Angeles National Forest 701 N. Santa Anita Ave. Arcadia, CA 91006 (747) 322-6574 M-F 8 a.m. 4:30 p.m Closed for lunch between 1:00 - 1:30 PM. Los Angeles Gateway Ranger District 12371 N. Little Tujunga Canyon Road San Fernando, CA 91342 (818) 482-8937 M-F 8 a.m. 4:30 Closed for lunch between 1:00 - 1:30 PM. San Gabriel Mountains National. East Shore RV Park, directly on the lake, has sites for tents, trailers and RVs with full hookups, showers and laundry facilities. Lake Perris State Recreation Area, 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles in Perris, has two sandy beaches for swimming and nearly 300 picnic sites with tables, grills and views of the lake.
In spite of its image -- that it's an endless urban sprawl of malls, fast-food franchises and cosmetic surgery clinics -- the greater Los Angeles area has a fair amount of green space, including several lakes. Four of these lakes are within 75 miles of downtown and offer sites for tents, trailers and RVs. The campgrounds and surrounding areas also have facilities for swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, rock climbing and picnicking.
East of Los Angeles
Puddingstone Lake is in Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas, 30 miles east of downtown. The lake provides opportunities for fishing, swimming, boating, wind surfing, jet skiing and rowing. East Shore RV Park, directly on the lake, has sites for tents, trailers and RVs with full hookups, showers and laundry facilities. Lake Perris State Recreation Area, 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles in Perris, has two sandy beaches for swimming and nearly 300 picnic sites with tables, grills and views of the lake. The Lake Perris Campground accommodates tents, trailers and RVs. Sites have full hookups, showers, picnic tables, fire rings and grills.
North of Los Angeles
Pyramid Lake, 60 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, provides opportunities for fishing, boating, water skiing and kayaking. Los Alamos Campground has sites for tents, trailers and RVs. No hookups are available. Castaic Lake State Recreation Area, 50 miles north of downtown, has facilities for fishing, boating, swimming, hiking and mountain biking. The Castaic Lake Campground has sites without hookups for tents, trailers and RVs. Crystal Lake Recreation Area, 26 miles northeast of downtown in the Angeles National Forest, offers fishing, hiking and picnicking. The area campground has first-come, first-served sites with vault toilets. Lake Piru Recreation Area, 56 miles northwest of downtown in Ventura County, has facilities for picnicking, fishing, boating and water skiing. The campground has sites for tents, trailers and RVs with full hookups and flush toilets.
West of Los Angeles
Lake Casitas Recreation Area and Park is 80 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles in Ventura County. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout for anglers and a full-service marina offers boat rentals, gasoline, bait and tackle. The park offers a 3-mile round-trip hiking and biking trail and opportunities to watch for more than 160 species of birds. The Lake Casitas Campground has lakeside, wooded and hillside sites for tents, trailers and RVs. Sites have full hookups, picnic tables and fire rings. The park also has a playground, picnic areas and a disc golf course.
South of Los Angeles
Irvine Lake, 50 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles in Orange County, is a private fishing lake at the base of the Cleveland National Forest. Visitors pay an entrance fee to fish in the lake. The campground has water outlets, hot showers and picnic areas. Lake Elsinore, 70 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, is home to three campgrounds. Crane Lakeside Mobile Home Park & RV Resort has lake view RV sites with full hookups, patios and picnic tables. Lake Elsinore Marina and RV Resort has sites for tents, trailers and RVs with full hookups, mature shade trees and picnic tables. Lake Park RV Resort & Lodge has RV sites with full hookups, cable TV and wireless Internet. The resort offers jet ski rentals, boat launches and lakefront picnic sites.
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About the Author
Hookup Site Lake Los Angeles California Map
Matthew Huntington has been writing travel articles since 2002. His pieces have appeared in 'National Geographic Traveler,' 'American Way' and 'The Miami Herald.' Huntington speaks fluent Spanish and has lived in many parts of Latin America, including Ecuador, Guatemala and Puerto Rico. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in European studies from Brigham Young University.