For more information on recreation activities and fees at San Pablo Reservoir, view these PDF files which can be viewed and printed with Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free software.   

• 2009 Fees & Hours (49kb)
• 2009 Boat Rental Fees (26kb)
• San Pablo Recreation Area Brochure (547kb)
• EBMUD's Recreation Locations and Activities Chart (34kb)
• Updated Boat Motor Regulations (127kb)

San Pablo Reservoir Recreation Area is an angler’s paradise, one of the finest fisheries in California.  It is located off San Pablo Dam road between the towns of Orinda and El Sobrante, and it offers a wide variety of exciting recreation services. The reservoir is open from March through October, but is closed during the winter for migratory birds as part of EBMUD’s wildlife enhancement program. 

San Pablo Reservoir is an EBMUD drinking water reservoir, so swimming, wading, and other body-contact activities are prohibited.  To further preserve the high water quality, only four-cycle engines using MTBE-free gasoline are allowed on launched boats. Rental boats (see below) are also equipped with four-cycle engines. 

Some of the many services offered at the reservoir include:

Fishing (smallmouth bass, white sturgeon, bluegill and crappie)

• Regular fish planting (trout and catfish)
• Fishing licenses
• Boating (including a paved, 8-lane boat launch ramp)
• Rental boats (patio, deluxe, motor and row boats)
• Picnic areas (including 2 group picnic sites available for reservation)
• Hiking and biking trails
• 2 stores (gift items & fishing equipment)
• Snack bar and short order grill
• Children's play area
• Senior and disabled persons discounts

Important Information for Weekday Boaters

The San Pablo Recreation Area boat launch is open seven days a week through July 5th.  All boats coming in to the boat launch will be inspected for invasive species and standing water. If there is any standing water in your boat, you will not be allowed to launch.  Please check your boat prior to coming in to the park and leave extra time for the inspection process. For detailed inspection requirements, click here. 

Directions to San Pablo Recreation Area

From Concord/Walnut Creek
Travel Southbound on Highway 680 to Highway 24 west.  Take the Orinda Exit and stay right towards Richmond & Orinda Village.  Merge to the left onto Camino Pablo and travel approximately 8 miles through the town of Orinda. Camino Pablo turns into San Pablo Dam Rd. You'll start to see the reservoir on your right, and the entrance to the park follows on your right.

From Oakland
Travel Eastbound on Highway 24 through the Caldecott Tunnel. Take the Orinda exit off the freeway and make a left onto Camino Pablo. You'll go under the freeway and travel approximately 8 miles through the town of Orinda. Camino Pablo turns into San Pablo Dam Rd. You'll start to see the reservoir on your right, and the entrance to the park follows on your right.

Urban Park Concessionaires also provides information on the San Pablo Recreation Area including fish plants, fishing reports and more!

IMPORTANT! 

Interim Health Advisory for Eating Fish Caught in San Pablo Reservoir

EBMUD, in association with local county health services and other affected water districts have been participating in a review of fish tissue samples collected at 10 reservoirs in the greater Bay Area.  As a result of these meetings, we are posting the interim consumption advisory at San Pablo Reservoir and a fact sheet compiled by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

These PDF files can be viewed and printed with Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free software.   

• Health Advisory for Eating Fish Caught in San Pablo Reservoir (pdf 56 kb)
   Health Advisory (Spanish)
• Chemicals in Fish from Ten Reservoirs in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, and Marin Counties (pdf 66 kb)
• Health Advisory and Safe Eating Guidelines for Fish from San Pablo Reservoir (pdf 114 kb )
• Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Safe Eating Guidelines Fact Sheet (pdf 111 kb)

For more information, contact recreate@ebmud.com or call (510) 223-1661. For a complete list of all fees at San Pablo Recreation Area, click here.

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