Modesto Reservoir is encircled by a grassy
pasture with tree tops protruding from the
water’s surface. The campground is situated
beneath the only tree-shaded area on the lake.
Otherwise, the topography of the surrounding
area around the reservoir is a flat grassland
with an occasional oak tree doting the
shoreline.
Modesto Reservoir has a hidden inlet that
not too many people know about. You can park
at San Jose Island and paddle for about a
quarter of a mile up the narrow inlet. Keep
your eyes open and your camera ready when
the inlet opens up to an area that provides
a multitude of wildlife sightings at close
range, including deer, beavers, osprey,
geese, Blue Heron, ducks and otters.
Depending on the water level and the
current, you can paddle for about a mile
further past a little mud flat, where you
will eventually run into the water gates.
The winds at the Reservoir can be in the 15
to 20mph range and typically come out of
the west northwest. What is nice about that
is, on late afternoon paddles, you have the
wind at your back going up the inlet. Once
you have reached the inlet where it opens
wider, the foothills that surround that part
of the inlet shelter it from the gusty
winds. When paddling back out to the main
reservoir, you now have the current helping
you, when you paddle into the wind.
Paddling in the early morning watching the
sun come up is one of the best times of d
ay
to paddle due to the limited boat traffic,
or at the end of the day when the wind dies
down, watching the incredible sunset coming
back out is a sight you don’t want to miss.
