Have you ever wondered about that lake on the east side of town? I remember when my family first moved to Sonoma County, Spring Lake instantly caught my curiosity. From my map it was clearly marked, but it seemed rather odd that a lake would be in the middle of a city the size of Santa Rosa. It has forever intrigued me, so I decided to search the internet and find out more. A bit disappointed not to find much history, I did discover the lake is part of an earthen dam built in 1963 and is owned by the Sonoma County Water Agency. As it turns out, it is more of a reservoir than a lake.

Of course, if I had delved further, I may have come across more information, but for the purpose of this post, I want to share with people why I love this wonderful nature area.

As I’ve mentioned in other posts, I love to walk! So once a week I meet one of my friends at Spring Lake and we take our dogs on a spin around the lake. We also include Howarth Park in the walk, as it adds a bit more distance to our jaunt and allows our pets to have more time to play together. Plus, I have the pleasure of spending time with my dear friend, which is a double bonus.


Click picture for more information

I also make it a point to include a tour of Spring Lake when clients or visitors from other parts of the country (and world) meet with me and ask for an introduction to the area. What better way to introduce them to our community then to show off this delightful spot. You can follow this link to learn more. And if you are so inclined, go for a couple of hours, or spend the day. Spring Lake is part of the 320-acre Spring Lake Regional Park and offers plenty to do in addition to walking trails, including camping, fishing, picnicking, swimming, cycling and horseback riding.

Do you know more about the history of Spring Lake? Or have a favorite activity to do in the area? Please share in the comments.



Posted By: Ruth Buzzard