Lake Hennessy City Recreational Area
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Lake Hennessy City Recreational Area is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts in California.
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Summary
Located in Napa County, this area offers a variety of activities, including hiking, fishing, boating, and camping. One of the main attractions in the area is Lake Hennessy itself, which is a reservoir that supplies drinking water to the nearby cities of Napa and St. Helena.
Visitors to Lake Hennessy can enjoy scenic hikes around the lake and surrounding hills, with trails that range from easy to moderate difficulty. Fishing is another popular activity, with the lake stocked with rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and other species. Boating is also allowed on the lake, with motorized and non-motorized options available.
In addition to outdoor activities, the Lake Hennessy City Recreational Area is home to several points of interest. This includes the Moore Creek Park Preserve, which features a variety of wildlife and plant species, as well as historic sites like the Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park.
Interesting facts about the area include the fact that Lake Hennessy is named after John Hennessy, a San Francisco banker who helped finance the construction of the reservoir in the early 20th century. The lake is also part of the Napa River watershed, which is home to a diverse range of plant and animal species.
The best time to visit Lake Hennessy City Recreational Area is during the spring and fall months, when temperatures are mild and the scenery is at its most beautiful. Summer can be hot and crowded, while winter can be rainy and chilly. Overall, this area is a great destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, with plenty of activities and attractions to keep visitors engaged.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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