Lake Nacimiento spans over 5,000 surface acres in Monterey County with 165 miles of scenic shoreline rimmed by mountains, river canyons, and oak and pine forests. The water here stays relatively calm in mornings and late afternoons, making it ideal for skiing and wakeboarding, though plenty of people come just to boat around with their dog in tow. The marina rents everything from pontoon boats to ski boats to family pleasure boats—all allow dogs aboard, so your dog can actually experience the water rather than watching from shore.

If you want to stay overnight, there are fully-furnished pet-friendly cabins and cottages at the resort, along with RV rentals and full hook-up campsites. You can choose between sleeping indoors or camping depending on what appeals to you. The lake also has numerous trails through the surrounding wilderness where you can hike with your dog.

Fishing is solid here—White Bass are plentiful—though that’s more relevant if you’re the fishing type. The water stays clean and warm enough for actual swimming, which many dogs appreciate.

A few practical things to know: dogs are welcome at all County of Monterey parks, trails, and campgrounds on the property, but they need to stay on a leash no longer than 6 feet. You’re expected to supervise them at all times and pick up after them. The combination of water activities, hiking trails, overnight lodging options, and the general setup makes this work well if you want multiple days in one spot rather than just a day trip. It’s far enough from the coast that you’re getting a different landscape than typical California beach towns—drier, hillier, with more of that inland oak woodland feel.