OCLB Chapter presents
Cachuma Lake Campout
Santa Barbara
April 25th to 27th, 2025
Trip Leader Contact: Michael M
Email: BoardRep-OCLB@GreatOutdoors.org
Wine, Solvang & Camping! Oh My!
Let’s go!
Set amidst acres of wilderness flanked by the picturesque Santa Ynez and San Rafael Mountains, lies glimmering Cachuma Lake.
Formed by the construction of the Bradbury Dam in 1953, Cachuma Lake is midway between the beaches and bustle of Santa Barbara and the Danish community of Solvang.
Cachuma Lake offers a relaxing getaway and will be our home base for exploring local wineries and locations featured in the 2004 romantic comedy Sideways, which was entirely filmed in Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley.
Join me for a Sideways movie-themed campout. The campout will feature Santa Barbara area-inspired cuisine, a tour of select movie locations, and an outdoor film screening at our campsite if weather and logistics allow. I highly encourage you to watch the movie Sideways before the campout, as we will visit select locations featured in the film.
Registration: Limited to Great Outdoors members
Start: Fri Apr. 25th, 2025, 4pm
Ends: Sun Apr. 27th, 2025 12pm
Space available: 7 vehicles
Registration for this event closes by April 17.
Location: Cachuma Lake is off scenic Highway 154 in the Santa Ynez Valley, midway between Santa Barbara and Solvang.
Directions: Take the 405 North over the Sepulveda Pass from Long Beach and Orange County. Take Hwy 101 West to Santa Barbara. In Santa Barbara, Exit 101B State Street, Hwy. 154, Cachuma Lake. Follow the signs to Hwy 154. Drive 18 miles on Hwy 154 to Cachuma Lake campground.
Carpooling- All members are responsible for arranging their own transportation. Carpooling is highly encouraged to allow more members to attend because the campsite has a vehicle limit. There is no overflow parking.
If you can offer to carpool to another member or are interested in joining a carpool with another member, check out the website:
www.groupcarpool.com
I set up a carpool for the Cachuma Lake campout via this link for folks who can offer their vehicle to carpool and for folks interested in joining a carpool:
I cannot arrange carpools for members, but I invite you to click the link above and connect with other members to arrange a carpool.
If the trip is full please add yourself to the waitlist.
Important information
No Swimming—Cachuma Lake is a domestic water supply, so swimming, water skiing, windsurfing, or any other body contact with the water is prohibited.
Schedule
Fri Apr. 25th.
4 pm Check-in
4:30 pm- Welcome Tea- Refreshments provided. Meet & Greet
6 pm- Dinner on your own
7 pm- Group campfire
Sat April 26st.
8 am- Breakfast- Hot & Fresh Danish Aebleskivers cooked by me for attendees.
9 am—Day activity options: Sideways movie drive—Arrange carpools, designate drivers, and plan a route. Bring money if you plan to purchase wine at a local winery.
OR, explore the Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang, and Santa Barbara areas independently. A sideways movie map is provided.
4 pm- Happy Hour at the campsite! "Sideways" ambiance with some optional wine (BYOB) tasting fun.
6 pm- Group dinner potluck. Dinner Theme: Santa Barbara area-inspired cuisine
7 pm- Group campfire, movie under the stars: Sideways (2004)
(Weather permitting and if logistics allow).
Sun April 27nd.
8 am- Breakfast on your own.
9 am to 11 am—Break camp, pack up, and see you at the next Great Outdoors event!
Noon- Check out
Amenities: Cachuma Lake Campground offers potable water, restrooms with flush toilets, coin-operated showers, and trash and recycling bins. Campsites feature a picnic table and a fire ring. Cachuma Lake campground also offers a fully stocked general store, a gas station, a coin-operated laundromat, a nature center, and a year-round marina. They also have a full rental fleet to get you out on the water if you are inclined. Just no swimming or any contact with the water.
Parking: 7 vehicles (2 vehicles per campsite).
RVs: No RVs on this campout.
What to bring: Tent, Camp chair, Sleeping bag with a sleeping pad or air mattress, Air pump with extra batteries for air mattress, Pillow, Extra blanket, Day pack for hiking, camp stove, matches or lighter, propane fuel, flashlight with batteries, a lantern with batteries, headlight with red light feature and batteries, external power bank and phone charger; cooking utensils, cool weather clothing (jacket, sweater, long sleeve shirts, long pants, beanie), hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, toilet paper, toiletries kit, and hand sanitizer. Please bring your plates, cups, mugs, and eating utensils. Bring quarters to use the showers. You may want to get a pop-up shade with an anchor.
Recommendation: BRING 1 bundle of firewood per person.
Climate: April Avg. high 67 Avg. low 49. Mornings, evenings, and overnights can get cool. Bring warm clothing and dress in layers. Bring an extra blanket. Rain is unpredictable. Bring a raincoat if rain is forecasted. Wear sun protection: Hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, and long-sleeved shirts.
Fees: The camping fee is $75 per driver and $65 per passenger. The camping fee is discounted for passengers carpooling with a registered driver. Carpooling is highly encouraged to allow more people to attend this event and save money on fuel.
Driver $75 (Limit 7)
Passenger $65 (Limit 7)
Cancellation: Attendees may self-cancel with a refund, less a $10 fee, before Friday, April 11th, 2025. No refund will be given for self-cancellation after 4/11/25 and no-shows. Attendees must self-cancel via the cancellation link in their email confirmation or directly on their Wild Apricot profile. Do not email the trip leader separately to self-cancel.
Food: Bring enough food and snacks for two days. I will provide refreshments at the Friday welcome tea and cook Abelskivers for Saturday morning breakfast. We will have a potluck on Saturday night. The theme for the potluck is “Santa Barbara area-inspired cuisine.” Bring a dish inspired by the Santa Barbara area to share at the group dinner potluck on Saturday night.
Dogs: Dogs must be on a leash of 6 feet or less. They may not be left unattended within the park, and handlers must immediately clean up after their pets.
Questions?
Contact trip leader: Michael M
Email : BoardRep-OCLB@GreatOutdoors.org
Disclosure- I do not respond to emails immediately due to my non-traditional work schedule.
I will reply to emails about the camping trip on my days off.
Thank you for participating in the Great Outdoors club!
