Mr. W took me here as we decided to take his landlord's dog, Lyla out as we both thought some sunlight and some exercise would do everyone some good. Plus we were not too into hiking a grand deal but still wanted to get some kind of exercise in, and he thought of this place. We dropped by mid-morning and luckily it was a lovely day out. This location is quite close to Potato Chip Rock - I believe the trails actually lead there! But we settled for wandering by the lake and then all around before heading up to the scenic overlook. If you are not a Poway resident, you will have to pay $5 for parking to get in. Not too bad as you get quite a view. The lake yesterday was just beautiful. There were a couple of people stationed here and there fishing, other were out on the boats (very few) with their fishing rods. In other places of the park, there were families at the BBQ areas, roasting food and prepping for what looks like a celebration. Bathrooms were located here and there. Parking was very ample. Many people were walking about yesterday with their families and their dogs. Lyla had quite the walk all around, sniffing and jostling about. Once we climbed up to the scenic overlook which was not too bad a walk up, we settled down to take in the whole view of the lake. Very relaxing and just beautiful to look at. Not too hot or too cold either. They also do have a beach volleyball court or two. If you plan on hiking, I suggest bringing water to keep hydrated especially if you go during the summer. Mr. W was recounting his experience of hiking Potato Chip with not enough water - and it sounded pretty bad as he downed a couple bottles of water when he went back home. But Lake Poway is a nice place to check out, relaxing either by the lakeside possibly fishing or hiking the trails. read more

See all

Beautiful, un crowded lake. It's so unlike Miramar Lake in that it's way cleaner, less congested, and seems to have more parking. I've been here on a Sat afternoon as well as a Fri early afternoon. The parking lot DOES LOCK at a certain hour after sunset so keep this in mind if you drive and park there. You will not be able to retrieve your car until the next morning if you're locked in. The lake is breath taking. And I cannot believe I haven't been here before. I've seen people on boats going fishing, friends sitting on the lush grass having a picnic, and people jumping on the trails to hike up to Potato Chip rock on Mount Woodson. This Lake has it all. It's a great thing to live in San Diego. read more

Lake Poway Park - December 2013 - SD *does* have seasons :) www.fayesfork.com - Parks Near Me - Poway, California

See all

Nice lake. Great customer service. Very peaceful! No CA license required. Give senior discounts on fishing.

Great park and beautiful lake! My kids (5yo and 3yo) had a great time- we went to both playground areas. One playground area was designated for 2-5yo with two playground sets, the other was more for 5-12 I think. The playground for older kids was almost identical to the younger kids' playground except it was higher from the ground. So playground sets were pretty standard- nothing modern or new. (See pictures) The lake was beautiful and peaceful. Other activities include fishing, paddle boats where you sit with another person and paddle like you're riding a bike and make googoogaagaa faces at each other because it so romantic kinda thing, a large baseball diamond is also available, they also had a horseshoe area I think (at least that's what it looked like), or feed the gang of ducks who are not at all shy to approach you to see if you have duck feed which is available from the concession ("don't feed them bread- it makes them sick" says a park sign). No swimming or wading in the lake. It is strictly for looking at. The kids and I will be back. read more

This is where you'll be starting your hike for Potato Chip Rock (Mt Woodson) and it's a fun hike. It's convenient, beautiful and just challenging enough. Here's some tips: come M-F if you can, parking is free, otherwise they charge $10 on the weekends. Come early, it gets hot and weekends get crowded. Bring water and music; it's a big hike, bring water and if you want to jam up the hike, portable sounds are a must. Wear sunblock and bring a change of shoes/flip flops, the trail is dusty and and you'll be dirty. Maybe your cars already dirty...who knows. Most of all, when hiking up to potato chip rock (mt woodson) know the best photo perspective captures the lower background otherwise you just look like your floating a few feet off the ground. There's actually another bolder just a few steps down from potato chip rock that over looks the valley and that makes an amazing shot, arguably better. When getting on potato chip rock, know the it's a small leap onto potato chip rock but you'll be sliding down the side to get off. Typically this is the most challenging part of navigating this photo opp. My recommendation is to carefully go down the side of the rock, knowing that you're going to slide a little, lean back as you're stepping/sliding down and when you get close to the bottom, jump a little off the rock to the bottom. You see so many people making a hash brown out of their butt coming down off the potato chip and it's totally unnecessary. read more

Lake Poway Park - Come early and it gets hot - Parks Near Me - Poway, California

What a beautiful gem of a location nestled in Poway. Hubby and I took our little doggy here for do a little exploring. We walked around the lake, watched people fishing. A ranger was going around, checking for fishing permits and kindly letting us know that our dog was not allowed within 100 ft of the water. Who knew. There's plenty of parking on the grounds and a cute little office/convenience center where you can get hot dogs and drinks. We attempted one of the hiking trails but got kinda confused when the trail cut through a gated residential community....so we headed back toward the park. We'll be back to test out the other hiking trails and possibly have a nice little picnic in the shade of the lovely trees. read more

Lake Poway Park - Parks Near Me - Poway, California

Clean, well kept, lots of trees and shades, good for picnic, family gathering, hike, relaxing time. Beautiful park. read more

It was a long drive to get to Lake Poway Park, but we came out east for a company picnic and found a nice spot with a great amount of open space, fields, and playgrounds for all of us to enjoy. Rented out a few tables for an afternoon for a work barbecue and the park was well stocked for such use, giving us all a clean and open space to spread out, cook, and mingle. We mainly stuck to the playground, which had older equipment, but felt well-maintained. It shared a common issue I had with many other parks, where the equipment for children seemed a bit too close to the parking area and driving streets for my safety comfort. But, there are also plenty of places to sit next to the slides to keep a close eye and most of the play area is open enough for an adult to play alongside their kids to make sure they don't jump out into parked cars and traffic. But, with huge open fields, baseball diamonds, multiple playgrounds, and a lake to fish in, there's a reason for everyone to come out and have a good time. About the only detrimental things I can think of are a huge bee population (which you're gonna get anytime you go outside to the park) and the presence of, what looks like, a water treatment plant just beyond one of the fenced off areas. Other than that, with so much space and quality greenery, Lake Poway has one hell of a park! read more

I have been to this park quite often. There are some pros and cons about this park. Usually I go there during Easter and it's always packed and there's no space for parking. They also charge for parking which is ridiculous because a lot of times they don't have parking for people there. read more

Beautiful Lake Poway! We love visiting at any time of the year with family and friends! read more

See all

Very disappointed to find out that we could not swim or have our dog here to cool off. Also when the guy came to tell us these things he used a motorized boat which definitely seems dirtier than us swimming. 3/10 would recommend read more

Beautiful park, restrooms are clean, they have bbq grill available for families, lots of trees for shade. Enjoyed the day with my family

My favorite spot to relax even if I don't catch any fish it's been a while I plan on getting back into the grove read more

Lake Poway Park - Lake / reservoir - Parks Near Me - Poway, California

See all

A photographers review: highly recommend for photo shoots, wildlife photography, and scenery photography too. They have many great open spots near the lake side area or if you're up for a hike walking around the lake there's many great views. read more

My girlfriends and I came here with the intention of climbing up to Potato Chip Rock. We arrived shortly after the park opened and paid a $5 entrance fee. At first, I was really irritated by paying a fee but seeing how well the grounds are kept, I can tell the money is used well. If you are planning on taking the Mt. Woodson trail, proceed to the very end of the parking lot. We parked at the entrance and the trail head is further up. Before I hiked this, I asked many people how difficult the 4 mile uphill hike was. I heard it ranged from easy to very difficult. If you are active, I would say that it's moderate. We went on an overcast morning so if it were hot, I don't think I would be saying it's moderate because heat can be a big factor. The weather was perfect going up but as we were making our way down, the heat kicked in and by the time we got to our car at noon, it was 84. In this area, 84 is nice... As I mentioned, the grounds are well kept and the trails are maintained just as well. Visitors seem to do a good job picking up after themselves which I was very pleased to see. There is nothing more irritating than seeing litter during a hike. Pictures at the Potato Chip Rock are pretty cool and it's worth the trek to capture that epic picture of you standing on a ledge of a seemingly paper thin rock. I'm fearful of heights but I somehow managed to get off all fours and pose for the camera. Be warned, standing on the ledge of Potato Chip isn't as scary as the jump from the neighboring boulder. The gap isn't more than a few feet wide but....don't look down...eek! I'd highly recommend this hike for the great views, a great workout and great pics. I'd go back in a heart beat. If you do head out, don't forget to bring a small backpack to carry plenty of water and a few snacks. I would've liked to have packed a small lunch and have lunch overlooking the city. Also, coming early (like when the opens) is also very key for an enjoyable hike. Not only because the heat but also for the crowds. When we got there, we felt like we had the mountain to ourselves...making our way down, there was a line of people coming up and people now making the trek down which was much louder with all the chatter. If you're in the area and looking for a fun hike, check out Mt. Woodson / Potato Chip Rock. read more

See all

I love this park, it's awesome, and it has something for just about everyone. The parking lot is very accommodating, but keep in mind that on weekends, especially if the weather is nice out, it seems that half of the population of Poway is here and parking becomes dicey. There is stuff for the kiddies, there is paddle boating, fishing, hiking, picnicking...pretty much everything that you could want in a park. People do a pretty good job of picking up after themselves and the Poway Park staff is helpful and courteous. They have a little shop that sells water, soft drinks, ice cream and hotdogs in case you get dehydrated or low blood sugar. read more

Came here for a friends kids Birthday party.. They rented out one of the Gazebos which over looked the lake.. What a perfect place to have a kids party! Nice view, lots of things to do, there's a large open field to run and play whatever sport you want, fishing in the lake for a small fee, and even pedal boats or electric powered boats to rent, trails to hike. They allow horses on the trails, if you're lucky or rich enough to own one. We were at Gazebo 6 which was on top of the hill so it had a nice view of the lake. It was covered so we were not in the sun, there was a picnic table in the center to put all our food on. If you had a larger party they also have a Pavilion that you can rent out that has a fridge, freezer, stove and sink, banquet tables and chairs. Some of us rented the powered motor boat and took a tour of the lake, it was very relaxing. Its only like a 1/2 HP electric motor, so don't be fooled by the name Power boat, i think i could swim faster than the boat. Like i said it was relaxing.... They sell fishing permits for lake poway there, you DON'T need a California fishing license, just a daily permit from them.. The boat fits a maximum of 5 people and they allow only 2 poles per person. Here's more info on the fishing seasons and prices. http://www.poway.org/Index.aspx?page=624#id=18&num=13 be sure to also pay attention to the rules, size restrictions and bag limit. I would liked to have gone on a hike but seeing as i was at the birthday party and all and i've been told that to hike around the lake takes about 2 1/2 hours or so i didn't have the time. someday ill do the hike. overall a nice relaxing day the only down side is that there is a $5 entrance fee if you are not a Powaiian? Poweegen? Poweenien? (non-Poway resident) read more

I love coming here with my family. There's so much to do! It's a lot cleaner than other lake-parks. read more

Lake Poway Park - Parks Near Me - Poway, California

See all

This place is such a cute and fun park to take your family. There are plenty of activities you can do here like exercise or walk your dogs, go biking and hiking. You can go boating, fishing and even picnic! There's a small store where you can buy dippin dots or fishing bait or gear, and they serve a few foods but can't remember what. I love that there's so much wildlife over here, but be aware you're not "suppose" to feed the ducks here lol oops Only down side here is they're closed for boating/fishing on monday and tuesday, also closed on the office/ concessional store. Definitely a regular here, so i'll be back soon :) read more

Incredibly nice hike for the family. I went with my sister and my mother during the day. The view is always great; one side you'll see the beautiful lake and the other side you can see the vast mountains. There's many different trails available that all stem from the entrance, so you can definitely come back multiple times to enjoy the different options available. As for the Poway Lake trail, we had to stop midway because there was a Bee Activity sign. I personally hate bees so I was out! The trail itself does have some pretty steep slopes, but nothing you can't handle. We had to take a few breaks but there are some areas with shade and rocks to rest at. Make sure to bring water, poway is a pretty warm area in San Diego and there are no water fountains anywhere along the hike. read more

See all

Three great hiking trails here including the famous and difficult uphill trek to potato chip rock. Kids can fish and ride a little motor boat, but no swimming. There is also a great playground and lots of grass and trees. I've been here twice when they dropped the trout into the lake and that was a sight to see! The fisherman were lined up and running from their cars to the shoreline. (Kinda hilarious). Great community asset with something for everyone! read more

I've grown up around Lake Poway, taken my prom pictures there, even gotten in some trouble swimming there. I can't say enough good things about it. It's beautiful and quiet, though it can get pretty popular for barbecues on weekends. There are paddle boats and motorboats to rent. You can take your kids to fish. I definitely recommend the hiking trail that snakes around the lake and into the canyon. It's great for dogs, though they can't be within 15 feet of the actual lake. There's a cute little market there with good snack food and duck food for purchase. The play grounds are well crafted and unique for little ones. They have night fishing in the summer months. Go and have a great time! read more

See all

5.14.16: This is a really great park. If you're not a resident you will have to pay $5 for parking but it is definitely worth it. There are several things you can do at the park. Hike, you can hike Mount Woodson trail or you can Hike from outside and go into the park. I have done the hike but not from inside the Park. The hike can be tough depending which route you take. Based on all the pictures I'm sure you noticed the Potato Chip Rock. Yes that's all part of the hiking trail. Fishing, yup you can go fishing here. The lake is big and very enjoyable as you can see plenty of fish floating around and the nice view while you're in the middle of the lake. So so serene. I tried both the row boat and paddle boat. Really hard to use the row boat. I need more strength, I was going in circles at one point. =) The paddle boat is much easier, using leg strength. I haven't tried the power boat and that's what most people rent for fishing. Besides the things on the lake you can lounge at the grassy area or just simply play games. What I thought was super cool was the little store they had there. Some people just chilled at the patio area to eat or people watch. The little store has beer! Yup nice cold craft beer. Not expensive either so that's a good. Since there's so much to do at the lake, you can definitely spend a good amount time here. Explore! read more

Dry, rocky, difficult hike with a wonderful end... I went here with my wife and a friend...My wife had a tough time with the steep incline...because...about 90% of the total trail is one a steep incline...also there is hardly any shade ..so if its a sunny day good luck with the heat...we had 4 bottles of water and we started at 8am...and returned at 12.30pm....still we felt hot and dehydrated by the end... Please select a cool day and start early...I saw people who were just starting at 1pm...I personally cannot tolerate heat... Carry a lot of water no matter what other posts here say..thats hiking 101...lots of water..comfortable clothes and shoes.. But after a tiring hike...the potato chip and the view from the top are amazing and make it all worth it!!! read more

Lake Poway Park - Parks Near Me - Poway, California

This park is a great recreational park to bring the family, kids, and friends for an outdoor retreat. This park has picnic tables, benches, walking trails, hiking, paddle boats, snack shop, restrooms, playgrounds, fishing, biking trails and lots of parking. During the weekends I recommend getting there as early as possible to find parking close to where you'd like to be and to avoid the heat later in the day. On the weekends they do charge for parking, so I recommend to bring some cash just in case. If you are here for hiking this will be the starting point to hike to Potato chip rock on Mt Woodson. Overall this a great location to get in touch with nature and be in awe of the great views you will get of the lake. read more

My favorite part about Lake Poway Park is the amazing and beautiful view of the lake. This is the kind of Park you would go to for a quiet, serene, kind of hike where it's just the Wilderness and you. The Lake Poway Loop is great, it is about 2.7 miles, the first mile is some steep inclines and declines, then it levels out to a basic walk along the beach. Very beautiful, also there is a "Scenic Overview" trail that goes up the mountain in a rocky trail where you can see the city of San Diego and the beauty of Lake Poway. As my sister would say "This is my aesthetic!!" A few things to keep in mind: there are signs that say it is very hot and you would need half a gallon of water per person!! Also, their are rattlesnakes and mountain lions, depending on what trail you take. Just some advice. read more

See all

I am going to roll several reviews in one. Being a Poway resident for several years now, we are well acquainted with Lake Poway Park. It is a beautiful venue for birthdays, parties, picnics etc. Pretty much something for everyone. Fisherperson in the family? No problem! Go fish in the lake. Boater? Boats are available for rent or bring your own! Hiking? The trail around the lake is a wonderful hike for anybody. Short enough for the whole family. If you are a more serious hiker, you can hike up to Mt. Woodson (which is quite a challenging hike) or take a detour to Blue Sky and the Ramona Dam. How about kids? There are play areas with climbing structures, swings, also baseball fields etc. This last Saturday we were able to participate in the Cinqo de Mayo 10K trail run. The event was well run, well organized and the race was extremely challenging. There were several runs organized and now we are inspired to participate next year in the 5K family run with our little boy. So cute to see all those families running together! I highly recommend this event especially if you are a Poway resident. There is plenty of parking at the lake and it's free for Poway residents. I suppose if I wasn't a resident, I may dock 1 star for having to pay for parking, but for such a wonderful venue a 5$ parking fee is very reasonable. read more

This is a nice park around a small, but picturesque lake. A tackle store next to the parking lot has beverages and bait/tackle if you want to go fishing. There is even boat rental. The trails around Lake Poway seem to be well maintained and easy to navigate. One of the trails goes up to the famous Potato chip rock, a photo op too irresistible for many hikers to pass up, but a bit too tough of a hike for me that day. We stayed lakeside, where we went fishing and enjoyed the peacefulness next to the water. If you are interested in fishing, check the stocking schedule and fishing reports before you go. And go early. Also note that state-issued fishing licenses aren't accepted here. You must buy a day-pass fishing license strictly for Lake Poway. read more

My favorite space in San Diego, Hiking there always amazing and very peaceful.. The lake is huge, with many different activities like fishing, bbq, playing sport and hiking ... read more

Lake Poway Park - The view - Parks Near Me - Poway, California

See all

I came here for the first time with my fiancée and it was a real treat. Parking was easy and the park is setup brilliantly. There are two separate playgrounds for children. Each one seems geared for specific age groups; which is smart. The grounds were well-kept and clean and I found VERY little littering on the premises. There's a snack/concession stand on grounds too; so you can purchase some goods to eat for yourselves, as well as feed the ducks (perhaps). There is also kayaks for use on the lake and that works for several benefits; you can get your exercise and you can also get some vantage points for fishing. Yes, fishing is allowed there and the pier walkway provides some more spots to rest your poles. I'm not sure what kind of fish are in there and what the regulations are; BUT I can tell you that some of them can get big! Overall, this is a great spot to come and relax, meditate, hike, jog, play baseball and just socialize. We need more parks like this! read more

See all

This is one of the nicest and beautiful parks I've seen. It's very clean and well maintained. The lake is gorgeous and it's beautiful to see early in the morning. They open at 6am and charge $10 at the entrance. read more

Lake Poway Park - The lake! - Parks Near Me - Poway, California

I was a bit disappointed because I was hoping for a more natural park; this is a fairly large developed park with a baseball field and lots of green lawn. There's a bait shop and a ranger station. Views of the Lake are visible from only a small part of the park. Close and easy lake access from parking lot. During the summer they are open for night fishing on Fridays. Parking is free during the weekday, but they charge $10 on the weekends. I'm giving it 4 stars because it's a place to park for access to trailheads. read more

Awesome! Love the super cardio, butt kicking, scenic run around Lake Poway! You can run it, or hike it, or be CRAZY and MT. Bike it, (I've done all three, but on my Mt. Bike it was a 50/50 push/ride) either way it's an excellent cardio workout. It also has many extending trails, so you can add distance to the 2.90 mile loop. it is also the lead trail to "Potato Chip" rock on Mt. Woodson and connects you too Blue Sky Reserve/Lake Ramona. There is a snack bar, play ground, boat rentals and fishing. It's beautiful and safe, there are Rangers out all the time! Enjoy! P.S. There is a $5 fee for non Poway residents, but at certain times, (non peak hours) it's not enforced. read more

See all

Nice area for a picnic and fishing. Store has everything you need-fishing piles are $10 to rent and fishing licenses are available for small fee. We rented the boat but next time would rather stick to shore fishing. read more

See all

I love this park. There are 2 playgrounds for kids, lake for fishing, and plenty of grassy area for picnic or playing. They also host family camping few days a year. We loved camping here. read more

I absolutely looooooove this place! Pros: 1. Huge parking lot. 2. Huge lake. 3. Huge park with tons of tables, benches and bbq grills. 4. You can rent paddle boats and paddle around the lake. 5. You can also go fishing here! 6. Tons of hike trails, including the famous Mt. Woodson aka Potato Chip Rock. Just an overall beautiful lake, with tons of stuff to do! Or just get some fresh air! Cons: 1. $10 parking unless you're a poway resident, you can get a car sticker so you don't have to show proof you're a resident everytime you come. read more

Gorgeous park, but I have to dock a star because I came here specifically with my kids to motorboat on the lake and the boats barely move. People come here for serious fishing, so they put in battery-operated?!!? motors on the boats. They might as well just not have motors at all. The oars would keep my kids busy enough. They also have pedal boats which go just as fast as the motor boats. We paid $13 for an hour. I almost just want to give this place 6 stars, for having the weirdest ducks I have ever seen. I googled it and apparently they are "Crested drakes" - if you don't believe me, check out Feathersite.com! My kids love chasing these ducks, and so does my dog for that matter (shh, don't tell anyone). There's a concession stand with a nice deck to have lunch on with a great view of the lake. Pretty much anywhere is a good spot to sit and have lunch with a view of the lake. I will definitely be back without the kids to hike out to Potato Chip Rock. read more

I only passed through the park on my way to Potato Chip Rock, but the little that I did see was nice. There was a $5 fee at the entrance and it appears to be well maintained. The lake is beautiful (esp from the hiking trails). The restrooms were clean and it appears that overnight camping is allowed. There were many families with tents and small children in the camping area. I would definitely return to the park to access Mt Woodson. Lots of parking space and very safe environment. read more

Lake Poway Park - Lake Poway - Parks Near Me - Poway, California

See all

Nice place for a day out with family or friends. We usually go in weekend. $10 parking fee and free for poway residents. All major federal holidays free parking. Best thing is you can start potato chip rock hiking from here. read more

If you're looking for the perfect family camping spot, Lake Poway is your spot. It offers a bunch of amenities that can give you a true camping experience, at the same time we all know little ones can get antsy or bring some issues that if you're out in the woods needless to say can be challenging to deal with. LP was able to offer us an experience that worked extremely well for the three 4 year olds we hosted. Highly recommended and we will be back! read more