Rancho Seco Lake
- Type
- Lake in a utility-run recreation area
- Address
- Twin Cities Rd., Herald, CA 95638
- Lake size
- About 160 acres
- Operator
- SMUD
- Kayak & SUP
- Swimming
- Fishing
- Camping
- Lifeguards
- Restrooms
About this lake
Rancho Seco Lake is a 160-acre lake in southeast Sacramento County, next to the retired Rancho Seco nuclear plant. It was expanded in the early 1970s as the plant's backup cooling supply, and SMUD has run the 400-acre recreation area since 1992.
Boating rules
Since March 2025, only hand-launched boats are allowed: canoes, kayaks, rowboats, paddle boats, inflatables, sculls and small electric craft, with small electric trolling motors permitted. Trailer launching isn't allowed. Every boat is inspected at the gate, must be clean, drained and dry, and can't have been in any other water, including the Delta, for 30 days. The rules protect the lake from golden mussels.
Camping and fishing
The park has tent and RV campsites with restrooms, showers and laundry, booked through Campspot. Anglers fish for trout, with an annual trout derby, but live aquatic bait is banned; worms and crickets are fine. Swimming is at a roped-off sandy beach with lifeguards in summer.
Getting there & access
Getting there
Rancho Seco is on Twin Cities Road near Herald, about 45 minutes from downtown Sacramento.
Inspection
Every boat and float is inspected at the entrance. Boats used anywhere else in the last 30 days, including the Delta, are turned away.
Camping
Reserve tent and RV sites through Campspot or by phone on weekdays.
- Boats allowed
- Hand-launched only; small electric trolling motors OK
- Trailer launch
- Not allowed (since March 2025)
- Before launch
- Gate inspection; no other waters in past 30 days
- Phone
- (209) 748-2318
What's here
Paddling
Hand-launched kayaks, canoes and small electric boats
Camping
Tent and RV sites with restrooms, showers and laundry
Swim beach
Roped-off sandy beach with summer lifeguards
Fishing
Trout fishing with an annual trout derby
Trails
7-mile Howard Ranch Trail
Rules & official resources
- Only hand-launched watercraft allowed; trailer-launched boats prohibited; small electric trolling motors permittedsmud.org ↗
- Boats must be clean, drained and dry and not used in any other waterway, including the Delta, for 30 days; all watercraft inspected at entrysmud.org ↗
- Live aquatic bait (baitfish, crawfish, crabs, mussels) prohibitedsmud.org ↗
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