#1 Lake Isabella Kern County, California.
Lake Isabella is one of the largest reservoirs in Southern California with 11,400 surface acres. It offers one of the best fresh-water recreation experiences near Los Angeles. Enjoy hiking, windsurfing, skiing, boating, sailing, water skiing, jet-skiing, water sports, camping, and picnicking.
Lake Isabella, the heart of the Kern River Valley, is also one of California’s most popular year-round windsurfing and kite-boarding areas. Summer winds, from 35-50 miles an hour, create ideal conditions for intermediate to advanced windsurfers.
List of movies filmed at Lake Isabella.
Diamond Valley Lake, crowned the "Jewel" of California lakes, is one of Southern California’s largest and newest human-made reservoirs and attracts boaters from all over the world. Diamond Valley Lake is a man-made 4,860-acre reservoir located near Hemet, California within the Domenigoni/Diamond valleys, between the Domenigoni Mountains and Rawson Mountains.
Enjoy boating, sailing, camping, picnicking, golfing, hiking trails, swimming pools, horseback riding or simply taking in the incredible views of the seasonal wildflower blooms.
#3 Cachuma Lake Santa Barbara County, California.
Surrounded by the Santa Ynez and San Rafael Mountains, Lake Cachuma feels like a mountain retreat. Cachuma Lake is located in the Santa Ynez Valley and is approximately 12 miles east of Solvang, CA, and 22 miles northwest of Santa Barbara, CA. Cachuma Lake offers more than 400 basic and lake-view sites throughout the park with a fire pit ring and picnic table that can accommodate tents and/or self-contained RV's.
Activities include hiking, camping, kayaking, lake cruises, and playgrounds. You can stay in one of the yurts located inside the recreational area. There is a full boat and kayak rental facility.
List of movies filmed at Lake Cachuma.
Lake Casitas, a beautiful 2,700-acre lake with rows of rugged mountains rising up around it, is a popular recreation area in the Los Padres National Forest. Lake Casitas has numerous winding coves and an island. Nestled below the Laguna Ridge of the Santa Ynez Mountains, the views are inspiring. The recreation area includes a snack bar, boat rentals, bike rentals, and a grocery store.
Activities include camping, picnicking, fishing, boating, biking, hiking, water park, lazy river. Swimming in the lake is not allowed.
#5 Big Bear Lake San Bernardino, California.
Surrounded by majestic pine trees, Big Bear Lake is a manmade reservoir between Los Angeles, Barstow, and Twentynine Palms. One of the best boating lakes in Southern California, Big Bear Lake is a snow-fed recreation spot at an elevation of over 6,700 feet.
Activities include boating, skiing, kayaking, canoeing, horseback riding, fishing, parasailing, wake-boarding, paddle boats, sailing, jet-skiing, zip-lining, helicopter tours, off-roading. During the winter, you can ski and snow tube.
List of movies filmed at Big Bear Lake.
#6 Castaic Lake Los Angeles, California.
Castaic Lake is a beautiful state water reservoir located just north of Santa Clarita off Interstate 5 Freeway. Castaic Lake State Recreation Area is one of the largest and most spectacular state water reservoirs in California. The park is over 11,000 acres large, and one of the largest state water project reservoirs in California. Amenities include picnic tables, children's play areas, barbecues, BMX track, boat launches, boat rentals, camping sites, equestrian trails, group picnic shelters, hiking trails, horseshoe pits, mountain biking trails, picnic shelters, swim beaches, movie screenings, swimming, and water skiing.
Activities include activities offered like boating, camping, fishing, hiking, swimming, jet skiing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, fishing, and horseback riding. Events at Castaic Lake include Movies at the Lake, Night Float Tube Fishing, Moonlight Fishing, Moonlight Kayak, and much more.
List of movies filmed at Castaic Lake.
#7 Pyramid Lake Los Angeles, California.
Pyramid Lake's 21 miles of shoreline and 1,360 acres of surface area spread out into long, arm-like waterways and steep canyons. Pyramid Lake offers a variety of water sports including boating, water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, sailing, and swimming. Canoes, rubber rafts, and rowboats are often seen in the canyons where powerboats are restricted to low speeds. At Vaquero Beach, you can swim, or go paddleboarding.
Activities include kayaking, jet skiing, fishing, biking, swimming, hiking, wakeboarding, boating, waterskiing, canoeing, rafting, mountain biking, picnicking, and camping.
