San Vicente Reservoir has reopened, and it is spectacular. The reservoir offers excellent opportunities for kayak fishing as well as skiing/tubing/wake boarding. The lake is beautiful with incredible mountain views. Those fishing and those skiing, etc. cohabitate nicely, the lake is plenty big to accommodate both.

The only drawback of the lake is that with the new higher water level, there are no beaches or areas to pull out onto the shoreline. You are pretty much relegated to your kayak. There are new picnic areas above the launch and ample parking for vehicles and trailers.

Low rocky brush covered mountains surround San Vicente Reservoir, which is located 25-miles northeast of the City of San Diego. This lake may not be the best choice for novice paddlers because of its size. I would estimate the distance around the lake to be closer to eighteen miles than the 12-miles indicated on the lake information. Nor does the shape of the lake allow for easy crossover access to the opposite shoreline.

Most of the reservoir is only visible by boat since Lowell Island blocks the majority of everything on the other side of it being seen from the recreation station/launch ramp. The only areas really accessible without a boat are the parking area and one road blocked by vehicles that you can walk about a mile and then back, and some fishermen do. 

Map of San Vicente Reservoir

  
 
 
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