Castaic Lake
Castaic Lake is in the Sierra Pelona Mountains and Northern Los Angeles. This lake is a reservoir that was formed by the Castaic Dam on Castaic Creek. It is the largest state water project in Southern California and is best known for its 112,000 acres of parkland and fishing. This lake houses some of the most trophy award-winning fish such as the largemouth bass and rainbow trout. In other words, this lake is a fisherman’s dream destination!
Echo Park Lake
Echo Park Lake is a lake nestled amongst popular villages in downtown Los Angeles. In fact, this lake has been around since 1860 and was once used as a drinking reservoir. Now, it is a popular swimming spot and home to lots of different events, like the popular Lotus Festival. Not only is this beautiful lake a part of an extremely popular park, but it also serves a big purpose within the city. This reservoir is a large detention basin used for storm drainage.
Diamond Valley Lake
Diamond Valley Lake is about 2 hours away from Los Angeles, located in the southern part of the San Bernardino national forest. It is one of the newly manufactured lakes and offers beautiful, natural views. Although this lake is viewed by a lot of hikers trekking through the national forest, it is also a great fishing spot. This is because it is one of the largest reservoirs in Southern California, offering a wide variety of fish including bass and trout!
Lake Hollywood
Lake Hollywood is a reservoir located in Hollywood hills. Not only does this lake provide some magnificent views for hikers, but you can spot the famous Hollywood sign from here! It was created from the Mulholland Dam built in 1924. It has been maintained by the Los Angeles Department of water and power ever since. This lake may be a beautiful sight, but it serves a key role as part of the city’s supply and storage system also. Although this lake may seem insignificant compared to others, it still contains roughly 2.5 billion gallons of water!
Machado Lake
Machado Lake is in Los Angeles County and is known for its wildlife. However, it is also home to a lot of other animals! Sadly, many people have used this spot to release their pets to when they no longer wanted them. This has also contributed to lowering the quality of the water. In fact, fishing is no longer allowed at this Lake due to the ongoing restoration. Water activities have been limited as well. This lake captures runoff from Los Angeles and is also home to over 300 species of migratory birds. Although this lake has fallen under tough times regarding pollution, it is still home to some fascinating creatures and wildlife!
Deep Creek
Deep Creek Hot springs is in the San Bernardino County of California, just 2 hours away from Los Angeles. This beautiful spot is a favorite for many hikers, offering stunning views and trails around the natural hot springs. It is noncommercial and serves as a great getaway destination for many people seeking both relaxation and health benefits. This is due to all the natural minerals that the hot springs provide. There are 6 to 7 geothermal pools located here. About 5 of them have temperatures that range from 100 to 105 degrees!
Pyramid Lake
Pyramid Lake is a reservoir located an hour outside of Los Angeles. It is nestled in between Los Padres national forest and Angeles national forest. It is the biggest body of water that is left from Lake Lahontan, a massive body of water that once covered a substantial portion of Nevada. This lake is a great spot for fishing, swimming, camping, boating, and more. Not only is it a great spot for vacation and activities, but it is one of the most beautiful desert lakes in the entire world! Expect to see stunning views of mountains and sunsets when visiting this incredible reservoir.
Big Bear Lake
Big Bear lake is a small city in southern California, located about 2 hours outside of Los Angeles. This spot is often called the jewel of the San Bernardino forests. Why? Because it offers tons of water activities and a family-friendly snow summit in the wintertime! As for the lake itself, it is Southern California’s largest recreation Lake! It is 7 miles long and about 1 mile wide. Big Bear Lake offers stunning views, lots of fish, and more. Although the city is known for its ski resort, in the summertime the lake itself is the main attraction. It offers the most abundant types of fish, including bass, trout, and catfish. Not only is it a fisherman’s dream, but it has some of the most picturesque views anyone could ask for!
In Conclusion
All these lakes and reservoirs near Los Angeles offer a lot of different activities, wildlife, and scenery. However, they still need to be taken care of by us. Some of these lakes are facing severe effects of pollution and require heavy restoration to bring them back to the beauty that they once were. Please be sure to never litter when vacationing and to try to limit activities that involve pollution such as boating. We can all do our part to restore these beautiful bodies of water, whether created by us or by Mother Earth.
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