Sweetwater Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Lake · Views

Starting from the parking area at Harvey's Cove on Cachuma Lake, this trail heads westward along a paved, wheelchair access route for about 100 yards. You'll quickly reach a picnic area on your right that lies just ahead of the Harvey Cove dock. Passing the picnic area, you'll continue along the Sweetwater Trail by following the path, which is now dirt, as it borders the cove for 1/4 of a mile. The trail will then angle to the left into a forested oak area.

After hiking for a little over a mile you'll reach Sweetwater Cove, which hosts a picnic area above the lake. From here the path joins a dirt road and starts to make its way back to Highway 154 before once again becoming a footpath and turning back toward the lake. You'll then hike through another small oak forest before reaching Vista Point, which offers great views of the lake, the Santa Ynez Mountains, and the the San Rafael range. This point also marks the end of the trail. You can then return to Harvey's Cove along the same route.

Thanks to John McKinney, The Trailmaster, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about trails in California, check out his guides at The Trailmaster Store.

Depending on the season you could see any of these birds: bald eagles, geese, canvasback ducks, buffleheads, woodpeckers, goldfinches, juncos, sparrows, western bluebirds, and the great blue heron.