This is one of the very best lakes for good sized trout from Mt Lassen. They range anywhere from 2…read moreto 10 lbs. with a very tasty pink meat.

Beautiful lake. You do have to pay to enter, though. Current fees are listed here:…read morehttps://rivcoparks.org/regional-parks-campgrounds/lake-skinner-recreation-area The main complaint I have is that people leave trash everywhere - please, fellow Californians, pick up your trash so we can keep this lake beautiful.

Lake Skinner - A Perfect Camping & Glamping Escape!…read more Yesterday, I packed up my two boys (ages 8 & 10) and their friend from school (also 8) for our very first camping/glamping adventure at Lake Skinner--and it was absolutely perfect. We booked a site with just the basics--electrical and water hookups--for only $50, which was all we needed for our tiny camper. The campground was clean, well-organized, and had plenty of open sites with different options and amenities, including a camp store for convenience. Some of our favorite spots were the splash pad and the playgrounds--perfect for keeping the kids entertained. Even if you just come for the day, these areas alone make it worth the trip. The kids had a blast, and it was wonderful seeing so many other families enjoying themselves too. Since we had their friend with us, we left around 8 PM to drop him back home--only about a 20-minute drive to Murrieta--then returned to the campsite, played a few games in the camper, and settled in for the night. With a 6 AM wake-up, we still made it home in time to freshen up, eat breakfast, and get the kids ready for school. (We even packed their backpacks just in case we needed to go straight from camp!) My boys haven't stopped talking about the trip--how much fun they had, how exciting it was to sleep overnight, and how much they want to go back. As a retired Navy Chief (41 years old) now balancing a busy real estate career, this is exactly how I want to spend my free time--unplugging, connecting with nature, and making lasting memories with my kids. Affordable, family-friendly, and packed with fun--Lake Skinner has definitely earned a spot on our repeat list. We can't wait to do it again!

This is a hidden gem of the valley. What an amazing place to take the family for a day outdoors,…read morehiking and picnicking. It's well kept up and clean. I appreciate this lovely place to experience nature.

Excellent place to hike. Beautiful views. Just watch out for mountain lions. It would probably be…read morein your best interest to carry some bear mace bare minimum.

When we first moved to Hemet I was so excited that there was a lake down the way. The largest man…read moremade lake in Cali. We found the blue prints of the original plans at the Hemet Library in the historical section. They lied so many different ways from Sunday to get these plans approved, but... they were. The Cafe that was supposed to be there isn't along with a few more amenities. This was a quarry that turned into a lake that was supposed to attract so many new fishing tourists and utterly failed. To start with it is only open Wednesdays through Sundays. The marina and lake access are typically open from 5:45 am to 4:15 pm, though hours can vary, with last entry at 3:15 pm. The lake is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. The boat rentals are outrageous and coming back so early is horrible. The only thing I've ever caught here are dead birds stuck floating due to fishing line never being removed from the trees above water. I have seen fish here. None of them look healthy except the trout they have shipped in trout stocking season that typically runs from November to April. You have to pay to park, you have to pay to fish, you have to pay to walk, you have to pay, pay, pay. This is outrageous. Now you have hired people sitting in lawn chairs with umbrellas making sure you aren't walking the trail for free? #epicfail. I tried to walk down to the boat launch today to see where the water level was because I'd considered trying to come back again... I was stopped. I was told that because I didn't pay that I am not longer able to walk down to the docks for liability reasons. Are you serious? So if I paid $4 to walk the trail, or the $9 to fish then I would no longer be in danger? I am over you. It's only 45 minutes to two separate lakes that are much better. Have a good day. Greed never wins. Ps, the water level is low lol

It must have been a bad day the fishing was not great. But it very well could have been a bad day…read moreon the lake however just being out on the water (lake) was nice! Very nice open space and area just possibly a bad day for fishing.

Went on 4/19 beautiful nice and peaceful. The catfish were definitely biting. Caught like 3…read moreCatfish. The lady in the office was so sweet. I'll be back this week!

This was my first and last time staying here. It is a small park. The park is next to a cow…read morepasture and the flies that swarm and cover EVERYTHING. My truck and rv were completely covered with flies and gnats. It's impossible to keep them out of your rv because they are literally everywhere. The lake is murky and didn't look like anything I would want to eat a fish out of.

What an absolutely amazingly beautiful view you get from this view point! It's a very short hike up…read morethe hill from the parking lot. The hike is fairly much so straight up the hill. Some with medical issues may not want to do it. However there are a couple spots to stop and rest if you needed to. Once on top of view point you can enjoy the view of the lake on one side, the dam,and the valley. Definitely a must go to.

The information on the internet is wrong! It says people are welcome to fish and bring their own…read moreequipment. Yesterday I was dropped off to spend the day fishing and this rude security guard ran me off and I was using a walker due to surgery and he still made me leave and wouldn't let me wait for my ride to come back to get me I had to walk to the nearest public location so I wouldn't be harassed! I live in Menifee too bought a fishing license and I wasn't welcome!

N/A Rating Lake is…read moretechnically part of an HOA, a rude security guard will escort you off the lake premises if they see you come from your car and go into the lake area. Nobody really cares including residents except for the security guard at the front. Just a fair warning for anyone wanting to walk the lake and see the ducks.

What a great place to get away and recharge. My girlfriends and I camped here with our teardrop…read moretrailers. They had been here before, but this was my first time to camp here. As mentioned in the other reviews Jim and Dawn are so kind. They made it a point to introduce themselves and chatted whenever we passed on the grounds. The property is large, I believe 30 acres. Although I'm unsure how many campsite there are, and more could be added in the future. Jim say's its an ongoing project and he has a lot of fun plans for the property. We had site #2 a group spot. It worked well for us 3 ladies and their teardrop trailers, we didn't need to unhitch. Nearby is a building with a compost toilet and shower. I believe the building is used for storing tools too. It's convenient if you don't want to make a little longer trek to the flushing toilet at the box car site. Our site has a sail for shade on one side. On the other side is the fire pit and picnic table. The picnic table is not anchored down so you can move it around if needed. Our first night at camp called for rain so we had our ez-up's for extra shelter. Our site has a great view of a mountainside. The site also has boulders, great for climbing but also great for snakes to hide during the summer. Jim and Dawn were working on their home that is visible from our site. It's also across from the building I mentioned. So the next time we camp here that should be done. The road in front of our campsite loops around to the other side (entrance). It's a nice, short walk to take, especially in the morning during sunrise and if there weren't any rain clouds I'm sure the sunset would be gorgeous on this walk too. We took another trail that led to two other campsites and another adobe house in the making. Jim mentioned that is on the back burner for right now. On this trail I was told by my girlfriends that the outhouse was a new addition since their visit in 2019. It has a compost toilet and outdoor shower, very fun. I wouldn't mind trying out the shower on a warmer weather visit. Once in awhile you will find the goats tethered to different areas of the land to maintain the grounds. They are tethered because they have found the bark on the trees to be delicious which is not in the trees favor. You will also find chickens roaming the entrance area. At the entrance this is where you will find the box car that was converted to a communal bathroom and kitchen area. This is also where you will find the feral kittens to be homed when not roaming the property. The kittens are adorable and visited our site often. At the communal box car you will find a flushing toilet , shower and sink in the restroom. It is very spacious. On the opposite side is the area with a kitchen sink. Outside the box car there is a large table with chairs. Not too far from that is an area that is shaded with sails and the post are supported by cable spools which could be used as tables. They have a fenced in garden which I have heard the visitors wanting to help out in the garden. Along the fenced in garden are recycling bins for paper, glass, aluminum, plastics. I saw by the tool storage/bathroom they had a bin for food compost. Jim and Dawn are on a mission to use recycles that are readily available and anything that is good for Mother Earth. I look forward to our next visit and see what they have added to Down to Earth Echoshire.

Great camaraderie and hospitality from Jim and Dawn. Beautiful land. I don't recommend camping in…read moreJuly! Eeek that was my bad on navigating the weather....