{"id":413805,"date":"2026-07-27T13:21:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T13:21:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/413805\/"},"modified":"2026-07-27T13:21:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T13:21:25","slug":"little-known-california-destination-rivals-lake-tahoe-without-the-crowds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/413805\/","title":{"rendered":"Little-known California destination rivals Lake Tahoe without the crowds"},"content":{"rendered":"

Californians looking for a stunning destination to swim might want to consider Lake Anza<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s about 200 miles away in San Francisco\u2019s East Bay region<\/a>,\u00a0and known for its redwoods, oaks and other trees that provide a relaxing, hidden environment.<\/p>\n

Plus, unlike Lake Tahoe, which receives around 15 million visitors<\/a> in a given year on average, Lake Anza doesn\u2019t get as crowded.<\/p>\n

Lake Tahoe is one of the most popular destinations in Northern California. Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Boats and crowds line up along the 17th and 18th fairways at the American National Golf championships, Lake Tahoe. Toby Canham for CA Post<\/p>\n

The reservoir isn\u2019t as expansive as Tahoe and covers just about 10 acres, but the freshwater swimming hole in Berkeley\u2019s Tilden Regional Park is still considered \u201ca beautiful gem\u201d, according to one Tripadvisor reviewer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Another reviewer on the site<\/a> also said that \u201cyou can hike around the lake\u201d and that it\u2019s \u201cvery clean.\u201d <\/p>\n

The website California.com features the reservoir as one of the most beautiful destinations to swim in the northern part of the state. It also holds a 4.6 Google rating from more than 100 reviews, which isn\u2019t a far cry from Lake Tahoe\u2019s 4.8 stars<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The popular swimming destination is open between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekends, and during holidays between May 16 and September 27.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s perfect for anyone looking for a sandy beach and a place to swim or walk along it\u2019s beautiful banks in this part of the state\u2019s wooded areas.<\/p>\n

Lake Anza, located about 200 miles away from San Francisco\u2019s East Bay region. firecracker680 \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to note, however, that Lake Anza can also get crowded, especially during weekends and holidays.<\/p>\n

To ensure you get to swim in the pristine waters, you may want to get there early, seeing as the area closes to additional guests when it reaches maximum capacity.<\/p>\n

For safety advisories, it\u2019s recommended visitors check out the East Bay Regional Park District\u2019s website. Water safety in the area varies due to blue-green algae levels<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Some recommendations include preventing the water from reaching your mouth and avoiding taking a dip in the lake for three days after heavy rainfall.<\/p>\n

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