Lake Solano Shoreline Trail

The Lake Solano Shoreline Trail offers a 1.2 mile out-and-back hike the traces the edge of Lake Solano and offers park visitors a chance to walk, swim or access the Nature Center.

The trail begins beside the Nature Center, however for most visitors who park in the normal day use parking area, an access trail passes beneath the traffic bridge and connects to the beginning of the Shoreline Trail. Hikers should make a point of finding the interpretive sign, as it has printed trail guides that offer information coinciding with several signed markers along the hike (donation is suggested).

The trail follows a mostly flat single track that varies between hard packed gravel and pavement as it traces the shore bank. The Lake Solano Park Campground occupies most of the other border of the trail area, with the trail passing through some of the gravel loop roads along the way. However this park generally remains quiet and hikers may very well find themselves the only ones on the trail.

A few benches sit along the trail offering shady opportunities to take in the lake. The lake is actually a river, with the flow dependent upon the water being released from Lake Berryessa upstream. A designated swimming spot sits along the trail, which offers life vests for use, and is roped off to separate it from boats on the waterway. Swimmers and waders should be warned that since this water is released from the bottom of Lake Berryessa, the waters of Lake Solano can be extremely cold. Swimming may be best saved for the hottest days of summer.

At about 0.6 miles, the trail leaves the campground behind and heads through thicker, unmaintained brush until arriving at an unceremonious dead end and turnaround point at the fencing for the park boundary. From here, hikers can retrace their route back toward the trailhead.

The Lake Solano Nature Center keeps sporadic hours. A day use parking fee is required ($6 per car during non-peak months and $8 per car during peak months). Park day use hours are 8am to 5pm throughout the week with the exception of Wednesdays when day use hours are 8am to 4pm, with hours extended during the summer season.

Complete information - including up to date hours and day use parking rates - can be found here.