Explore Arnold
Beardsley Lake
A narrow reservoir at the bottom of a steep canyon off Highway 108 — a real boat ramp, deep cold water, almost no crowds, and a drawdown that can leave the ramp high and dry by autumn.
First things first
First things first
Beardsley is a working reservoir on the Middle Fork Stanislaus, held behind a dam in a granite canyon about 3,400 feet up. It is reached by a paved road that drops a thousand feet in a few miles of switchbacks from Highway 108 — the descent is the memorable part, and the reason the lake stays quiet while Pinecrest fills up.
From Arnold it is about an hour and three quarters by way of Sonora. Come for water skiing, fishing or a swim off the rocks in genuine solitude; do not come expecting a beach, a marina or a shop, because there are none.
Geography
Where Beardsley Lake sits
Beardsley is a hydroelectric reservoir held in a granite canyon a thousand feet below Highway 108, reached by a switchback descent that keeps the crowds away.
It is drawn down through the season for power and downstream water, so the shoreline and the usable ramp move month to month.
It is about 65 miles from Chalet Bruin and Koda Loft via Sonora — roughly an hour and three quarters.
- Region
- Central Sierra Nevada, Middle Fork Stanislaus canyon
- County
- Tuolumne County
- Elevation
- About 3,400 ft
- Nearest town
- Strawberry and Pinecrest, up the highway
- Getting there
- Highway 108 east, then the steep paved Beardsley Lake road
The water and the boats
There is a concrete launch ramp, a small day-use area and a campground near the dam. The lake is long, deep and steep-sided, which makes for glassy water in the morning and a wind that funnels up the canyon in the afternoon. Trout fishing is decent, best trolled deep once the surface warms.
Swimming is off rocks rather than sand, and the water stays cold well into summer because most of it comes from snowmelt upstream. Facilities are minimal, so bring water, shade and everything else you need.
Drawdown, and the one thing to check
Beardsley is drawn down for power generation and downstream water needs, and by late summer in a dry year the shoreline can drop far enough that the ramp is unusable and the lake becomes a river between mud banks. This is the single most important thing to check before towing a boat up here.
Current levels are published by the operator and the Forest Service; look them up the week you plan to go. Early summer, after the melt and before the heavy releases, is almost always the best water.
The road down
The access road is paved but steep, narrow in places and hard on brakes. Use low gear going down, watch for vehicles towing boats coming up, and think twice with a large trailer. In winter it is not maintained and the gate is often closed by snow, which effectively makes Beardsley a May-to-October destination.
There is no fuel and no phone signal at the lake. Fill up in Sonora or Twain Harte, and tell someone where you are going if you are on the water alone.
Where to stay for a Beardsley day
There is a campground at the lake and nothing else. A cabin in Arnold puts you an hour and three quarters away with a kitchen for the cooler, a hot tub after a day on the water, and the rest of the Highway 4 country for the days you stay closer to home.
Nearby
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Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Can you launch a boat at Beardsley Lake?+
Yes, there is a concrete ramp near the dam — but the lake is drawn down through the season and the ramp can become unusable in a dry late summer. Check current lake levels before towing a boat.
How far is Beardsley Lake from Arnold?+
About an hour and three quarters via Sonora and Highway 108, including a steep switchback descent from the highway.
Is there a beach or a store?+
No. Swimming is off rocks, and there are no shops, fuel or phone signal. Bring water, shade and supplies with you.
Is the road open in winter?+
Generally not. The access road is not maintained for snow, so treat Beardsley as a May-to-October destination.