What else is there to say about a place that has close to 500 reviews and everyone loving this…read morelake? I only recently discovered this place and so happy I found it. This is a 5 mile loop around the lake and I can see myself coming back to jog this (like real soon)! I was so excited to find this place! I came tonight to have a quick stroll and do some birding. There weren't that many birds to see but did see cormorants, hummingbirds, pigeons, crows, sea gulls, sparrows...In the future, I'll just probably come here to jog. It was a lovely evening and did about 3 miles of walking. Park closed at 8pm in August and by 7:50pm, 3 of the four gates already closed. And while I was driving back onto main road, saw a coyote sprint right in front of my car and across the street. Handsome looking animal! I will definitely be back here again and again!

Nice five mile loop for walkers and distance runners. Not too hilly, but don't get overconfident…read morebecause there are many switchbacks. There's usually a breeze by the lake, still pack your hats and sunscreen since shade is rare along the trail. There are few cars along the path, and some days you'll see people picnicking and fishing or goats grazing in the upper pasture near the parking lot. Plentiful parking, bathrooms and picnic benches make this a good spot for all.

This was my second time visiting San Vicente Reservoir, and it's quickly becoming one of my…read morefavorite places. Admission is $10 per person (for adults), and there's plenty of parking available. The reservoir recently expanded the dam, and the lake is absolutely beautiful. There's people fishing, wakeboarding, tubing, jet skiing, swimming, or simply relaxing by the water. Just keep in mind that Monday through Thursday is reserved for fishing only while the weekends are open for recreational boating and water sports. The scenery is gorgeous, and the atmosphere is incredibly peaceful. It's the perfect place to escape the city, spend time with family or friends, or just unwind and enjoy nature. If you're looking for a relaxing day on the water in San Diego County, San Vicente Reservoir is definitely worth the visit.

I looked up spots to fly drones in town and this one popped up. It's a nice reservoir. If you…read morehave boats and water toys this is your jam. I believe there are entrance and other fees for using them. Since I was not using any of those I got a free pass in to look around. Definitely a nice back drop to just chill and observe even if you do not have any water toys. I hear drone enthusiasts dig this spot. I can see why.

San Diego's Best-Kept Open Secret How does a place this…read morebeautiful have so few reviews? I've been coming to Chollas Lake for decades, and I'm still amazed at how many San Diegans don't know it exists. I recently toured a home nearby, and even the realtor had no idea this lake was here. That's a shame because this is one of Southeast San Diego's hidden treasures. This can be a destination for dramatic views & sunsets. There's even several entrances. Each gate time open and closure is different. I walk here to give my thoughts to the trees, practice walking meditation, and simply soak in the peaceful surroundings. The eucalyptus, the water, the sunshine, and the open space have a calming effect that's hard to describe until you experience it. The best trails aren't always the famous ones. The recent renovations are fantastic. The trails are clearly marked, easy to follow, and nearly impossible to get lost on. They're gentle on the knees, stroller friendly, and accessible for many wheelchairs depending on the type. While most of the route is relatively flat, there are a few hill inclines if you're looking to elevate your heart rate. If you're new to hiking, Chollas Lake is also a great place to build confidence before tackling more challenging trails. There's a visible waking loop and other short dirt trails that weave through native shrubs, giving you a taste of hiking without committing to rugged terrain. There are shaded sections throughout, with only a few sunny stretches if you choose the longer route. Restrooms are available at the entrance, portable toilets are located around the lake, and additional restrooms are near the baseball fields. There's a playground for children, plenty of space to ride a bike. Fishing has always been a favorite activity here. One thing I've always appreciated is how well people care for this park. Visitors generally clean up after their pets, and the lake remains one of the most peaceful places to time with nature. Whether you're having a bday party, holding hands, training for bigger hikes, pushing a stroller, riding a bike, casting a fishing line, or simply looking for a peaceful place to think, Chollas Lake has a way of making everyone feel welcome. And to everyone who visits, remember that the ducks call this place home. Please enjoy them from a distance and treat the wildlife with the respect they deserve. This lake has been quietly serving the community for generations, and I hope it continues to do so for many more.

The walk trail can be short or long…read more Usually it takes about 30 minutes to walk the lake route. There are ducks to see on the lakes a lot of shade, and sometimes there is a slight breeze. Would highly recommend if you just want to get out and be one with nature.

Peaceful in the morning, fun and happening places during the day in the weekend. You can go hike in…read moremany different directions. Potato chip is a famous hike you can take from here. Staff is super friendly and helpful.

I came here awhile back to hike up to Potato Chip Rock as everyone was telling me I should do this…read morehike, so I did. Hike took me a few hours and definitely got a nice workout. Everybody and their grandma knows about Potato Chip Rock so lots of people wanting their photo on the Rock, but I was too impatient and didnt feel like waiting or socialize, so I just hiked there, saw it and came back down. I love this park, the lake is very pretty and soothing to see waterfowl and people enjoying the water. I decided to bike here today and its close to 7 miles away, 15 min by car, and about 40 min by bike. The bike ride is a workout as there are hills both ways, so be prepared for that. I havent biked in awhile but planning to get back into it, so took my MTB out for a spin and it def needs a tune up. I stopped by the lake and sat at some picnic tables that were shaded and had a nice view of the lake and the Lookout Restaurant and got to see a lot of birds too. Was so nice to be able to spend a weekend afternoon here, it was exactly what my soul & body was yearning for! On the weekends, there is a $10 parking fee, and free for Poway residents. I think on the weekdays there is no parking fee. I don't recall paying when I hiked Potato Chip Rock and it was a weekday during the holidays. I was on bike so no fee either. Ill keep this place in mind if I wanna do a 10K run and back next time, people on foot also free. A really nice local lake to get a bit of nature in! I will be back over & over again!

We had such a wonderful stay at Santee Lakes! It was the perfect place to relax, spend quality time…read morewith family, and enjoy the outdoors. The campground is clean, peaceful, and very well maintained, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. One of our favorite parts was taking our dogs for walks around the beautiful lakes and trails. It's such a pet-friendly place with gorgeous scenery, plenty of wildlife, and a relaxing atmosphere. We also enjoyed fishing at the lakes, which was a great way to slow down and make memories together. We ate at Topwater Grill during our stay, and it was excellent! The food was delicious, the service was great, and the lake views made the experience even better. Whether you're camping, fishing, walking your dogs, or just looking for a peaceful getaway close to home, Santee Lakes is a fantastic destination. We can't wait to come back!

Fun place for families and especially for fishing…read more... There are eight(?) lakes in a row, all of them numbered and stocked with fish, I think....I saw a restaurant and paddle boats but no one was paddle boating while we were there. There's a large campground at the end of the park, and a nice dog walk also near the back of the park.... Not welcoming at the front, though, considering we paid $4 half an hour before the park gate closed (at 7 pm) on a weekday and then paid $7 on a weekend....there is parking outside of the park along the road which I don't think costs anything....

We booked space #1 for our baby shower and it was the best choice. It allowed up to 100 people with…read morevery 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.

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

Check-in for the campground is 2:00 PM. The workers do a great job maintaining all the…read morefacilities--and they were all cordial. The bathrooms and hot showers were clean and well-maintained. The fish cleaning area and sink were spotless. Trash on the ground or in the water was a rare sight to see. For $58 a night, it was a great value. I had a nice view of the lake, too. After I checked-in and set up the campsite, with my tent, and a small camping table, I rented a rowboat for $25, good for five hours, so that I could go fishing. The walk between the campground and boat rental dock is about 25 minutes each way if you're using the shorter route. The lake itself is very clean. Though I would not drink the water from Lake Jennings without a water filter, out of curiosity, I did put some of Lake Jennings' water into an empty water bottle to see how clear the water is. To my surprise, the water is completely clear! While I was sitting in the rowboat, I noticed lots of different birds--bluebirds, coots, ducks, geese, grebes, hawks, herons, hummingbirds, osprey, sparrows, vultures, woodpeckers, a few others I wasn't sure what they were. Anyway, after the first hour of having my rod cast, I didn't think I would catch anything and began to lose hope. However, as the afternoon started to cool, under the mature trees, off the shoreline, just opposite west of the rental dock, my fishing line started to pull. I quickly reeled the line in and realized that this was a pretty big fish. I dipped my net into the water, to get the fish into the boat. I used my handheld fish scale and the catfish weighed just over eight pounds!! (I used homemade bait made up of oatmeal and fresh garlic, rolled up in a peanut butter ball, that I prepared the night before. Also, the line was about 15 feet under water.) After I caught the one fish, I returned the boat, and went back to the campsite to clean and cook it. I cooked the fish using a portable camping grill grate--with a bit of olive oil, a liberal amount of fresh herbs (oregano, parsley, thyme, diced garlic, and Hungarian sweet paprika), and lemon--over an open fire, in the fire ring, that they have in each campsite. I used Lucela mesquite charcoal to fuel the campfire. The catfish was high quality and delicious--easily the best catfish that I have tasted, in my life, to date. At night, the campground was completely quiet, even on a weekend night. The night sky was nice, too. However, the lake's management is strict about having all campfires extinguished by 11:00 PM. The next morning, I had planned to cook breakfast, but decided to sleep in. At about 11:30 AM, I checked out. Checkout time is before 12:00 PM (noon). Overall, this was a perfect little one-night trip. Hopefully, I will return in the future. If I ever do come back, I'll probably make it a two-night trip, so that I can explore more of the lake, and maybe aim to catch a crappie, sunfish, or trout.

Me and my family have never had to leave before we stayed all our reserved days while camping, but…read morethis campsite set us over. Most of the sites are completely barren with dead grass and bushes, and the view is primarily dead-brush-covered hills with the occasional view of the city below. The campsites are raised on a hill so the lake is barely visible. Even if it is, you are not allowed to interact with it except for fishing, so there is hardly a point. The sun relentlessly beats down on the ground, with the only shade being from sparse trees. The only reason this is not a zero star review (besides the app not allowing it) is for the staff, who were polite and very helpful. Never again.

I love hiking this trail! It is never too busy and the views are amazing. The best part is you can…read morestart at different location and increase or decrease the hike time based on your fitness level. Plenty of parking if you park at the baseball field and they open at 6am. It is mostly flat with slight inclines during the hike but it's no too bad. The challenge comes if you decide to hike down to the actual waterfall because it is a bit steep but there is plenty of space to view it from the top of the cliff.

Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve is a great place to come out to hit the trails. There are several…read moretrails and I do plan to hit all of them up at some point. The trail I went on was well worn and went through canyon and up the hill towards the Qualcomm parking lot and down the hill on path leading back the parking lot off Sorrento Valley Blvd. on the west side of the preserve. It was a very nice walk and hike. In the canyon, there were a lot of beautiful Californian live oak trees, Californian Sycamores, and Freemont Cotton Woods, not to mention a lot of native shrubs and flowering plants. I was surprised to find wild squash vines fruiting in many places near the seasonal stream. I enjoyed the paths when they found their way through the shade of all the giant trees. I do look forward to exploring more of the canyon and what has to offer. The next hike will be to the seasonal waterfall.