Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area
Also known as Bethany Reservoir SRA
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 7 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $10 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below6-ft leash
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(925) 447-2867
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In Alameda County, about 10 miles northwest of Tracy, Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area covers about 840 acres.
Visitors come for surfing, boating, fishing, wildlife watching, and biking. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 7 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
7 am to Sunset.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use | $10 |
| Boat Launch | $7 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use: $10.00 • Boat Launch: $7.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
See the park’s wording · leash up to 6 feet
Are dogs allowed? Dogs • Dogs must be on a 6 foot maximum leash and under human control at all times.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Things to do
BoatingPicnickingFishingWildlife viewing and birdingSurfingHikingBiking
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Picnic areas
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
Water
- Boat ramp
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
Located in the northernmost part of the San Joaquin Valley, Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area is a popular place for water-oriented recreation, especially fishing and windsurfing. The park is seven miles off Interstate 580 at the Grant Line Road exit. Phone (925) 447-0426 for more information.
Picnic Area
Three accessible picnic tables under shade structures are available in the main parking lot, near the boat launch. Accessible parking and vault restroom are available nearby.
Fishing
A generally accessible fishing platform is available in the main parking lot, near the boat launch.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Rules and permits
Park Specific Rules
Superintendent Orders are laws that are specific to a State Park District and/or a California State Park. The links below will take you to a copy of each District Superintendent Order that applies to Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area (SRA). These orders are posted for viewing at each public entrance of the park. These orders are subject to change and were recently renewed in 2026.Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area is part of the Diablo Range District.
Bethany Reservoir SRA - Park Unit Hours of Operation
Bethany Reservoir SRA - Water Safety
Bethany Reservoir SRA - Dreissenid Mussel Inspection Program
Diablo Range District - Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Diablo Range District Units - Juvenile Curfew
Diablo Range District Units - Trail Use Policy
Diablo Range District - Rescinded Orders
Getting there
- Address
- Christensen Rd
Byron, CA 94514 - Nearest town
- Tracy — about 10 mi northwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 37.7829, -121.6172
- Phone
- (925) 447-2867
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The recreation area is northeast of Livermore, seven miles off Interstate 580 at the Grant Line Road exit.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology