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Jackson Lake

3.7 (28 reviews)

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Japanese Curry with Veg. In 2021!
Chris M.

2 CENTS FROM THE NEW YEAR My girlfriend and I decided to make a picnic at the lake. We did a similar trip in December of 2021. I love this lake/pond because it feels cozy and I can sort of imagine that if I had come to California in the old days I could have bought a piece of land that just so happened to have a lake/pond on it just like this. I have been here about three times now. Each offers slightly different experiences. 1st time: I was camping with friends at Mountain Oak campground. The lake is a 5-minute walk away from camp and a great source of easy entertainment for my group. We lounged around with some beers. 2nd time: My girlfriend and I went up for a picnic. We almost had the whole place to ourselves. It was magic and reinforced the vision of this lake that I described before. I would learn how lucky we were to have this experience then after my most recent visit. 3rd and most recent visit. We entered through the side of 15 North. Traffic began right as we entered the city of Wrightwood. It was about a 30-minute delay to reach the lake. Once we arrived there was no parking available in the maybe 40-space lot. Luckily we were able to snag a table and unload our gear from the car. I then parked the car on the north end of the lake right on Big Pines highway. Like a fool, I walked back to the picnic area not on the pavement but chose the lake trail. Which was covered with snow and ice. I narrowly avoided slipping at every step by walking at a snail's pace. We made our food and by the time we were done. Parking spots had opened. My girlfriend went on a walk to get the car and take a break from the crowds. We were pooped at this point so we packed up and took off. We hit another spot of traffic starting at Mt. High and ending at the Wrightwood city limit. SOME TIPS - Bring your own toilet paper - Arrive as early as possible ( We arrived at Wrightwood at about 11:30 am) it was too late - If possible avoid going if it is a weekend during winter after a storm - If possible bring a kitchen trash bag to pack your trash out. CONCLUSION Armed with the knowledge I have now, I am sure that my next visit will not disappoint. This is not the prettiest lake. In SoCal, you take what you can get regarding water bodies. I would recommend anyone visit the lake.

Natasha T.

This place is worth the drive. First of all, the drive here look like we are heading to the middle of nowhere only to come into the forest, Lowkey giving off Big Bear vibes, cabins and little town from hallmark kind of look. Like this is the place where you're gonna meet the man that is gonna rock ya world, treat you right kind of place. That's the vibes I was getting, then again, the holidays is around the corner and those hallmarks movies hits. There is no entry fee, at the time that I went, late September, all the grill is closed but tables are still available and my friends and I, had a little dim sum picnic at one of the table. Leaves aren't full falling but it wasn't so hot, it's actually pretty cold, hits below 50 degrees but it does have wind chill at the time. Saw some people hiking but none fishing since the lake is really low, maybe it will be full after winter. It's a must go to place if you want to get away from the city that is only like one and half hour away if Sequoia is a far drive for you and you're short on days off. It's not big red wood trees, but the air is more crisps and I bet at night it would be very pretty. They also have campsites areas too but not sure at the time if they are open. Would come back for camping season too.

Marcus F.

The reviews on this "lake" are all over the board. Frankly I had low expectations figuring that this was unsuitable for swimming and just a fishing hole. While this is really a place to fish, you can swim and use an inflatable tube or kayak and have some fun. Even if you don't swim or fish you can still pull up a lawn chair and enjoy the breeze. The one issue with swimming at Jackson Lake is that so many people fish here that you'll find hooks in the muddy bottom (we did). Only swim in front of the parking lot and be sure to wear water shoes. As for fishing, not really...nobody was catching anything. Kids don't need a license to fish. - Breeze means fewer flies. - Park on the road above lake to avoid fees.

Lake
Elena S.

Super cute spot in the middle of nowhere. You can take a propane bbq and they have tables , shade and restrooms. No entry fee. Lake looks a little low some fish and I would recommend swimming but some people did have rafts.

Ryan P.

This is a pretty relaxing small "lake" - more like a pond - that is well stocked with fish. We had nothing on the first day, but we were only using Powerbait. There were guys using worms who had 10 fish within two hours. The trick to catch the fish here is to keep moving your line. The trout here like to chase the bait, so if it is just sitting there, you're not going to catch anything. The lake is usually peaceful with fishermen, until Saturdays around 2pm when all of the Hispanic families come up and set up camp at the picnic tables like it's their own backyard. Kids running around throwing rocks and scaring off the fish pretty much ended our day. You can also hear the noise from the highway, so it's not as quiet and serene as you'd think. Overall, it's a great place to show up early and catch a few fish, if you know the secret, which I told you, so you shouldn't have any problems! It's a great place to relax in the early morning and let the day pass you by.

Didn't know what to expect but was a really nice spot to just relax and think. Fresh, cool breeze and nothing but the sounds of birds and leaves flowing. There were people fishing, didn't see anyone getting in. Water didn't look good enough to swim but perfect to admire.

Chad S.

Cute little lake, 2 miles after mountain High ski resort, next to two campgrounds: "Lake Campground" and "Mt. Oak Campground". We stayed at the former (same side as the lake and directly attached to the end of the lake (100 yard walk). See my review on the campground page. The lake is also a day-use picnic area with tables and such with lots of shade. The lake itself is pretty (see photos), with nice path on the south end and also a trail at the west end. The fishing was pretty darn good. Each group caught a few fish. There was about 5 species, including cat fish and trout. The lake does get stocked by Fish and Game. We caught cat fish and trout. You can use powerbait, salmon eggs and night crawlers (earth worms) or small lure. One of them basic $3 lures from (about 1 1/2" fill length) from walmart will suffice. But there is a lot grass under water so you have to real closer to top (don't let sink) and try to find a path without grass). For catfish the night crawlers work best (and the trout will definitely hit those also). Lots of people come and fish by just parking along the road and fish just below their cars. Of course you need an Adventure pass ($30 per year or $5 daily). You can boat/kayak or even swim. But of course the swimming is in somewhat muddy/greenish lake water, so don't expect some clear water hole in some mountain creek. The town of Wrightwood is about 6 miles and take about 10 minutes to get there. They have various amentias including gas and decent size market (about half the size of a normal grocery store. definitely not a mini-mart. Hiking: Although it is not shown on the large scale area map the host gives you, if you go about 400 yards east of the lake driveway, there is a sloping camp day-use area called "Peavine Campground". There are path that go up and after about 200 yards up you start climbing these dirt steps they built into the hillside as it gets steep and goes up. At the very top of the steps you turn right at a very distinct and wide trail. You can go about 1 mile or so, along the ridgeline, on that trail until you get to a giant water tank above the lake and continue on that trail until it winds back down and you walk through a bible camp and end up in the west end of the lake parking lot/driveway. Very nice and beautiful trail up there. Maybe about 45 mins. to an hour hike depending on your pace. And the initial climb is quite a steep climb though, but only for a few hundred yards. There is also a separate trail off of the lake's parking lot heading west (but I did not have time to hike that one).

Sunset from out camp site on 4/2/13. (no, this isn't photo-shopped)

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7 months ago

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10 months ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

Had a good time at the lake. Plenty of shade and tables. Will return to have another bbq and picnic.

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5 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

My kid liked it but the lake is tiny and the kayak seat was broken. If you go just don't have a bunch of expectations.

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2 years ago

The lake was frozen and the mountain full of snow. Great place to go snow sledding.Great place to come and hang out with the family.

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8 years ago

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15 years ago

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6 years ago

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4 years ago

love this lake but i went during labor day weekend and it was dried out there was only a little bit of water

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9 years ago

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5 years ago

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Ask the Community - Jackson Lake

How do I contact them? No number or email. My family and I want to go camping this weekend.

This review is only the lake. You would want to look up Lake Campground (or Mountain Oak Campground which is right across the street). Reservations can be made online or just show up and claim any of the "open" camping spots closest to the lake and… Read more

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Review Highlights - Jackson Lake

Cute little lake, 2 miles after mountain High ski resort, next to two campgrounds: "Lake Campground" and "Mt.

Mentioned in 3 reviews

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Silver Lakes in Helendale

Silver Lakes in Helendale

(4 reviews)

Lived in Silver Lakes for over 10 years. My children went to the elementary school, then the high…read moreschool. The schools are amazing, the teachers actually give a damn, and the classes aren't over populated- therefore more 1 on 1 is possible. The elementary school was blessed with an AMAZING new teacher (new to district) Mr. Jason Dokie. If your child is fortunate enough to have him as a teacher- you're in luck! Words cannot explain. I've worked at the local Snackbar next to the ProShop for several years, and along side the Silver Lakes Restaurant. Both are amazing, and worth the visit! Our golf course is beautiful, Mr. White has a great crew that assures that! I also worked at the Mobil station, and was fortunate to meet so many residents, many of whom I adore and miss terribly. Silver Lakes in a good community. It is small, therefore people take it more personally when you disrespect the property or residents. I also happened to catch my first big ol ugly fish off my dock! So, there's that! ;)

Silver Lakes also known by its city name Helendale is an unincorporated community along route 66…read moresought to once be more of a semi-retirement community, yet opened up over time to thrive and grow. It's on the outskirts of the city of Victorville California just before Boron, Barstow, Oro Grade and neighbors the city of Adelanto in which it shares law enforcement but does have a fire station + medics off it's Helendale Road, the main way into town from the front half... Shadow Mountain from the back side. While my dad has lived here for well over a decade now, I personally never grew up in this part of the high desert though I have many friends, former classmates and colleagues who have and/or still presently due. There are three gas stations, restaurants, bars, post office, convenience stores, beautiful views of the lakes of Silver Lakes, parks, wide streets, a pool, playgrounds, nice sidewalks, a few schools and even a Country Club. Everyone is pretty friendly or at least cordial for the most part and despite being so far off the beaten path I've grown more fond of S.L. over the years from visiting. The lakes are used for fishing or boating but you do need to be a resident or with a resident to enjoy most of the perks and amenities of this more private as well as safe community. Everyone is definitely welcomed.

Mountain Lakes Resort - Drawers don't even open right. Toaster didn't work.

Mountain Lakes Resort

(262 reviews)

Ah, Mountain Lakes in Lytle Creek--a little patch of nature where city folk go to pretend they've…read morerediscovered their wild roots, all while hauling coolers the size of small caravans and blasting top 40 hits from portable speakers. It's a charming place, really, with its still waters and the gentle rustling of trees, though I suspect the "back-to-nature" experience here is more of a polite handshake than a full embrace. As someone who fancies himself a connoisseur of rugged living, I arrived with high hopes and the fervor of a man ready to commune with the great outdoors. I had visions of catching fish with my bare hands, crouched by the water's edge like a noble otter. And indeed, I managed to scoop up a fine trout, much to the amazement of a family nearby. But rather than applaud my primal prowess, they gasped in horror and muttered something about "rules" and "licenses." Rules? Bah! In my day, a man didn't need permission to pluck his dinner from a stream; the fish swam, the man caught, and the circle of life continued uninterrupted. Then there was the issue of relieving oneself. After an invigorating hike through the trees, nature's call beckoned. And what better way to answer than as our ancestors did--with a dignified squat beneath a shady pine, communing with the earth as one should in such settings. Imagine my surprise when a park ranger materialized from the bushes, clipboard in hand, to inform me that my contribution to the ecosystem was, shall we say, unwelcome. Apparently, there are "bathrooms" for such things--soulless little shacks that reek of chemical despair. In my time, a man's connection to the land was sacred; now, it's regulated and ticketed. But beyond these minor skirmishes with modernity, Mountain Lakes was a delight. The air was crisp, the scenery splendid, and the waters teeming with fish that, alas, I was no longer allowed to catch in my preferred fashion. I spent the afternoon lounging by the lake, watching the clouds drift lazily by, and marveling at the curious creatures known as "campers," who seemed to require an entire trunkload of equipment to survive a few hours in the wilderness. The trees stood tall and silent, likely chuckling at humanity's attempts to return to nature while staying within cell phone range. Still, there is a peace here, a sense of simplicity that even the most harried soul can't help but appreciate. Just don't expect too much freedom when it comes to behaving like a wild man--they've got rules, after all, and apparently "going feral" isn't part of the brochure. In the end, Mountain Lakes offered me a lovely escape from the modern world, even if the modern world still insists on tagging along with its permits, policies, and polite disapproval of hand-fishing. I'd gladly return, though next time, I'll be sure to pack a fishing pole and maybe learn to respect the delicate balance between wild freedom and park ranger diplomacy.

Sophia was so wonderful at the night desk. She gave us the best attitude and wonderful attention to…read moredetail. Thank you Sophia for all your help.

Lake Campground - Fishing

Lake Campground

(8 reviews)

We had a lot of fun. The campsites are big. We had 4 tents comfortably on our site. There isn't a…read morelot of level ground though. The toilets were surprisingly clean. The biggest downside was that the highway that runs right by the campsite is really noisy. There are motorcycles constantly. Even all through the night. They woke us up several times. The lake area by the campsite isn't easily accessible so it's better to drive a mile down the road to the main lake parking. We brought kayaks but the lake is narrow and a lot of people are fishing so it wasn't practical to kayak. We were worried about fishing lines. The kids caught a lot of little fish and a few small catfish. The weather in July was beautiful and a nice break from the summer heat. Overall we enjoyed it and would definitely come back again.

Really quite a great campground. There are only about 5 sites, so it's very cozy. Each site has a…read moremoderate amount of privacy, though you can still see other sites from your own. Vault toilets and running water provided. Nearby is Jackson lake and the mescal picnic area. Opportunities for fishing, swimming, and canoeing. I reserved this site on recreation.gov, so I didn't talk to the campground host during my stay (the site had my name on it when I pulled in). I drove to their site to let them know when I was leaving, and the host was super nice! She said that Jackson lake is a water source for a lot of animals, but a clean campsite will discourage unwanted guests. Speaking of.. Please throw away your trash before you go to bed! We had a large animal visitor that went through some trash at a neighboring campsite and then started shaking my truck looking for more! I thought it was hilarious (and a bit terrifying), but I could easily see it being super terrifying if I were tent camping on the ground!

Jackson Lake - fishing - Updated May 2026

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