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    Crystal Lake

    4.1 (60 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Crystal Lake Photos

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    Crystal Lake Cafe and trading post
    Pamela S.

    I finally went to Crystal lake when it was open! I had read on Facebook that it was open so went there to check it out. Had lunch at the Cafe and ate a hamburger which was pretty good. Ate on the patio. The smell of pine trees in the air. I drove around the camp grounds and they looked nice. I was disappointed in the lake. Didn't look like the pictures. Water was low and green.

    Crystal Lake & the beautiful mountain and trees alongside it!
    Jessica A.

    If you love the outdoors and also like places that are isolated from other people and are looking for some real alone time with you and nature than here is the place to go!

    Hiking @ Windy Gap Trail
    Omar G.

    This is a wonderful area to go camping and hiking at multiple trails. If you want to get out of the city and want to explore what nature has to offer, you gotta come here at Crystal Lake! remember to buy an adventure pass.

    Jason R.

    *This is a review for the Crystal Lake Loop hike to Mount Islip* We did this hike for the first time on last Friday (6/12/20). I had hiked to Mount Islip a couple times but from the Highway 2 side (northern side) and wanted to try it from starting on this side of the mountain (the southern side). Parking- the lot closest to the lake was closed so we parked in a lot .3 miles before it so this added .6 miles to our total hike; be sure to display your Adventure Pass and to make sure you don't leave anything visible of value in your car Trail- one of the great things I liked about this hike was we encountered less than 5 people on the hike; we did the loop to Mount Islip clockwise...when you reach the lake at the beginning of the hike you must go around the lake counter-clockwise though; the trail was beautiful and I saw the most butterflies I have ever seen on a hike and I have been on over 200 hikes probably; some great views as you approach Mount Islip and get above 7k feet elevation...when you reach the peak you will be at over 8200 feet; the second half of the trail has some parts that are a bit overgrown and at 6'2" I had to do some ducking; there were also a few places where it is not so clear which way you should go so it was helpful to have my AllTrails app to help navigate; at the peak of you will see the remnants of living quarters for the person who would live up there and the foundation of the fire lookout Stats: 11.7 miles (could be more like 10.5 miles if the parking lot closer to the lake was open and we got off trail a few times that added about half a mile; took us about 5.5 hrs so I would say give yourself between 5-7 hrs to complete; about 2900 ft of elevation gain *some people might feel the effects of the altitude once you get above 7k feet *also it is a long, winding drive on Highway 39 to reach this place

    Shoveling snow :) no chains needed
    Charles P.

    Living in the San Gabriel Valley it's a bit of a drive to go to Lake Arrowhead, Mammoth or Big Bear. Fortunately there is a hidden gem right off of the Azusa Canyons. Basically you get off the 210 freeway, drive North on Azusa towards Crystal Lake. From the base of Azusa to Crystal lake can take you around 30 to 40 minutes. Throughout the drive you can stop along the way to check out the Morris Dam and San Gabriel Dam, look at the big monster trucks in the Offroading Playground, pan for gold and stop by the rivers and streams along the way. You may see lots of law enforcement or military going up and down the stretch because of the outdoor shooting range. I highly recommend driving towards Crystal Lake right after it rains. The roads will be cleared of snow and you basically can drive halfway up and stop by the rest stop and play with snow. Crystal does have a small hole in a wall cafe and areas for you to run around. But again I recommend stopping once you see snow :)

    We woke up at 8am for this! Worth it!
    Yolanda S.

    Oh! Crystal Lake! We went two straight days up in the mountains during Thanksgiving long weekend, the snow was really good! I was like wowowowowowed all the way to the top! Not gonna lie, for a second, I thought I was in Japan or some other European countries! It's unreal! That kind of snow in SoCal? You have to see it by yourself! Some useful tips: 1. During our last visit, no snow chains are needed! Very safe to drive! 2. Go as early as possible, the parking situation wasn't great! 3. Driving to Crystal Lake cafe is probably not a good idea, (you can walk if you like) we tried it twice to get there (at 2pm and 10:30am), the traffic was insanely awful! People just parked where ever they liked, and everyone was literally stuck on the road! (It took us around 40 mins to get close to the parking lot, but still they asked us to turn back) The police did show up, but honestly, nothing really changed the whole situation! 4. Pack yourself some snacks, food and water, there's no place to buy food! (Only Crystal Lake cafe) And it takes another 30-40 mins to go back to the city! So, get prepared! 5. No public toilets at all! (=Don't drink too much water!) 6. Bring a shovel if you have one, just in case your car is stuck in snow. We've seen a few cars struggled. A pair of waterproof pants and gloves are needed if you are planning to play in the snow! 7. Annual parking pass is $30. You can buy $5 one day pass on your way up to the hill. The weather forecast shows that it's gonna rain again this coming weekend, I believe there's a high chance to see the snow again! Get prepared + Enjoy the stunning view!

    tent setup
    Jacky H.

    went camping here! the workers at the cafe are so kind and helpful. it was our first time camping. it was safe and they had all the amenities mentioned in the angeles forest website except no running water in the bathrooms but they had a faucet at the cafe(luckily we were close). the scenery is beautiful! so clean! lots of trash cans everywhere! the informational board. $12 for a night and $5 for day stay and 5$ for extra cars when camping. THE ENVELOPES ARE IN THAT SLOT. ITS CONFUSING WITH PPLS RANDOM STICKY NOTES. follow instructions of the green "fee required" sign

    #photography
    Mohammed N.

    Great place to go to and have fun a lot of photos over here to take nice place to take and see

    Snow
    Hannah C.

    Every year around December my family and I like to come here to go to the snow, we used to go to Mt Baldy but the line to get to the top is insane. So we took a chance and decided to try this mountain just to play in the snow for a few hours, and we made the best decision, there was absolutely no line of cars driving up, so driving up to the top went smoothly, there wasn't no steep cliffs without railing, we did not need any chains going up, and there was so much snow to play, we made a snowman and we took snacks up there and you can take sleds to ride down hills, you don't need to pay for parking or anything, all of it is free, you just drive up with your family, park we're you want to get off and play, I definitely recommend anyone who wants to have a snow day to come here, you won't be disappointed.

    Crystal Lake Cafe
    Andrew Y.

    Very accessible about an hour north of Azusa. Try to go during weekdays with less traffic. We went after the recent rainfall and we're lucky enough to see active snow showers and several inches of snowy goodness to walk through. Watch the drive up- if you're going all the way to the cafe before the 2 highway likely will need chains if you don't have AWD. Saw lots of people with their cars off to the side of the road and several accidents. Still, remarkable to drive all the way up to the hiking paths!

    Named the little guy midnight
    Karen S.

    Nice place to visit..beautiful trees,rocks view,pinecones and lots of picnic tables.The gift shop owner was really nice and it's just sad that some cats were dumped in the area to fend for themselves.Saw a black cat i named midnight.Bought a burger and a can of tuna for him.The only thing i didn't like were the restrooms.All of them were dirty.There's no so the toilet is just like a plastic toilet with a hole.There was poop lining the seats.It was also sad that guests littered everywhere.Used masks,cigarettes,sanitizing wipes and more.Trash cans are provided yet people don't care to keep the area clean.It's a nice place to take videos and photos..Bring water to wash your hands,alcohol wipes and spray.

    Views
    Crisha O.

    Beautiful secluded spot in the mountains! Went up during the week with virtually no other visitors. - Took the scenic route up the winding mountain road ~1 hr. Be wary of racers and move off to the side whenever necessary. - Parked in a lot near the turnoff, but there are multiple free places to park along the road with various other lots as well. We risked parking without a pass and didn't get caught - Steepish staircase leading to the lake - Lake was small but still beautiful! A truly serene and quiet environment. Perfect for a picnic! - Further up the road there are fantastic views of the mountains and skyline!

    Natalie likes it too!
    JD P.

    So peaceful relaxing, we had lunch then took some pictures of the trees and simply enjoyed the atmosphere together.

    7/22/16

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    3 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Great place to camp and get away from thr city lights. Campsite care taker is very friendly and helpful

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    1 year ago

    Peaceful escape from the city. Windy drive but definitely worth it. Beautiful natural surroundings! I went at night to watch the stars.

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    3 years ago

    Could find the lake at all, so don't get lost. And the road are to steep, so don't waste your time

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    3 years ago

    I'm 65 and when I was 8 my grandfather taught me to fish at Crystal lake. I've been back from time to time and you're right the water is low

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    2 years ago

    it's so beautiful but getting there is dirty but it worth going to seem the beautiful views

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Crystal Lake

    Can you bring dog?

    Yes ! I've always seen lots of dogs, they also love the snow that comes around mid-late December

    Can we camp here?

    $12/a night at campgrounds, normally rangers will comes early at around 7am sometimes earlier or later, depends, to collect the fees in the bin or check the campground to see if your "ticket" is on there

    Can you swim here?

    No swimming allowed nor would it be good, lots of plants and algae

    Is the fishing good?

    Lots of bass ! We've caught 3 or 4 the past 2 times we've gone camping nearby

    Is there snow up there around this time of year?

    No it does not snow

    You wouldn't happen to know the number to the ranger station with you when is the last time you been up there?

    Se puede asar

    Hi does anyone know how the lake looks right now is it nice to go is their water or is it like before when their was the drought?

    I was told at the visitor center, that the water level was much higher. This was in March. Best to call the ranger station for an update.

    Is their a hike to get to the lake?

    Yes. From the parking lot there is a steep stairway down to the lake. Maybe one hundred steps, I don't know exactly. Be prepared for the return up the stairs.

    View All 16 Questions

    Review Highlights - Crystal Lake

    This is a wonderful area to go camping and hiking at multiple trails.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Rancho Park

    Rancho Park

    4.8(6 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    The only reason for the 4 stars is the lack of shade. I swear all parks are designed by people…read morewithout kids. There's a shaded area for eating with 2 picnic tables under it, but that's it. The entire play structure and swings are in the beating sun 100% of the time. Today was a very mild 75 degree early summer day and we went early around 10:45. Within 30 minutes of arrival, the slides were so hot our almost 2 y/o son physically reacted every time he touched them. The park is in a very nice and quiet residential area. There's nothing but street parking, but the streets are wide and not busy. The grounds were very clean and well kept. The bathrooms even had soap AND paper towels - yay! Like others said, this structure is mostly appropriate for a toddler as young as ours. He even did ok on the winding slide. Some slides are so steep that he falls forward even though they're supposed to be geared at toddlers, but all 3 slides here were fine for him. However, the only way to get up are monkey bar-like stairs (skinny metal bars) that no toddler can safely use, then the other side has stairs. The stairs are way too far apart for a young one to do alone. He either had to crawl or we held his hands while he took giant steps lol. If you get bored at this park, there are 2 more within ~5 blocks or less heading west! They're off the same street, too. Just go to the north of the block north of the park and take a left and you'll see 2 others fairly quickly. We'll definitely be back because of how clean and safe it felt.

    Nice, safe and clean park for toddlers. My son loves to play here. The neighborhood is very quietread more

    Photos
    Rancho Park
    Rancho Park
    Rancho Park - 3/17/22 Firetruck-shaped play structure

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    3/17/22 Firetruck-shaped play structure

    Finkbiner Park

    Finkbiner Park

    4.3(39 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    Other than folks mistakenly referring to it as 'Finkbinder', we love our local G-town park…read more I think the additional 'd' might come from an old 50's themed restaurant in the Village called Fender Benders (sp?), which closed many years ago - and folks confusing the two. But, that said, only old Glendorans would be making that mistake and yet I hear folks of all ages add the 'd'. The park has lots of amenities we've used since our kids were born and even before... - summer concerts and movies in the park - birthday or event areas (Scouting) - playground - tennis court (other side taken by pickleball :( - skate park - sports fields - horseshoes - volleyball - community center And more. We love walking through the park on the way to the Village. If you haven't been, worth checking out pretty much any day of the week. So many fond memories created at Finkbiner. Even Pokémon Go events, haha.

    When I move, you move (Just like that)…read moreWhen I move, you move (Just like that) Hell yeah, hey DJ brin' that back... You can move all around this park. 5/5 Amenities From pickleball, to the playground or doing Ollie's on the skate park. There are a lot of activities you can do at this location. There are courts for pickleball or tennis, fields for baseball or soccer, picnic tables all over for you to take a load off or paved walkways for you to get your steps in. 5/5 Trees Nothing beats having large trees to give you shade on sunny days. Rainy days are a different story. 5/5 Parking Parking all around the park. You can even park right next to the kids playground. Overall solid park to fit whatsoever your heart desires. So be sure to move and Psalm 119:89, God bless

    Photos
    Finkbiner Park - Wide view of "big" kids playground.

    Wide view of "big" kids playground.

    Finkbiner Park - New and improved

    New and improved

    Finkbiner Park - "Big" kids play areas separated. Climbing thing in background

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    "Big" kids play areas separated. Climbing thing in background

    Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area - This crested duck was cracking me up with his little bouffant XD

    Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area

    3.7(245 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    As of October 2025, the price of admission has increased to $15. At least it was for the weekend of…read morethe annual dragon boat festival. Many cars were lined up before the recreation area opened for the day, so it took a while to find parking. Many teams found their patch of grass to pitch up tents for the better half of the day, while it seems those who weren't part of the festival were partitioned off. From around 7am to 4pm, a lively environment of DJs and live music, jersey vendors, drumming competitions, costume contests, and even Zumba, a nice mix of distractions between all the waiting between heats. The park's maintenance team were on hand cleaning the restrooms, emptying trash cans, and driving to and from whenever they were needed. Some of the dragon boat teams and vendors also drove into the booth areas which made it kinda dangerous with so many people. There was even a close call of an infant almost getting run over. In terms of dragon boat, participating in 250m sprints was a positive experience. Much different sense of urgency compared to the usual 500m.

    Peaceful, Quiet, plenty space to Walk , Ride Bikes, Jogging, Picnics . Only $8 to get in if you…read morequalify or you could buy a yearly pass that's good for all State Parks.

    Photos
    Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area - Heart shaped cactus on the trails in the flood control basin!

    Heart shaped cactus on the trails in the flood control basin!

    Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area - Beautiful migratory Lesser Scaups! I love the flash of deep purple on their heads! (February 2024)

    Beautiful migratory Lesser Scaups! I love the flash of deep purple on their heads! (February 2024)

    Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area - Cactus Wren - another lifer on my hike!!

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    Cactus Wren - another lifer on my hike!!

    Crystal Lake - parks - Updated May 2026

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