Monticello Dam Glory Hole
Witness the mesmerizing 'Glory Hole' spillway at Monticello Dam, a unique engineering marvel that swallows excess water from Lake Berryessa.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Best Time
Spillway is active!
Monticello Dam Glory Hole
Best Time
Spillway is active!
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Witness the mesmerizing 'Glory Hole' spillway at Monticello Dam, a unique engineering marvel that swallows excess water from Lake Berryessa.
"The Glory Hole was so awesome, well worth the detour to come out and see it while it’s active."
Check Lake Levels First! :water_wave:
The Glory Hole only works when the lake is full. Check recent reports before making the drive!
Free Parking Available :car:
There's a small, free parking lot right by the dam. It can fill up, so arrive early if possible.
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
The Morning Glory Spillway
Monticello Dam
A massive, funnel-shaped spillway that swallows excess water from Lake Berryessa, creating a mesmerizing vortex.
Lake Berryessa Views
Adjacent to the dam
Enjoy expansive views of the seventh-largest man-made lake in California, especially stunning during spring.
Monticello Dam Engineering
Monticello Dam
Marvel at the impressive civil engineering feat that is the Monticello Dam and its unique water management system.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Planning Your Visit
Timing is Everything for the Glory Hole
Access and Viewing Tips
Best Times
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Check Lake Levels First! :water_wave:
The Glory Hole only works when the lake is full. Check recent reports before making the drive!
Free Parking Available :car:
There's a small, free parking lot right by the dam. It can fill up, so arrive early if possible.
Bring Binoculars :binoculars:
For a closer look at the water flow and surrounding rock formations, binoculars are a great addition.
Consider a Hike :hiking_boot:
The Blue Ridge Hike offers stunning 180-degree views of Lake Berryessa.
Tips
from all over the internet
Check Lake Levels First! :water_wave:
The Glory Hole only works when the lake is full. Check recent reports before making the drive!
Free Parking Available :car:
There's a small, free parking lot right by the dam. It can fill up, so arrive early if possible.
Bring Binoculars :binoculars:
For a closer look at the water flow and surrounding rock formations, binoculars are a great addition.
Consider a Hike :hiking_boot:
The Blue Ridge Hike offers stunning 180-degree views of Lake Berryessa.
It's a Drive-By Attraction :oncoming_automobile:
Most visitors spend a short time here. It's more about the spectacle than lingering.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Visitors are captivated by the sheer spectacle of the Monticello Dam Glory Hole when it's active, calling it an 'awesome' and 'mesmerizing' sight. The unique engineering and the vastness of Lake Berryessa are frequently praised. However, some find the immediate area around the spillway to be less appealing, with notes on fencing and litter, and acknowledge it's primarily a 'drive-by' attraction.
"4/14/25 Monday noticed some crazy sick person vandalize/cut the fence. Glory hole as usual looks amazing. Saw snake on the road.
4/7/25 Monday. Very quiet and beautiful place. Glory hole n Monticello dam is really amazing."
Danny A
"The attraction is somewhat of a drive by as it sits adjacent to the road. There is a small free parking area and there's no cost involved to see the hole.
The Glory Hole is manmade and an interesting way to move the water from the lake to outside of the dam into a spillway.
The hole is behind a short concrete wall with a chain link fence surrounded by trash and dirty blacktop and a narrow quasi concrete walkway.
Would I travel to see the Glory Hole again? Nope. Would i have traveled there to see the hole had I known what it would be like before I went? Nope."
j b
"The Glory Hole was so awesome, well worth the detour to come out and see it while it’s active. It had some absolutely beautiful rock formations right there as well, the sort of stunning natural beauty only California can capture all in one place. The dam was cool too."
Ben Austin-Lane
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
🚇 🗺️ Getting There
The Monticello Dam Glory Hole is located in Napa County, California, on Lake Berryessa. It's accessible by car, with a small free parking area adjacent to the dam. Many visitors find it a scenic drive, especially if coming from areas like Sacramento.
Public transportation options are very limited for reaching the Monticello Dam Glory Hole due to its rural location. It is best accessed by private vehicle.
For a scenic drive to Lake Berryessa, consider taking Highway 128, which is known for its beautiful vineyard landscapes and rolling hills.
The Monticello Dam Glory Hole is approximately a 1.5-hour drive northeast of San Francisco and about an hour's drive from Sacramento.
Yes, there is a small, free parking area located right next to the dam where visitors can park to view the Glory Hole.
🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry
No, there is no admission fee or ticket required to visit and view the Monticello Dam Glory Hole. It is a free attraction.
The Glory Hole does not have set operating hours as it is an uncontrolled spillway. It only activates when Lake Berryessa reaches its capacity.
The spillway is most likely to be active during the spring months, following periods of significant rainfall that cause Lake Berryessa to fill up.
There is no entrance fee for Lake Berryessa itself, and viewing the Glory Hole from the dam is also free.
You can view the Glory Hole from the dam area. Some visitors have noted a chain-link fence and a short concrete wall surrounding the immediate spillway area.
📸 📸 Photography & Views
The most iconic shot is the vortex of water entering the spillway when it's active. The surrounding landscape of Lake Berryessa also offers beautiful photographic potential.
Visitors can safely take photos from the designated viewing areas on the dam. Be mindful of your surroundings and any fencing.
Yes, from the parking lot area, you can look down to the bottom of the dam and observe the water gushing out through the spillway's exit pipe.
From higher vantage points, like from the Blue Ridge Hike, the Glory Hole can appear like a 'black hole' due to the perspective of the water funneling into the spillway.
Regulations regarding drone usage can vary. It's advisable to check with local authorities or the Bureau of Reclamation for current drone policies around the dam and lake.
🎫 🏞️ Onsite Experience
The Monticello Dam Glory Hole, also known as the Morning Glory Spillway, is a large, funnel-shaped spillway designed to release excess water from Lake Berryessa and prevent the dam from overflowing. 
When the water level in Lake Berryessa rises above 440 feet, it flows into the 72-foot diameter spillway, which funnels the water into an underwater pipe that empties about 200 feet below on the other side of the dam.
The spillway can handle a massive rate of water flow, with some sources stating it can swallow water at a rate of 48,800 cubic feet per second when active.
No, the Glory Hole is an uncontrolled spillway and only activates when Lake Berryessa reaches its maximum capacity, typically after significant rainfall in the spring.
Reviews suggest the immediate area around the spillway can be somewhat unkempt, with a chain-link fence and trash noted by some visitors.
For Different Travelers
Tailored advice for your travel style
👨👩👧 Families with Kids
📸 Photography Enthusiasts
Be prepared for varying light conditions and consider bringing a wide-angle lens to capture the scale of the dam and the lake. For a different perspective, the Blue Ridge Hike offers panoramic shots of Lake Berryessa, which can complement your Glory Hole photos. 🚗 Road Trippers & Day-Trippers
Deep Dives
In-depth insights and expert knowledge
The Engineering Marvel: Monticello Dam and the Glory Hole
+2This spillway is a testament to mid-20th-century civil engineering, designed to protect the dam and surrounding areas from catastrophic flooding. Its activation is a rare and dramatic event, drawing attention due to its sheer scale and the mesmerizing visual of water being 'swallowed' by the earth. The rate at which it can process water is astounding, with some estimates suggesting it can handle up to 48,800 cubic feet per second.
+1While the engineering is impressive, the immediate surroundings of the Glory Hole have received mixed reviews. Some visitors note that the area can be a bit unkempt, with fencing and litter present. However, the sheer spectacle of the spillway in action, combined with the expansive views of Lake Berryessa, makes it a unique point of interest for those who time their visit correctly.
Experiencing the Glory Hole: What to Expect
+1Upon arrival, you'll find a small, free parking area adjacent to the dam. From here, you can walk to the viewing points. The most striking visual is the massive vortex of water being drawn into the funnel. For those interested in the engineering, you can also observe the water exiting the dam below. Some visitors have noted that the immediate area around the spillway might not be perfectly manicured, with a fence and occasional litter.
Beyond the spillway itself, the location offers broader scenic beauty. Lake Berryessa is a vast, man-made reservoir, and the surrounding landscape provides opportunities for photography. For a more comprehensive view of the lake, consider the Blue Ridge Hike, which offers panoramic vistas and can provide a unique perspective on the 'black hole' appearance of the spillway from above.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit