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West Valley Reservoir

Alturas, California — Modoc County.

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806Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 84813700).

Location & fast facts

Where West Valley Reservoir is in California

The red circle marks West Valley Reservoir.

Fast facts

About West Valley Reservoir

  • County: Modoc
  • Nearest city: Alturas (about 14.8 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 112 mi from Redding and 190 mi from Sacramento, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (California: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in California

Official CDFW pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 1 public trailer launch listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Trout
  • Camping. 7 campgrounds within 15 mi, 1 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official stocking data (California CDFW)

Stocked by the state: Trout (2 planting weeks, 2026-03 to 2026-03)

Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Fish Planting Locations [ds2897] (plants into West Valley Reservoir, Lassen, Modoc County, past 12 months). See the CDFW fish planting schedule. These are stocking records, not a full fish survey; other species also live here.

Lake map

West Valley Reservoir shoreline, boat launches & beaches

West Valley Reservoir Campground (campground)Boat ramp (Boat launch)11 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch Campground
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 84813700), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near West Valley Reservoir

We found 7 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of West Valley Reservoir, 1 of them within 5 miles. 1 is right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

1 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in California

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to West Valley Reservoir, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Compare car rentals near this lake

Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (41.2034, -120.4004). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for West Valley Reservoir. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at West Valley Reservoir

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in PT (America/Los_Angeles), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating41.2046, -120.4087

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about West Valley Reservoir

    How big is West Valley Reservoir?

    West Valley Reservoir covers about 806 acres in Alturas, California (Modoc County).

    What fish are in West Valley Reservoir?

    CDFW fish planting records lists Trout.

    Is there a public boat launch on West Valley Reservoir?

    Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near West Valley Reservoir?

    Yes. We list 7 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 1 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on West Valley Reservoir?

    West Valley Reservoir touches Alturas in Modoc County, California.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know West Valley Reservoir? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All California lakes & ponds · All waters in Alturas