Stayed overnight 1 night at the campground in a self contained RV. Very nice, clean campground with beautiful views of the city below. Also, looks like some spots have views of the lake. The lake has boats to rent, hiking trails and fishing. The grounds were very well maintained and clean. The only issue I could spot was a huge amount of squirrels that seem to be taking over a lot of area with their tunnels. The RV spots are all dirt and up steep main roads, but I saw some larger 30' rigs here. There are no campfires permitted here, but you can bbq. Enjoyed my night here and I will be back! read more

This place was amazing, we camped in space 2 which has a beautiful view. Watch out for squirrels, we kept our food in the car but one of the kids left a door open and the little sneaks had some snacks. There's a great hiking trail, I hiked it with my 8/10 yr old niece and nephew. Only thing that could be better is if we could have splashed in the water, but it's not allowed. We also fished, I think we paid around $20 for the 3 of us, which is an ok price if the kids would have fished longer than 15 mins. Happy Camping! read more

The lake is very nice and the scenery is beautiful especially if you are in the camp ground looking out to the city of Escondido or looking the opposite way to the lake. There are many trails that you can walk and if you exit the lake and take a right (walking) there is a great hiking trail that also has trails for bikes and horses (dogs are allowed at this trail and its free). The camp ground at dixon lake is okay. The only problem is you are not allowed to do alot of things at this lake... including swimming in it. They do rent out boats, and you can fish (with a permit). Its a nice place to hang out for a couple of hours and have a bbq, but I wouldn't camp here. There are also play areas for the children, but you might be asked to keep the noise down..."because it scares the fish". Also dogs are not allowed, but sometimes you still see people with dogs (I love dogs myself, just stating a fact). By the boat dock there is a snack shack... you can purchase snacks, drinks, rent a boat and purchase the fishing permit if needed. read more

Dixon Lake is such a fun place to hike, camp, fish, and so much more! If you like the outdoors you must stop by this hidden gem in Escondido. read more

Dixon Lake - Dixon Lake awesome for hiking, fishing, camping and more! If you love the outdoors you will love this spot! - Parks Near Me - Escondido, California

My wife and I planned a picnic with our kids, we decided to go to Dixon Lake. We had a great time. It is not that far and yet made us felt away from the city. There is a hiking trail which made it fun. We relax and had fun!! read more

Simply...I Just love this place. Breathtaking. I found a piece of myself I'd lost and some serenity here.

It could have been something of a good experience had we not have been harassed by a ranger. I don't know about anyone else but if we have to be in bed by ten then camping is pointless. We had to put out our fire and go in our tents. It felt more like prison than camping. I cannot stress how much I loathe coal fires. read more

I've been camping here since I was a little kid. Each site is a little different and have different positive aspects: panoramic view, hidden sites, lake view, separate parking, etc. We like it because it has the camping aspect of it, but it's also got the basic amenities such as water on each site, bathrooms nearby and a couple shower stalls nearby too. Trash and recycling bins are also readily available and each site has a picnic table, charcoal grill and a locker (bring your own lock). Below the campsites are 2 parks, boating, fishing, etc. The price is decent and it's safe. Ice is cheaper there than at the local market. Rangers drive throughout the the day & night to check up on things. They're quite friendly and usually pretty courteous --although my sister did experience a one-time trash pick up at 2 or 3am and we've been woken up with a drive through in the middle of the night, but usually they're pretty good. See it as a pro or con, but you're going for the camp experience and it's there... lots of wildlife. We were confronted by a tarantula at our campsite (which we relocated), another huge spider in the shower, got raided by a raccoon and its 2 babies (which left after getting a light flashed on them). We've seen snakes (incl. rattle snakes), mice, owls, birds, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, and other awesome animals... The downside for me is NO DOGS are allowed, which saddens me in respect to my little yorkie who had to stay at home, but I also understand why they may have that rule. I haven't seen any dogs on any campsite, but I did see one in the park below. Other CONS...no wood fires, no noise after 10pm, no swimming, no use of trees even for tying ropes [but have seen some do it--including us (in a non-invasive way) and haven't been told anything by Rangers] but it's grounds for removal. All in all... it was still a great experience, as usual. :) I hope you enjoy it there too! read more

Had a great time with all the squirrels and beautiful scenery. Boat rides inexpensive and fun for the little one. Definitely come on a weekday so you can enjoy the peace and quiet read more

I remember camping out here as a kid during the summer so I thought I would drag the wife and baby out here one of the past hot weekends. I would say that not much of the actual facility has changed...Excpet for the throngs (word of the day!) of people that apparently had the same idea as I did. The parking lot was jammed so we had to park on the road leading out of the main "park" area near the head of the lake. There were so many parties in the park that day that we could barely find a place to sit and let the baby play a little bit. Definitely not someplace I would take the kids to play...When it is that busy. There were so many parties, BBQ's and Piniattas going on that it felt like one big crowd. Needless to say we stayed about 20min then took off. Not really worth the $5 parking fee...But perhaps it was just a busy Saturday. We did not get to take advantage, but I do know this area has;Roa and motor boat rentals, fishing along the lake and at the two piers...Camping and a small general store. Would be a nice little area if it weren't for the crowds. read more

This is one of North County's best kept secret. It's a beautiful park and campground with something for everyone. With picnic areas for BBQ, play ground, a lake, and hiking trails. It's a beautiful place to get away for almost nothing. read more

Love the yearly trout fishing competition. Been coming hear since I was ten. I showed my nephews how to fish hear. Love there boat rides

This is a beautiful park and lake with great campsites too. We camped there this spring and had a great time with the exception of the charcoal fire only rule. We rented a paddle boat for an hour of inexpensive fun and were able to paddle up to our campsite to give everyone a turn. There are secluded sites and sites with a city view. It would be an A++ if I knew how to stay warm and entertained everyone without a campfire. We felt really dumb sitting in the dark with only our lanterns. I brought some glow in the dark toys but we eventually got bored with them and went to bed feeling disappointed by 8:00. For that reason we have gone elsewhere since then because let's face it, charcoal fires are a joke unless you bring the coal mine. read more

great spot for fishing. Nice and clean, well maintained. Many people come here to BBQ but i have only ever went to fish. They have some nice size trouts but sometimes its to many people here and the fish dont bit to much. Oh, on weekends its $5 per vehicle to come in the park and the fishing permit cost $7 for adults. No cali fishing license required. read more

This is a review of my family's recent camping experience. I can't believe I've lived in Escondido 4 years and have never been here. It is just about 3 miles from my house but when you are there it feels as if you are far away from civilization. Our campsite #6 had a fantastic view of the lake. I will say this though, do not choose #6 if you have a car. The private dirt driveway is rutted, steep, and about 100' long. Backing out I even put my truck into 4x4 at one point because my rear wheels were slipping. We were never bothered by rangers or other campers. We simply had a great time and will continue to camp here for the foreseeable future. read more

This is a great place to go once in a while, but you will quickly run out of things to do. It is a great place for trails- there are limitless possibilities when combined with Daley Ranch's trail system. But you can't swim in the lake, and the boat rentals are kind of pricey considering the lake isn't that big and it doesn't take long to cruise around it. I would still recommend it worth seeing occasionally, but if you're looking to do an extended camping trip, check out someplace else. read more

Go when the lake is first stocked. We went at 6am on Friday. A week and a half after it was stocked. We put our bait right in front of the fishes faces and they did nothing. And everyone t the lake said the same thing. Still, it was fun and a nice day out. Its a nice little lake! Free parking during the week. A cool little bait shop and snack shop too. read more

I'm always looking for close local places to run. I really enjoyed Dixon Lake. I really liked the rolling hills as it really added a nice challenge to my run. The ONLY thing I didn't really care for was that it was a bit rocky in some parts of the path, which made it hard to grip the ground as you run. The trail I took was about 5 miles, which was perfect. The views were beautiful! Overall, it's a great location, I'll definitely come here again! read more

Came here on Sunday and enjoyed a fabulous day with the family! Rented a pedal boat, which conveniently sat out family of 4 and is very easy to pedal and steer, and is also very affordable at only $12/hour + $12 deposit, which is returned as long as you get the boat back on time. Our two 9 year olds had a blast! All the Rangers that we came across were very pleasant and friendly. Definitely coming back for more adventures! read more

I camped here with some friends. Restrooms were close by. Great place to watch the stars at night and enjoy the view of Escondido in the morning fog. read more

We made a reservation for camping but prior to the dates went on a little trip to check the camping out. I would not pull my small 21 foot travel trailer into that campground. The trees above and on the side of the road need a huge trimming effort. I have severely damaged a roof years ago at another campground and will not take the chance. Way too expensive to repair. Do they not understand about aluminum siding and rubber roofs.They need to do some serious maintenance there. I guess they could leave this campground just for the tenters. read more

Dixon Lake is one of my Local Favs you are just far enough away to be camping but close enough to get there on the weekend easy. There is a little know disabled cabin that can be rented, and is a good place to get the old folks out for the weekend. You can plug in the Rv and still pitch a tent. For the most part you can get a spot here. and the website allows you to see the views from each spot so you can choose what number spot you want. Love that :) If you like to camp Try it. read more

My family has been coming here for years, only to see the poor thing degrade. There was a no dog rule and you see dogs in the park (not that I don't like dogs, but a rule is a rule). The snack bar and fishing fees are overpriced. The entrance fee of five dollars is not that great, especially since they only take cash. Most people like to carry a debt or credit card, so if they have no cash, they're out of luck. Parking is sometimes a nightmare, esp on the weekend. There's a million bees that will harass you, though it's usually like that in nature. The fishing is okay, but don't expect to catch anything too big, or some days anything at all. Little kids love to run on the docks and yell, so it's not great for fishing. But it's a fun place to take a little kid. It's a good place for a picnic too (although wild birds and squirrels will be on your table ready to steal). Bathrooms are no good, so bring hand sanitizer. It's a decent park, but definitely not the best one in the county. read more

Went camping here once, saw two snakes that scared the crap out of me. One of them being a Diamondback rattlesnake. It's a nice spot to camp, RV or tent. Not sure if they have cabins or not, its been a while since I last visited. I see a lot of fishing action as well, wildlife is just about everywhere. read more

Great view and chill vibes.Restrooms down by lake have toilet paper! This is important for the ladies!

I brought my boys and their friend fishing here. It's peaceful and clean. We also enjoy camping here.

I've not done much fishing here but have walked around a bunch and like to stop in and have my lunch there sometimes. It is a beautiful place! read more

I've been fishing here since i was a kid. I take my kids up to feed the ducks. I've camped in tent and rv over looking the city of Escondido. Attached to the lake is Daley Ranch with several hiking, running, horse back riding and mountain biking trails. No beer or alcoholic beverages are allowed. read more

Bring the kids walking here all the time. Different trails to try out, depending how far you'd like to walk.

I like to bring my daughter here to feed the ducks, she always enjoys this. But today I went to rent a boat at 9:00 am and they were sold out. This is the 3rd time I have tried to rent a boat there. Go to Lake poway!!makes it so easy to rent a boat and have a nice family day. read more

SHOWERS are for REGISTERED CAMPERS ONLY. There is no "free public shower" at Dixon Lake (erroneously indicated by google search). For free public shower in Escondido, contact Interfaith Community Services 550 W Washington Ave (760) 489-6380. read more

What a waste. Second time I've gone fishing there and I should've learned the first time that no matter what kind of bait you think will hit you still will not even get a bite. They say it's stocked, yeah right. To much moss and trails have poison oak. Don't waste your time and money on fishing and fishing permits. It's cool if you just want to cruise a boat around all day but that's it. read more

Beautiful! Scenic drive! Perfect for hiking, fishing, etc!

I wanted to take the time to update my post from a couple of days ago about my experience at Dixon lake regarding the roach infestation. Since, my point is to inform you to take precaution NOT to defame Dixon lake. Today, I spoke to a ranger "Jose" at the number supplied to me by the employee at the concession stand. He was immediately , knowledgeable about their operations, courteous, professional and responsive to my concern . He had been briefed evidently, of our complaint since the night that we were at the lake. Within a half hour of contacting him, the lake was contacting me to secure the credit to our name and address in their computers. It is reassuring to know that customer concerns ARE escalated to the proper link in the chain of command to expediently address the issue. Jose explained that the occurrence of roaches on the boats IS a seasonal thing that they address regularly every summer. He explained that in Wintertime, they do not have the problem. I have never noticed them on previous summer trips there but, that may just be due to our timing in relation to fumigation dates. He stated that they HAVE had other complaints, recently. So I would STILL advise that if you are concerned about such a thing , you take the precautions that I suggested in my first post. We were issued a credit for the boat rental costs and was reassured that if we were to redeem the credit during Trout season, we would not experience roaches. I thanked him and told him that I DO understand that they are difficult to manage and that I would still take precautions but consider renting boats AFTER inspecting them AFTER darkness falls. I would further suggest that one bring their own bug deterrent of some kind just in case. I am upgrading my rating of the lake due to the assurance that the management IS pro-active on the issue. I think that they need to and MAY step up the eradication a bit since, there were a FEW complaints during this last couple of weeks. Now, all I have to do is convince my "Bugged-Out" buddy that, we should go back! read more

Neat little lake up in the mountains. Went fishing on a Friday and caught one, but other people were doing pretty good on some nice trout. One thing that caught my eye was how clear the water is, like a Sierra lake. Not sure how the weekends go but it wasn't too busy the day I went. Lots of place to hang out and enjoy. Pretty cool. read more

Buddy had a few hours to get out of the house before his new baby arrived so we got to Dixon at 3pm. Asked for a motor boat but was told there we none available. "its a Saturday" was there response. My buddy asked about rowboats but we were told its wasn't recommended with the wind. 7knots. I didn't want a row boat anyways. We walked down to the dock and counted 14 boats with motors not being used. We asked the guys working the dock what was up. Well half were rented earlier and those people could come back. The other half were being charged for tomorrow we were told. Keep in mind we could only fish for about 2 hours by now. We asked if someone came in that was done for the day if they would let us go and we were told oh yeah just stick around awhile. We went to the handicap dock and watched 4 motor boats come in. I I asked 2 of the groups if they were done for the day and they said yes so I went back to the shop where you pay and asked if we could go now. The girl radios and the guys told her no boats are available. BS. I explained how I just saw 4 boats come in. I'm sorry there nothing I can do she says. Basically they didn't want the hassle of having another boat on the water. No supervisor was available to speak to. I work at a local tackle shop and recommend Dixon all the time for bass trout and catfish. I told them tis and explained that will NEVER be the case again. I fished Dixon 48 times last year spending a total of $2016. Crazy to think about it that way. Never went on a weekend though. Thanks for letting me vent guys. Also as for a report...not one person I talked to caught a fish. read more

I camped here in February 2012 in a partial-hookup site with my van-conversion RV. On the weekdays, it was so quiet, peaceful, and lovely that I'm anxious to go there again -- in the winter. Including walking on the main road, I enjoyed some good hikes. Over the weekend, the park was pretty crowded and much more noisy, but not unpleasantly so. I hear that summer weekends here are terribly, unpleasantly crowded. read more