We booked space #1 for our baby shower and it was the best choice. It allowed up to 100 people with very minimal restrictions and it cost less than $250 for the whole day! The space overlooks the water and is the first space you'll see driving up. It's a bit secluded from the rest of the park allowing you to have a more private event with your guests. We ended up having just 40 people attend our baby shower, but with the ample space, it allowed us to fully decorate the space and bring separate tables for desserts and welcome table. The stage space was perfect for the photo backdrop and everything came out so beautifully. Highly recommend this space for any events, even a small outdoor wedding. Check-in was super easy and we were allowed music, decors, and even alcohol on site. Some of us came an hour early to start the decorations and stayed an hour later to clean up, but you can access your space anytime between 9-5:30pm. Everything was perfect. Our event was only 4 hours so it was more than enough time to come early to set up and fully clean up after. Restrooms are super clean, park is well maintained with rangers on-site. Parking is $5 all day and plenty of our things for guests to do such as playground for the kids or the open grass area to run around in or nice hiking trails all around for a quick exploring. read more

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My niece has here bridal shower here and it was beautiful out there. The grounds are well kept, it is about a mile off the main road. You do have to pay $5 to park. read more

One of the best parks in Otay hands down. There's so much space, breathtaking views of the lake, multiple gated playgrounds, etc. Everything is clean, including the public restroom. There are gazebo/pergola's with picnic tables available to rent. See their website. There's also camping spots and hikes nearby. I could go on and on, but check out this hidden gem yourself. There is a parking fee of $5. read more

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We did our daughter's birthday here and it was so nice because of the nice breeze. Our gazebo location was #2. - biggest out of all 4. - it is kind of far from the playground though. - secluded. - it oversees the lake. Nice view. - it has a stage for dessert tables. -it has a nice size bbq pit (we didn't use it) -people park by the entrance and can walk up. - it has a secluded benches. -$200 to rent for the whole day. - we didn't have many bugs like other parks I've been to in LA which shows how clean they are. -closest to the restrooms !!!!!! This was my favorite part because I was pretty pregnant lol If I remember more, I'll edit the review. read more

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This is a great park to enjoy a picnic or just a day with the family. The benches are just as clean as the park and you are able to enjoy the day. You can have a great jog or run around the park as well if you are looking for a great workout. read more

Love this park! Has a nice playground for the kids, a few small trails for nature walks, and a grass area that's perfect for picnics overlooking the lake. read more

Otay Lakes County Park - Parks Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Love that this park is basically in my backyard! The kids have a blast on the playground (I'll upload a pic next time), and the bathrooms are clean major plus. There's a short trail that's great for little ones and plenty of space for hosting events. Simple, peaceful, and perfect for families. read more

Really nice clean park. Beautiful views of the lake. Lots of hiking trails to choose from. Wasn't alot of ppl thr surprisingly for a Sunday. Picnic tables, BBQ, a playground for the kids. Nice area to hve a bday party, or a family get together. Bathrooms are super clean. Well maintained. Cost 3 dollars to get in. I believe it's open till 10pm, but hiking trails close at 6pm. read more

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Pay a little parking fee and have more privacy at this park. I think the fee does stop some people from entering but that means it's less crowded :) Great playground area, two very nice shelterhouses which you need to officially rent through the County if you'll have any events. The park and parking lot is monitored by official staff. Nice views, good breezes come through the area. A couple of small trails jut out from the east and south sides of the parking area. Restrooms are clean and well-stocked. read more

This park is located in Otay Lakes in Chula Vista at the end of a looooong street. There is a parking fee and it is very modest, I believe we paid $3 for the day. The downfall i the park closes at 5pm. There are several areas to rent in advance and the only downfall is parking seems small compared to the rental capacity of this park. We did have a few issues with family members not being able to park in a parking spot. Otherwise, the views are gorgeous. We planned a family hike, about 25 or so members went up and the views are amazing as you can see in the pictures, and not too steep on hike. Luckily there is a more senor friendly trail that leads back to the same way. Saw tons of caterpillars crawling around, some family members moved them off the trail so the kids wouldn't step on them. There are nice colorful chairs provided by the park, some knowledge signs about what you can possibly see on the hike is posted. The covered reserved areas also have bench style seating and there is a playground for the younger kidlets and 2 rock climbing mountains for those older kidlets. My son really enjoyed those! We will definitely be having our annual get together hike here from now on!! So much to explore on the hiking trails. read more

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Very nice park! Another one I forgot to review! On the plane back to San Diego with time to kill so. Here we go. Really nice state park. We came on the day where we couldn't rent boats and that was fine so we walked to trail. Checked out the views. Took some amazing pics and chilled by the lake. Very nice place to relax and enjoy a beautiful sunny day that San Diego has to offer. I would really like to rent a boat next time but it's first come first serve so that will be tough. Great views though, great for relaxing, taking pictures with family, nature watching etc. if you want a break from the bus city this is a great place to relax, unwind and absorb the nature. We really enjoyed our time here and will be back. Wear sunscreen. It gets hot. read more

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This is a nice place to relax and chill along side the road or you can drive I to the park itself which is pretty beautiful with a rose garden and lots of shady spots to relax and enjoy nature. On this day I had the pleasure of watching Cal Fire go through some training exercises which was pretty awesome. read more

Otay Lakes County Park - Otay lake - Parks Near Me - Chula Vista, California

We had a small party at the park and everything was excellent. The park is kept very clean and organized. The staff and volunteers were very helpful. The setting is beautiful. A great day! read more

I enjoy going up there to relax and looking at the Upper Otay Lake. The park is very clean. I was glad to see the new benches .. very useful. The only request is to have the workers pick up clothes, backpack, wallets and pictures that were left on the trial. read more

Amazing park! Hiking trails, playground, fully fenced playground for smaller kids, bathrooms, benches, water fountains, picnic tables, bbqs, trash cans, you name it this park has it! It costs $3 to park but it is worth it. They close at 5pm on weekdays and sunset on weekends. Oh also, if you use your phone map to route here it ends near the boat ramp, but keep going up the road to get to the playground, trails, and picnic area. read more

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I like the nice views of the lakes as well as the nearby hills. Also, spacious playgrounds and nice hiking trails. Good for camping, special events, and having a good time with family or friends. read more

This is one of my happy places. There are so many reasons why I love it. It's five miles from my place and I visit frequently. The best times are at sunrise and sunset of course! It gets a little toasty midday. Excuse the sentimental dribble that follows but I see this place with a different set of eyes. The early morning white light in spring is fabulous, when the fog is still low on the water, the dew is glistening on the sagebrush, and the water is still. The occasional California gnatcatcher or California towhee will call, and a distant California thrasher can be heard singing while the Osprey eats it's fish in the Eucalyptus snags and the Western Grebes do their dance on the water. Most of the western specialty birds can be seen here. The orange light of sunset in summer and fall is the most spectacular in my opinion. That fading orange light hangs on all the drying up shrubs and grasses and make the landscape glow. The burnt sienna color of the dried flowers of the buckwheat and the silvery gray-green of the sage contrast so lovely with the yellow grasses and on non-fishing days all you hear are the insects buzzing in the hazy, silent heat. Did I mention the heat? :) Winter is a time for ducks and gulls on the upper and lower lakes, and many species can be seen here. I go birding and run the trails here and enjoy seeing others running, mountain biking, and fishing. Look up and watch the skydivers coming down. Everyone enjoying something they love. Enjoy. Note: If you come at dawn or sunset you will have to park outside the closed gates. You can park along the road in many places and walk in. read more

Otay Lakes County Park - Parks Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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If you simply want to sit along the lakeside and enjoy the great outdoors this place offers much to take in. Just 30 minutes from downtown San Diego it is where the edge of the city meets up with the edge of the great open outdoors. It's a very nice park situated next to the lake dam and offers many amenities for the family of all ages. read more

One of the best kept Secrets of the South Bay area. True nature hiking and trail running. Easy to get to if you live in Chula Vista Eastlake area. Country quiet but not far from all the services you will need later on. read more

Was a nice place to take the kids and Ho for a hike. Wasn't to crowded and people practice social distancing

This place is perfect for celebrating special occasions. Nice view, nice stuff and bath and the cottage are bery clean

This place is breathtaking. There are ducks and fisherman and beautiful scenery. If one appreciates nature, here is the place to go. A picnic would be nice too. There are mountains and clear water and breezy weather and clean air. I didn't realize there was his hidden gem in Chula Vista. read more

Otay Lakes County Park - Parks Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Always love it here. The water is so high! Haven't been here in over 2yrs so it's changed a little. It's nice to bring a small portable BBQ or a picnic. read more

Otay Lakes County Park - My daughter made a new friend at the lake. They are enjoying this beautiful day. - Parks Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Playground, Lake-views, Hiking, Mountain biking. Yeah this park is pretty versatile. It's about 3 miles south of Otay Lakes Rd in Wueste Rd. It's pretty hidden by it's surroundings, so you could easily miss it. I went hiking here and it took me about an hour both ways but I was taking my sweet ass time enjoying the views( check my pics). Also i could have descended down the southern part of the mountain and scaled the huge peak behind it but I didn't have all day. One day I'll come back with bro in law and his camelbak and tackle that adventure. You definitely want to watch out for rattlesnakes and other wildlife if you bring children or pets. This experience would totally have been a five had it not been for three things. 1) The noise from a construction project at this water treatment plant right up the street. 2) The noise from target practice at Donovan State Prison. It's a ways away, but the mountains act as an amphitheater and it sounds like City Heights in the early 90's. 3) This border patrol helicopter circling my head about 100 feet away from me for like 15 minutes. I guess Mexicans can't go hiking without looking like illegal aliens. At the same time, I'm glad they're patrolling so I didn't really mind except for the noise. Did I mention I don't like noise on my hikes? read more

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I had my wedding reception at Otay Lakes County Park this weekend, and it was absolutely beautiful! The rest of the county was cloudy and ugly, and this park was gorgeous all day. The park ranger and the maintinence people were extremely polite and helpful with making my event amazing, and the facilities were clean and looked great. +two of each type of bathroom (mens and womens), and they're all clean +playgrounds for kids +can make reservations that are cheap compared to most parks or beaches in the county +electricity available and they will bring you a big extension cord +can have glass bottles, just no alcohol over 20% alcohol content +several sizes of pavillions (the largest holds up to 100 people with a reservation.. it probably holds more actually, but they say you're only supposed to have up to 100) +friendly staff +beautiful view of the lake - bugs: bring citronella candles and you will be completely fine. we brought four and didn't have to worry about the bugs at all after that. - parking is $3 per car, and the machine only takes cash. just make sure you and anyone going with you knows that ahead of time and you'll be all good. i highly recommend this place as it is not crowded and it is a gorgeous, clean facility for any type of gathering. read more

We went here to rent a motorboat but none were available so we took a row boat. The guy next to us chuckled and said "what was once fun, is now work!" but we sucked it up and had fun with it. The second time we got the motorboat. They don't take credit and don't have an atm machine so if you want to rent a boat, bring cash! It's a really good time. You can drive right by the trees that grow right out of the water (well, they're dead, but still..). I wish you could swim but they don't let you swim at any freshwater places in SD for some reason. The park is a nice place for a picnic, and I'm sure the trails are fun but I haven't hiked or biked there yet. read more

So i have been wanting to come up here for a good while now. Came on a Monday, too late though, place closes at 5 i got here at 4:25... :( we parked knowing we wouldn't have much time just to check the place out. It's beautiful i have yet to explore the paths next to the lake. The park ranger saw us a bit lost so happily lead us the way up the stairs to a tiny very green and clean playground. The kids loved it. I myself did too. I will have to come back earlier next time. read more

One of my favorite regional parks. Nice playground for the kids, bbq pits, gazeebos, nice clean bathrooms, and open grass space. Decent view of the reservoir too. There are also walking trails too which is cool. Just watch out for snakes! And pack a lot of water because every time I've been here it was HOT! Overall nice, quiet park. read more

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So, I knew this place existed, just never made it out here. At least, until I started biking. I've ridden to this park almost every weekend for the last 3 months. If you ride out from the park on Lake Crest Drive over to Thousand Trails and want to add a few more miles to your ride, swinging by the Otay Lakes County Park via Wueste Road is definitely an option. I have to say that it's not very crowded, but it is peaceful. Definitely safe, with all the Border Patrol vehicles driving around the area. The only downside? Cars have to pay for parking. Thankfully I just bike to the place. =) read more

We went here to have a picnic & do some hiking. We found a nice shady picnic table. Sure, it was covered in bird poop, spider webs, and tree sap... but this is the great outdoors, what do you expect? There were several restrooms & water fountains. Parking is $3. The machine only takes $1 bills and some change (no pennies). There were several play structures for my kid to play on. They were a little more interesting than your typical ones. She really had a good time on them. But that's where our good time ended. We couldn't really find any hiking trails. We walked a very short (and I mean VERY short.. maybe .05 miles lol) path that had some signs about the trees/bushes. That was it. There was no map or signs where trailheads were. We were just kind of lost & decided to go home. read more

One of our favorite parks, If your thinking of going to this park just go! Here is a little video showing you guys how beautiful this park is. https://youtu.be/zWU72XgoBmo read more

Not bad of a place to fish, although we haven't caught anything even though we go once a month. It's nice that even on weekends the lake isn't over crowded with boats. read more

The place is great the folks working there are nice you can rent a little motor boat or a kaiak for 2 hour or all day. It has a boat landing so you can bring your own too. There is fishing, trails, a dam on one end of the lake. Just a really cool little area that adds to pleasure of living in east lake/otay ranch area. read more

Fun day Sunday. Took a Sunday cruise and landed over here. This was the first time I actually stopped off at this park. Man, I've been missing out because this nature at it's finest. Spring afternoon on a lazy Sunday can get better than that. read more

This is an awesome park to start your Mountain biking adventureThere is a loop that goes up and down the mountain with great awesome views of San Diego. The entire Trail is over 20 miles. Must see read more

Pretty views of town, very peaceful and quiet. Trails were easy and would be good for beginners just wanting some fresh air. Parking is $3 and you need the exact amount (cash only). read more

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Note the date of our visit - November 13th. Beautiful day to be outside for a picnic lunch. The park hit the spot for that. Nice view overlooking the lake. Well maintained. Clean restrooms. Three dollar parking (dollar bills or quarters). As mentioned below, we did not see signs of significant trails for hiking or biking. I would guess that summer is hot and winter is cool. No access to the lake from the county park. If you want to access the lake or fish, there is a facility on Wueste Road before reaching the park, but it is only open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday are reserved for the Olympic Training Center. read more

I went on a Sunday afternoon with beautiful weather and was surprised to see not so many people. The picnic areas they have there overlook the lake and there are even some large BBQ grills that they provide which are twice the size of the normal BBQ grills that you see in the other parks. The staff was friendly and the facilities were clean. The parking fee at $3 isn't that bad, though I'm not used to paying for parking except for state and national parks. They accept credit card so that's great. The real memorable thing about the park is the short hike you can take up to the top of the hill where it overlooks the lake, the dam and the vast valley that stretches out west. There are even a few prisons in viewing distance and the hills of Tijuana which makes this place more than just the typical park. If this place doesn't do it for you, there are several other city and regional parks nearby in beautiful neighborhoods. Being a close drive from the city, it's a good place to check out on the weekends when you want to change things up from the typical beach experience. read more