Santa Margarita Lake Boating in a Nutshell
Santa Margarita Lake is operated by San Luis Obispo County Parks. No personal watercraft or water skiing are allowed at the lake. There is no body to water contact allowed because the lake is a drinking water supply. Boats must be off the water soon after sundown.
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Quagga and Zebra Mussel Boat Inspections and decontaminations are required before launching.
| Daily | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| For a complete fee schedule see SLO County Parks Fee Schedule | ||
| Vehicle | $12 | $120 |
| Motorized Boat | $12 | $120 |
| Non-motorized Boat | $5 | $60 |
| Second Vehicle | $30 | |
Santa Margarita Lake Marina
Rocky Mountain Recreation operates the marina under a special use permit as a concessionaire for the San Luis Obispo County Parks.
Marina Store: (805) 438-1522
Hours: Thursday - Monday, 7:00 AM to about 4:30 PM (store hours vary by season, so best to call for specific hours)
Website: Santa Margarita Lake Marina
4695 Santa Margarita Lake Road, Santa Margarita, CA
Marina:
- Facilities: Marina, Fuel, Launch Ramp, Restrooms
- Slips: Unknown
- Boat Rentals
- Pedal Boat
- Boat with Motor
- Pontoon Boat, seats 8
- Pontoon Boat, seats 10
- Single or Double Kayak
- Canoe
Quagga and Zebra Mussel Boat Inspections at Santa Margarita Lake
All boats entering Santa Margarita Lake must first pass a quagga and zebra mussel inspection. Park staff will perform visual inspections on all boats. Those found with water in the bilge or live well, or are not clean, they will not be allowed to launch. Boats coming from infected waters will also not be permitted in the lake.
In addition, decontamination procedures will also be implemented. Boaters will be required to have their boats decontaminated using hot water treatment. Mussels and their larvae cannot survive water temperatures in excess of 140 degrees.
Before arrival at the lake boaters should remove drain plugs and make sure the bilge, live wells, and integral coolers are dry. Check that the boat hull and trailer are free of mud, debris, and aquatic weed or algae.
Boat inspection tags from Lake Cachuma will be honored at Santa Margarita Lake.
