Bowman Lake
This is a rugged, rocky basin with a poor access road after it continues. beyond the dam. But with a SUV, it's a nice, rather scenic drive to the upper end of the lake and the Jackson Creek Campground. The Grouse Ridge scenic area drops down to the reservoir near the south side of the reservoir.
...poor access roads beyond the dam.
Lake is drawn down by late summer.
DESCRIPTION:
There is a primitive boat launch on the north side of the lake shortly past the dam. The road down to the launch is rather steep and narrow with a poor turn-around. A second boat launch with a better access road is on the north side of the lake about 3/4 the way up the narrow, rocky road at the Bowman Campground. This is not a good road to pull a trailer, especially one with any size. Still, this is a good launch spot for car-top carriers.
Powerboating is limited to 10 MPH so the lake is used mostly by anglers. Rainbow, Brown and Brook trout are available and can be rewarding fishing. The rugged, rock-lined reservoir is deep especially when it has not been drawn down yet.
Bowman Lake Falls, aka Canyon Creek or even Sawmill Falls, is a pretty, 80' high set of cascades just up Canyon Creek before it dumps into the reservoir. You can hike in from the Jackson Creek Campground above the lake. That can be tricky in the spring due to the amount of water in Jackson Creek. Certainly, keeping your feet dry can be tricky. However, if you have an adequate high-clearance on a heavy vehicle, you can drive through (over) the ford just south of the campground on the Canyon Creek Road towards Faucherie Lake. Then park and cut across the hillside above Canyon Creek to the cascades. Better yet, paddle in from the upper end of the reservoir.
Normal reservoir capacity 68,500 AF.
Elevation: 5558’. Season: Late May through October. Lake is drawn down by late summer.
DIRECTIONS:
To Bowman Lake
On Highway 20, about 23 miles east of Nevada City and 4.6 miles west of the I-80/Highway 20 intersection, take Bowman Road north. Drive about 16 miles to the lake. All but the last 4 miles are paved. To the lake overlook at the dam, the road access is drivable by sedans, but SUVs are best along the last climb to the top of the dam.
Beyond the dam, the road is labeled as a 4WD road, but SUVs with some driving skills to dodge rocks is fine. Definitely to drop down to the first boat launch ramp, a larger vehicle with some clearance is best.
In fact, this is a county road and is usually drivable by SUVs all the way east to the paved road at Jackson Meadows Reservoir. But it can get eaten up in spots from high waters and is a mess until it has been repaired.
ACTIVITIES:
Fishing (Rating: Best)
Planted rainbows and browns with some large resident browns. Boat fishing and trolling are best but fishing the shallower, east end from shore is a good bet.
Boating - Flatwater Paddling (Rating: Best)
Large lake with a motor speed limit of 10 MPH that leaves the users mostly anglers. Plus the boat launch facilities limit the size of boats. For flatwater paddlers The only other limitation is occasional winds than can zip up the narrow canyon with not all that much trees for buffer. But catch this spot on a calm day with lots of sunshine, it's a pretty spot for paddling.
Best launch for paddlers is the upper end at the Bowman Campground and then paddling the upper end of the reservoir. Lots of rocky shore and stately trees to be enjoyable.
The Bowman Lake Waterfall is just up Canyon Creek where it dives down to the reservoir. It's more cascades than falls, but a pleasant scramble and paddling is the easiest way to approach the falls.
There are several good camping spots just off the road around the lake and short stubs will drop you down to base camps. Then on the far side of the lake there are other places that are only available by flatwater paddling.
Camping (Rating: Good)
Bowman Lake Campground: 7 sites, fire rings, bring drinking water or purify lake or stream water. Free.
See Grouse Lakes Area for other nearby camprounds. Links listed below for Nearby Locations.
Boating - Motorized (Rating: Good)
Small boats only with a 10-mph speed limit. Although there is a boat ramp at the upper end (north shore) of the lake, roads getting there are very poor. The roads from the east by Jackson Meadows Reservoir are somewhat better, but fishing boat trailers would be my limit.
