--- title: "Don Pedro Lake | Arnold Haven" description: "Houseboats, bass fishing and a hundred miles of shoreline about ninety minutes south of Arnold, plus honest notes on water levels." lang: en json-ld: --- [Skip to content](#main-content) [![](/__l5e/assets-v1/84bf9984-9cf8-406b-aaf5-dbde0a9f8c6a/arnold-haven-mark-white.png)Arnold Haven Arnold · California ](/) [Cabins](/cabins)[Explore](/explore)[Guides](/guides)[Membership](/circle)[Support](/chalet-bruin-future)[Merch](/merch)[Book a stay](/cabins) ![Don Pedro Lake](/assets/don-pedro-houseboat-DPtit2ih.jpg) Explore Arnold # Don Pedro Lake The big one: a huge reservoir with a hundred miles of shoreline, houseboats, bass fishing and warm water — about an hour and a half south of the cabins. [Check availability](/cabins)[See the cabins](/cabins) First things first ## First things first Don Pedro is on a different scale to everything else near Arnold. Its arms run for miles into the bare hills between La Grange and Moccasin, the shoreline is measured in the high double digits of miles, and people come here for whole weeks on houseboats rather than for an afternoon swim. It is about an hour and a half from both cabins, south through Angels Camp and Sonora and out towards Highway 120. That distance means it is worth going for a proper day — boat rental, fishing, or a night on the water — rather than a quick dip. ![A small aluminium fishing boat on a glassy reservoir arm at dawn with mist and oak-dotted hills](/assets/don-pedro-fishing-D0V-o0An.jpg) Geography ## Where Don Pedro Lake sits ![Illustrated antique-style map of California inside the United States with a gold marker on Don Pedro Lake south of Sonora](/assets/don-pedro-lake-BNe-OoEX.jpg) Illustrated locator map — for orientation, not navigation. One of California's larger reservoirs, with long arms, many miles of shoreline and marinas renting houseboats by the week. It is a working reservoir, so the level moves a long way between a wet spring and a dry September. About an hour and a half from both cabins, south through Angels Camp and Sonora. Region Sierra Nevada foothills, the Tuolumne River watershed County Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties Elevation About 800 ft at full pool Nearest town La Grange and Moccasin, with Sonora forty minutes north Getting there Highway 4 to Angels Camp, Highway 49 to Sonora, then south towards Highway 120 02 ## Houseboats, boats and the coves The lake's marinas rent houseboats, patio boats and fishing boats, and the whole point of a houseboat here is that you find your own cove and stay in it. Water-skiing, tubing and paddling all work on the wider water, though the wind can come up hard in the afternoon on the open reaches. There are several developed recreation areas with ramps, campgrounds and day-use beaches. Fees, camping reservations and ramp hours are set by the operating district and change with the season, so book and check rather than turn up hopeful in July. ![A very large reservoir with many coves and bare rolling hills, a houseboat moored in the distance](/assets/don-pedro-houseboat-DPtit2ih.jpg) ![A small aluminium fishing boat on a glassy reservoir arm at dawn with mist and oak-dotted hills](/assets/don-pedro-fishing-D0V-o0An.jpg) 03 ## Fishing This is a serious bass lake — largemouth and smallmouth around the rocky points and submerged structure, with trout, kokanee salmon and catfish depending on the season and depth. Tournaments run here, which tells you most of what you need to know. Early morning and evening are the productive windows in summer, when the middle of the day is both hot and bright. A California fishing licence is required; check current regulations and any limits for the lake before you cast. ![A very large reservoir with many coves and bare rolling hills, a houseboat moored in the distance](/assets/don-pedro-houseboat-DPtit2ih.jpg) ![A small aluminium fishing boat on a glassy reservoir arm at dawn with mist and oak-dotted hills](/assets/don-pedro-fishing-D0V-o0An.jpg) 04 ## Water levels and the honest picture It is a working reservoir, and the level moves a long way through the year. In a wet spring it is full to the trees; by late summer in a dry year the pale bathtub ring can be tens of feet high, ramps close, and a beach that existed in June is a walk across baked mud in September. Check the current level before you commit, especially if you are towing a boat or planning to launch at a specific ramp. Shade is scarce, the hills are bare, and July afternoons here are genuinely hot — this is a lake for early starts. ![A reservoir at low water showing a wide pale band of bare exposed rock below the golden hills](/assets/don-pedro-shoreline-Bzzf4X7r.jpg) 05 ## Where to stay near Don Pedro There is camping and houseboating at the lake itself, and very little else nearby. If you want a roof, a kitchen and cool air at the end of it, both cabins are about an hour and a half north in Arnold at 4,000 feet — pines, a hot tub, and mountain lakes of a very different character twenty minutes further up the hill. - [CHALET BRUIN — 12 guests, 5 bedrooms→ ](/cabins/chalet-bruin) - [KODA LOFT — 4 guests, 2 bedrooms→ ](/cabins/koda-loft) ![A small aluminium fishing boat on a glassy reservoir arm at dawn with mist and oak-dotted hills](/assets/don-pedro-fishing-D0V-o0An.jpg) ![A reservoir at low water showing a wide pale band of bare exposed rock below the golden hills](/assets/don-pedro-shoreline-Bzzf4X7r.jpg) Nearby ## Keep exploring [ ![Lake Tulloch](/assets/tulloch-cove-3jl2PECS.jpg) ### Lake Tulloch Closer, smaller and warm — fifty minutes instead of ninety. Discover ↗ ](/explore/lake-tulloch) [ ![Sonora](/assets/highway-49-storefront-CaZufGJq.jpg) ### Sonora The town you pass through: groceries, lunch and everything else on the way south. Discover ↗ ](/explore/sonora-ca) [ ![Yosemite park entrance](/assets/highway-49-road-C2G9pH2v.jpg) ### Yosemite park entrance The Highway 120 reality check, if the day is heading further east. Discover ↗ ](/explore/yosemite-park-entrance) Good to know ## Frequently asked questions How far is Don Pedro Lake from Arnold? + About an hour and a half from both cabins, south through Angels Camp and Sonora towards Highway 120. Can you rent a houseboat? + Yes — the marinas rent houseboats along with patio and fishing boats. Summer weeks book up far in advance, so reserve early and confirm current rates directly. Is the fishing good? + It is one of the better bass lakes in the region, with trout, kokanee and catfish too. A California fishing licence is required and regulations for the lake are worth checking each season. Does the water level drop a lot? + Yes. It is a working reservoir, and by late summer in a dry year the level can be far below full, with a wide exposed shoreline and some ramps closed. Check the current level before you tow a boat down. ![](/__l5e/assets-v1/84bf9984-9cf8-406b-aaf5-dbde0a9f8c6a/arnold-haven-mark-white.png) Arnold Haven Cabin stays in Arnold, California — minutes from Calaveras Big Trees State Park, White Pines Lake and Bear Valley. [Check availability](/cabins) Cabins - [CHALET BRUIN](/cabins/chalet-bruin) - [KODA LOFT](/cabins/koda-loft) - [All cabins](/cabins) - [Check availability](/availability-search) - [About us](/about) - [Things to do](/things-to-do) - [Support Chalet Bruin](/chalet-bruin-future) - [Merch](/merch) Explore - [Arnold, CA](/explore/arnold-california) - [Big Trees State Park](/explore/big-trees-state-park) - [Murphys, CA](/explore/murphys-california) - [Bear Valley Ski Resort](/explore/bear-valley-ski-resort) - [Dodge Ridge Ski Resort](/explore/dodge-ridge-ski-resort) - [Sonora, CA](/explore/sonora-ca) - [Twain Harte, CA](/explore/twain-harte-ca) - [Strawberry, CA](/explore/strawberry-ca) - [Jackson, CA](/explore/jackson-ca) - [Columbia State Historic Park](/explore/columbia-state-historic-park) - [Black Chasm Cavern](/explore/black-chasm-cavern) - [Moaning Caverns](/explore/moaning-caverns) - [Mercer Caverns](/explore/murphys-california/mercer-caverns) - [Angels Camp, CA](/explore/angels-camp-ca) - [Mokelumne Hill](/explore/mokelumne-hill) - [San Andreas, CA](/explore/san-andreas-ca) - [Lake Alpine](/explore/lake-alpine) - [Spicer Meadow Reservoir](/explore/spicer-meadow-reservoir) - [White Pines Lake](/explore/arnold-california/white-pines-lake) - [Arnold Rim Trail](/explore/arnold-california/arnold-rim-trail) - [Sequoia Woods Country Club](/explore/arnold-california/sequoia-woods-country-club) - [Forest Meadows Golf Course](/explore/forest-meadows-golf-course) - [Highway 4 conditions](/explore/highway-4-conditions) Guides - [The Best Fishing Spots Near Arnold, CA](/guides/fishing/fishing-spots-near-arnold) - [The Best Hiking Trails Near Arnold, CA](/guides/hiking/arnold-hiking-trails) - [Dog-Friendly Hikes Near Arnold, CA](/guides/hiking/dog-friendly-hikes-near-arnold) - [Top Restaurants Near Arnold, CA](/guides/restaurants/arnold-restaurants) - [The Best Restaurants in Sonora, CA](/guides/restaurants/sonora-restaurants) - [Rock Climbing near Arnold, CA](/guides/rock-climbing/rock-climbing-spots-arnold) - [The Top Mountain Bike Trails Near Arnold, CA](/guides/mountain-biking/mountain-bike-trails-near-arnold) - [OHV and Dirt Bike Trails Near Arnold, CA](/guides/ohv/ohv-dirt-bike-trails-near-arnold) - [Rafting near Arnold](/guides/rafting/rafting-near-arnold) - [Highway 49 road trip](/guides/road-trips/highway-49-road-trip) - [Snow play near Arnold](/guides/snow-play/snow-play-near-arnold) Legal - [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy) - [Terms & Conditions](/terms-conditions) - Cookie preferences © 2026 Arnold Haven. All rights reserved. Arnold Haven only uses cookies that keep the site working. With your permission we also load a few extras — like the Bear Valley mountain cameras — which set cookies of their own. You can decline, and change your mind at any time. [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy) DeclineAccept All