Lake Sonoma Public Boat launch — Local services in Cloverdale

This is a boat launch and not a beach or a park. Just a boat launch. Launched here for a boat-in kayak camping trip. Currently (June 2023) it is free to park for multiple days.

You will need to stop at the Lake Sonoma Recreation Area before the bridge for the free mussel inspection and get a pass before putting in and parking. Your pass will be checked at the entrance to the launch. We had inflatable kayaks and still got checked, they use a “mussel dog” to sniff for mussels, we just opened the car back hatch and let them sniff all our gear, good to go.

The ramp will get busy on nice days and holiday weekends, and the line to put in and take out can get fairly long so be prepared to wait or get there early.

For parking if you have no boat trailer there is the top lot near the entrance.

There are portajohns at the launch and in the launch parking lot, as well as a dumpster for trash.

There is a primary boat ramp, as well as a small floating dock and a side launch which we used to put our kayaks in the water.

Couple things about the dock if you intend to use it for any kind of kayaks. On busy and or windy days, the chop can rock the dock and make tying up to the dock (the left side, as the right side is where all the boats are putting in and is not suitable for kayak use) precarious. Just bring your up the small ramp and get out of the way. Second, the dock is not terribly high off the water, but it’s a little higher than some may like for stepping into a kayak so you may just want to get your feet wet rather than rely on using the dock.

Overall it was a breeze of an experience,...

Lake Sonoma is a beautiful and fun lake. This boat launch is usually busy, during prime time. There are a number of boaters here that either don't know or don't follow good boater etiquette.

Ideally one launches their craft and then someone keeps the boat in idle out in the middle of the lake. Then when they're ready to get on, they walk down the dock, they're crew will meet them there allowing you to get on-board for a fun day of boating.

*Please be courteous to the others at the launch. *Spend as little time tied to the dock...

Need a dock supervisor on weekends and holidays. Only room for 4 or 5 boats on the small dock. I've seen boats tied up, read blocking others from using, with no owner around for hours. Also need to keep people from detailing their boat on the ramp after pulling out. Pull it all the way up to the parking lot ,...