Westside Regional Park, both on Bodega Harbor, offer launches for boats up to 20 feet, with wheelchair-accessible kayak launches. Cloverdale River Park, in northern Sonoma County, has a paved launch for small craft on the Russian River. Guerneville River Park, close to downtown Guerneville, provides a launch for kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and other non-motorized watercraft, with a parking area. Steelhead Beach Regional Park has a gravel launch on the Russian River for small craft, and Spring Lake Regional Park has a paved launch for boats up to 16 feet, with electric motors only.

Outside of the Regional Parks system, there are other boat launch options in Sonoma County. Spud Point Marina in Bodega Bay is the only Northern California ocean marina with no bar to transit when entering and exiting the harbor. It offers a range of amenities, including a free waste pump-out station, fuel dock, and Wi-Fi. The launch fee for this marina is not specified.

For those looking to explore the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the Hudeman Slough Boat Launch is an option. This launch is about 10 miles south of Sonoma and requires a fishing access permit, which includes a key for access. The fee for this permit is not specified.

Lake Sonoma, surrounded by vineyards and historic landscapes, offers a wealth of recreational activities, including boating. There is a $3 launching fee for the public boat ramp on the west end of Warm Springs Bridge, and boat rentals and other services are available at the marina for a fee.

Boat launch sites in Long Beach

The Long Beach Marine Bureau offers five conveniently located facilities for launching vessels from mobile trailers. The per-day rate for use of these facilities is $12. Cash, debit cards, and credit cards (MasterCard and Visa) are accepted at the launch ramp pay stations.

Davies Launch Ramp

The most popular of the Long Beach launch ramps, Davies Launch Ramp is located at 6201 E. Second St. in East Long Beach. It is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and offers multiple boat launch lanes, public restrooms, short-term dock space, complementary pump-out stations, and coin-operated wash-down stations. Parking is limited to cars with trailers.

South Shore Launch Ramp

The South Shore Launch Ramp is located at 590 Queensway Drive, near the Queen Mary and the south end of the 710 freeway on the west side of Long Beach. It is open 24 hours a day and offers multiple boat launch lanes, public restrooms, short-term dock space, and complementary wash-down facilities. This launch ramp also has a section for vehicles without trailers and handicapped parking spots.

Marine Stadium Launch Ramp

The Marine Stadium Launch Ramp is located just down the street from Davies Launch Ramp at 5255 Paoli Way. It is open year-round, generally from 8 am to sunset, and is limited to vessels less than 23 feet in length. There are public restrooms available, but no wash-down rack or pump-outs.

Claremont Launch Ramp

The Claremont Launch Ramp is a sand launch ramp located at 5300 E. Ocean Blvd, open from 8 am to sunset. It allows the launch of catamarans and small sailboats (no PWCs), and there is no metered parking. There are only five dedicated parking spots for boat launching, so it is recommended to arrive early.

Granada Launch Ramp

The Granada Launch Ramp is located at 1 South Granada Avenue, across the parking lot from the Belmont Pool, and is open from 8 am to sunset. This sand launch ramp is restricted to PWCs (jet skis, wave runners, etc.), catamarans, and small sailboats. There is a short cement pathway that leads to the sand, where you will need to transfer your vessel to a dolly as vehicles are not allowed on the beach.

Boat launch sites in Clarksburg

The Clarksburg Boat Launch is a great place for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the water. It is important to note that while parking is available, overnight camping is prohibited at this site. Additionally, there is no potable water available.

For those looking to explore the Sacramento River by boat, the Clarksburg Boat Launch is a convenient option. The site is easily accessible and offers a great opportunity for boating, water skiing, and fishing enthusiasts to enjoy their favourite activities.

The Clarksburg Boat Launch is just one of many boat launch sites in California. The state offers a diverse range of waterways, from calm rivers to vast lakes and the Pacific Ocean, providing numerous opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-based activities. California's boat launch sites cater to a variety of watercraft, from motorboats to kayaks and canoes, making it easy for residents and visitors alike to enjoy the state's abundant natural resources.

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