Enclosed by chaparral-covered slopes indented with pockets of pine and fir trees, Clear Lake State Park gives access to two miles of Clear Lake’s shoreline and is on the itinerary of every self-respecting Californian angler. Careful management of fish stocks keeps the lake teeming with large-mouth bass, catfish, perch and other favourites of the fisherman’s frying pan. To gain an inkling of the lake’s diverse fish population without reduc­ing it, visit the aquarium inside the park’s visitor centre.

Besides fishing, the park provides a launch point for swimmers and water skiers during the summer and is well endowed with picnic sites. Two park trails are also worth investigating: the short Indian Trail reveals the plants used for medicinal purposes by Porno and Wappo Indians; the longer, steeper Dorn Nature Trail climbs through forests and meadows to give spectacular views of the lake and of Mt. Konocti, which rises behind. The boulder-strewn, 1,300-ft peak was formed, according to Native American legend, when two ancient chiefs held a stone-throwing battle.