01
Classic lake day spot
Oak Shores Day Use Area, Lake Berryessa
Near Monticello Dam At Lake Berryessa • Family-Friendly Swim Beach • Best Overall Pick
A broad, grassy swim beach on Lake Berryessa that feels like the classic summer day trip from Winters.
Oak Shores is where many Winters locals head when the thermometer spikes: there’s a sandy entry, long stretch of shoreline, picnic tables, and shaded lawns that make it easy to spend the day. The water stays fairly calm near shore, so kids and casual swimmers can ease in gradually. It does get busy on hot weekends, so arrive earlier in the day if you want prime shade and a closer parking spot.
02
Quiet cove for relaxing
Smittle Creek Day Use Area, Lake Berryessa
Lake Berryessa North Shore • Quiet Lakeside Cove • Best For Peace And Quiet
A smaller, more tucked-away shoreline on Berryessa that trades big crowds for mellow coves and easy paddling.
Smittle Creek has a more low-key feel than the big day-use beaches, with pocket coves, rockier shore, and quieter water that’s great for kayaks and paddleboards. You’ll find a few picnic tables and short paths down to the water rather than one big consolidated beach. Bring sturdy sandals or water shoes and treat it as a relaxed, less structured lake day with better odds of finding some space to yourself.
03
Beach with camping on-site
Steele Canyon Recreation Area, Lake Berryessa
Lake Berryessa Southeast Arm • Campground Swim Beach • Best For Campers
A lakeside campground with a compact swim beach that makes it easy to roll straight from your tent into the water.
Steele Canyon draws boaters and overnight campers, but there’s also a small swim area that works well if you want a beach you don’t have to drive away from at sunset. The shoreline is more gravel than powdery sand, yet the trade-off is waking up right by the water and claiming a spot before day-trippers arrive. It’s a smart choice for long weekends when you want both a beach and a basecamp on Berryessa.
04
Easy close-to-town escape
Lake Solano County Park
Along Putah Creek Near Winters • Shaded Creekside Beach • Best For Families With Small Kids
A mellow stretch of Putah Creek with pebbly shorelines, shade trees, and a slower pace than the big lake beaches.
Just a short drive from downtown Winters, Lake Solano County Park offers easy creek access, grassy picnic spots, and plenty of trees to duck under when the sun gets intense. The water here feels more like a wide, slow creek than a big reservoir, which can be less intimidating for little kids and casual waders. Come for a half-day with folding chairs, a blanket, and lawn games, and treat it as your quick, close-to-town beach fix.
05
Lively river hangout
Paradise Beach, American River
East Sacramento Along The American River • Urban River Beach • Best For A Social Vibe
A sandy, river-bend beach in Sacramento that mixes college-town energy with cool, flowing water on hot valley days.
Paradise Beach sits on a wide curve of the American River, where a pocket of sand and shallower water make a natural gathering spot for swimmers and sunbathers. Expect more people-watching and music here than at the quieter lake coves, especially on summer weekends. If you don’t mind a bit of a scene, it’s a fun change of pace from the more remote beaches closer to Winters.