Maps, Directions, and Operating Schedules

Here's a list of the City of San Diego Reservoirs, how to get to the reservoirs, when they're open and what they offer. Check "What's New" page for changes.

Because of health and safety concerns, swimming, wading, bathing and diving are absolutely prohibited in all City lakes (except as incidental to water-skiing, wakeboarding, jetskiing, or towing inflatables, etc.)

• Barrett is open for fishing (catch & release) nomally from May through September. See the "What's New" page for current schedule. The lake is located approximately 35 miles east of San Diego, is open for fishing on a limited basis. Ticket sales are handled by Ticketmaster (619) 220-TIXS or on-line at www.ticketmaster.com. Barrett Junction Road is closed. From Interstate 8, turn right on Japatul Valley Road, left on Lyons Valley Road, 6 miles to gate. From Highway 94, turn left on Honey Springs Road, right on Lyons Valley Road, 1.7 miles to gate. Barrett offers waterfowl hunting from October through January.
  
  
• El Capitan is located approximately 30 miles northeast of San Diego (see the "What's New" page for current schedule) It is open for boating and fishing for bass, bluegill, blue and channel catfish, crappie and for picnicking and hiking. El Capitan rents boats on Saturday and Sunday only. Also open for the use of personal watercraft (jet skis), water-skiing, wakeboarding, towing inflatables, etc., on certain days only (see the "What's New" page for current schedule). From Interstate 8 take Lake Jennings Park Road north, then east on El Monte Road (about 8 miles) to reservoir entrance. Nearest camping is at Lake Jennings County Park.
  
  
• Hodges is located approximately 31 miles north of San Diego and is open for boating and fishing for bass, bluegill, channel catfish, and picnicking and hiking. See the "What's New" page for current schedule. Hodges rents boats on Saturday and Sunday only. From Interstate 15, follow Via Rancho Parkway west to Lake Drive, then south to reservoir entrance.
  
  
• Miramar is located approximately 18 miles north of San Diego. The lake is open for picnicking, walking and jogging, seven days a week, sunrise to sunset, year-round, and also open for fishing and boating seven days a week year round for bass, bluegill, sunfish, channel catfish, and rainbow trout (stocked December through March). See the "What's New" page for current schedule. Rental boats are available on Saturday and Sunday only. The perimeter road is open to vehicular traffic on Saturday through Tuesday only, but is open for walking, biking, etc., seven days a week. From Interstate 15, proceed east on Mira Mesa Boulevard, turn south on Scripps Ranch Boulevard, then east on Scripps Lake Drive to the reservoir entrance.
  
  
• Murray is located in La Mesa, just off Lake Murray Boulevard and Interstate 8 and is open for fishing and boating seven days a week, sunrise to sunset. See the "What's New" page for current schedule. Rental boats are available on Saturday and Sunday only. Murray offers boating and fishing for bass, bluegill, channel catfish and rainbow trout (stocked by the Dept. of Fish and Game). Open for walking, jogging and picnicking, seven days a week, year-round. From Highway 8 take Lake Murray Boulevard exit, turn left on Kiowa Drive which leads to the reservoir entrance.
  
  
• Lower Otay and Upper Otay are located 20 miles southeast of San Diego and 8 miles east of Chula Vista. Open for boating (Lower Otay only) and fishing for bass, blue and channel catfish, bluegill, crappie, and trout (Lower Otay only, stocked by the Dept. of Fish and Game), and hiking and picnicking. See the "What's New" page for current schedule. Rental boats are only available February through October. Upper Otay offers fishing for bass, bluegill and bullhead. At Upper Otay, all species of fish are catch and release only and no boats are allowed, shore fishing and float tubes only. Purchase permits at Lower Otay or from Iron Ranger pay station at Upper Otay. From Interstate 805 take Telegraph Canyon Road exit east. For Lower Otay make a right turn on Wueste Road south to the reservoir entrance. For Upper Otay continue past Wueste (Telegraph Canyon then becomes Otay Lakes Road). Make a left turn at the Upper Otay sign. Nearest camping is Sweetwater Summit County Park.
  


• San Vicente is located in Lakeside, approximately 25 miles northeast of San Diego. San Vicente is closed to all public access and recreation in preparation for a project to raise the height of the dam to increase its water storage capacity. The reservoir will reopen between 2014 and 2017 once the water level reaches the new boat launch ramp. For construction schedules and information on the Emergency Storage Project, please check the San Diego County Water Authority's web site at www.sdcwa.org and click on San Vicente Dam Raise.
  
  
• Sutherland is located approximately 45 miles northeast of San Diego, between Ramona and Julian, and is open for picnicking, hiking, boating, and fishing for bass, bluegill, crappie, blue and channel catfish. See the "What's New" page for current schedule. Sutherland does not rent boats. From Highway 78 take Sutherland Dam Road north to the reservoir entrance. Nearest camping is at William Heise County Park or Dos Picos County Park. Sutherland also offers turkey hunting in the spring.

NOTICE: Seasons, fees and operating schedules may be subject to change. In addition to a daily City recreation permit a State fishing license or State hunting license is required as appropriate. In addition to the Rules and Regulations posted at each reservoir all State and Federal regulations must be observed at all times.