Lake Cuyamaca
15027 Highway 79, Julian, CA 92036
About an hour’s drive from San Diego, Cuyamaca is a 110-acre, manmade lake situated in the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Lake Cuyamaca is stocked with over 38,000 pounds of trout annually. Due to its 4600-foot elevation and cold winters, it is the only San Diego lake stocked with trout all year long. The lake also boasts largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, and sturgeon. Free fishing classes are held every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. The park is open daily from 6 a.m. until sunset. Parking is $7 per car. Lake Cuyamaca’s recreation center offers fishing rod and boat rentals. There is also an onsite tackle shop. Boat rentals range in price from $15 for kayaks, $30 for motorboats, and $125 for pontoon boats.