8 Best Lakeside Towns on the Pacific Coast

The Pacific Coast, with its thousands of miles of pristine oceanfront property, is also home to tons of excellent freshwater real estate. From British Columbia to Southern California, there are a plethora of lakes and towns adjacent to lakes for you to enjoy. While not having nearly as many as out east, the 8 destinations below are among the best on the continent, let alone the West Coast.

Join us as we discuss what makes these communities the cream of the crop, and the best things to see and do while in town.

Lakeport, California

Lakeport is the biggest and most robust community on the western shore of Clear Lake, California’s largest natural freshwater lake. The town serves as a practical base for exploring one of the state’s greatest inland natural landmarks, and all the surrounding area has to offer. Sitting squarely within the Pacific Coast watershed, it is not only a hotspot for water-based recreation but an important ecological zone as well.

The historic downtown core of Lakeport runs along Main Street, lined with early 20th-century storefronts. From here, the nearby shoreline is dotted with public parks like Library Park, where piers, idyllic picnic spots, and open viewpoints of the surrounding volcanic ridges can be appreciated. The lake itself, of course, draws numerous boaters, kayakers, and anglers throughout the year.

The wine scene in and around Lakeport is also an interesting aspect, with the fertile soils in the area providing world-class growing conditions at the northern tip of California's Wine Country. Local wineries and tasting rooms, including those along the nearby High Valley and Red Hills AVAs, make day trips easy for anyone looking for lake views while sipping on a nice vintage.

Lakeport also hosts long-running community events like the Clear Lake Seaplane Splash-In and the Lake County Fair, adding yet more to see and do in the town throughout the year.

Lake Oswego, Oregon

Located just eight miles south of Portland, the town of Lake Oswego comes with a unique blend of suburban charm and lakeside recreation, with the backdrop of Oregon’s portion of the Cascade Range adding an extra bit of scenery to the mix. Centered around its namesake body of water, a 420-acre lake, the town is built up of a variety of residential neighborhoods with a walkable downtown that faces both the lake and nearby Tryon Creek State Natural Area.

Lake Oswego’s downtown features the Millennium Plaza Park, where farmers’ markets, concerts, and community events unfold beside the water. It is also simply a great place to start your visit here, with many notable landmarks located within walking distance. Be sure to catch a flick at the Lake Theater & Cafe, stay a night in the cozy Lakeshore Inn, or grab an ice cream cone this summer at the renowned Salt & Straw, just to name a few things to do near the urban park.

Seasonal festivals like the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts and Summer Concerts in the Park attract both locals and visitors seeking an engaging lakeside experience without straying far from the city.

You will also find easy access to outdoor spaces like George Rogers Park, where the Willamette River offers public beaches, boat ramps, and scenic walking trails. Tryon Creek State Natural Area is also worth a visit, hosting 658 acres of lush Pacific coast forest with pathways for both hikers and horseback riders.

Lake Cowichan, British Columbia

Tucked inland near the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Lake Cowichan is a quaint lakeside community shaped by the outdoor adventurers who flock here every year, cottagers, and tonnes of parks and pristine wildlands.

Once a prominent logging town, it has gradually evolved into a quiet retreat for paddlers, hikers, and travelers seeking a laid-back lakeside escape. The lake stretches about 19 miles, offering some of the clearest freshwater on the island, with boat launches, swimming beaches, and canoe routes easily accessible from town.

The Cowichan River, which flows from the lake, is a Canadian Heritage River and a popular destination for tubing and fly fishing, especially in the warmer months. Nearby trails, including the Trans Canada Trail segment and the Cowichan Valley Trail, give hikers and cyclists direct access to forested routes and scenic viewpoints.

With its quiet streets and rugged, mountainous surroundings, Lake Cowichan is among the best of the best lake towns in Canada, a tough feat in a country with the most freshwater on the entire planet.

Chelan, Washington

Chelan sits at the foot of Lake Chelan, a glacier-fed body of water stretching over 50 miles into the North Cascades. The town itself occupies the southern tip of the lake, where small-scale shops, wineries, and local diners give the place a small-town charm that appeals to both weekenders and long-term residents.

Lake Chelan’s deep blue waters remain the clear main attraction. You can rent paddleboards, kayaks, and even pontoon boats, or book passage on the Lady of the Lake ferry, which travels upriver to the remote community of Stehekin, accessible only by boat, plane, or foot.

Outside the water, Chelan’s surrounding hills are covered in vineyards, making the area one of Washington’s most recognized wine regions, with tons of fruit orchards too. Destinations like Benson Vineyards Estate Winery, Karma Vineyards, Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards, and many others all sit on the hills lining Lake Chelan's lengthy shoreline.

For hikers, nearby Chelan Butte is the place to go for up high, panoramic views of the entire lake basin, while the waterfront Riverwalk Park creates an easygoing loop for walkers and cyclists who wish to stay in town.

Big Bear Lake, California

Big Bear Lake sits up in the San Bernardino Mountains, offering a high-altitude lakeside experience just a few hours inland from Los Angeles. It is a hotspot for recreation seekers from the city, drawing visitors with its cooler summers, snowy winters, and easy access to the lake’s seven miles of shoreline.

The village center, known as The Village at Big Bear Lake, serves as the heart of town, with local eateries, outdoor outfitters, and lodges within its historic district’s timber-style buildings. The Lagonita Lodge is an especially sought-after accommodation, as it is perched on a scenic location right beside the lake.

The lake itself, as lakes on this list do, supports boating, kayaking, fishing, and swimming in warmer months, while the nearby slopes of Snow Summit and Bear Mountain turn the area into a ski destination each winter.

Beyond water sports and ski hills, Big Bear’s hiking network includes sections of the Pacific Crest Trail, along with shorter routes like the Castle Rock Trail, which rewards hikers with sweeping views of the lake basin.

Crescent Lake, Oregon

Crescent Lake is a small, unincorporated community located along the southeastern shore of its namesake lake in the Cascade Range. Originally developed as a railroad stop for timber transport, the area now functions as a seasonal base for travelers heading into the surrounding Willamette and Deschutes National Forests. The lake stretches a humble five miles from end to end, offering clear water suitable for fishing, paddling, and motorboating. Within easy reach of public lake access, boat ramps, and campgrounds, it is an amazing spot open for anyone to appreciate.

Kokanee salmon and lake trout are the primary catch in Crescent Lake, and the surrounding shoreline remains largely undeveloped aside from some marinas and seasonal cabins, allowing wildlife of all kinds to thrive here.

When winter comes around, the area shifts toward snowmobiling, Nordic skiing, and backcountry touring. Crescent Lake also sits near the Pacific Crest Trail, which cuts through the nearby high country, drawing long-distance hikers during the summer months. Regardless of the season, the region’s volcanoes, dense forests, and remoteness make it a draw for visitors looking for more of an escape into the wild rather than a fully fleshed-out small-town experience.

Chester, California

Chester is a welcoming town on the northern shore of Lake Almanor, a reservoir in northeastern California’s Sierra Nevada. Its quaint downtown stretches along Main Street (Highway 36) and is built around practical businesses, including your average mix of diners, hardware stores, and groceries, serving both permanent residents and seasonal visitors.

There are a few interesting things to see in town, though, like the Collins Pine Museum, a seasonally open attraction highlighting the prominent lumber industry in the area. Golfers can hit up Lake Almanor West Golf Course, which is positioned on a nearby spit jutting out into the lake, making the course as beautiful as it is fun to play. Lake Almanor hosts several public launch points, marinas, and campgrounds close to Chester as well.

The area’s landscape is shaped by conifer forests and wide views of Lassen Peak, especially striking in the early morning and late afternoon. Notably, the lake sits at the edge of Lassen Volcanic National Park, placing Chester within reach of active geothermal sites, volcanic peaks, and established trail networks.

Mercer Island, Washington

The city of Mercer Island is located in the middle of Lake Washington, positioned between Seattle and Bellevue. Though the island as a whole functions as an incorporated city, its lakeside setting and self-contained layout give it the feel of a stand-alone town rather than a suburban extension of the bustling metropolitan area around it.

The island’s shoreline is almost entirely ringed with public parks and residential neighborhoods, with Luther Burbank Park providing one of the best access points to Lake Washington. The park covers 77 acres and includes a web of walking trails, waterfront picnic areas with amazing views, and a public fishing pier. As you can imagine, boating is a major part of island life, and the public boat launch at the park sees regular use during warmer months.

Mercer Island also serves as a stop for the Mountains to Sound Greenway trail system, which links Puget Sound to the Cascade foothills further inland.

See these West Coast Lakeside destinations this Year

Whether you're looking for a new spot to take your boat out for a spin this summer or want a quiet destination to explore in the winter, these 8 towns on the Pacific coast are sure to appeal to just about anybody who loves nature and small communities with character. From Vancouver Island to the Sierra Nevadas, add these lakeside spots to your next roadtrip ot west, wherever it may take you!