Head on over to Pyramid Lake this summer for some outdoor fun that’s sure to be a blast for the whole family! Thousands of people visit this paradise of outdoor recreation every year, coming to the Angeles and Los Padres National Forests near Castaic, California, to soak up the sun and enjoy the great outdoors. So, if you want a slice of paradise on the West Coast where you can live out all your aquatic-related rest and relaxation fantasies, plan a trip to the Pyramid Lake CA camping grounds.

Why Pyramid Lake?

When you go to the Pyramid Lake CA camping grounds, you’ll be able to see your very own pyramid without leaving the country! Well, it might not be as impressive as the Egyptian originals, but the lake is still named after a real pyramid-shaped rock carved by the engineers who originally designed the Old Highway 99.

As for the lake itself, it spans 1,360 acres with depths of 700 feet and 21 miles of shoreline, providing ample space for all the aquatic activities you can think of: swimming, boating, fishing, and even unwinding on the beach.

Water Activities at Pyramid Lake CA Camping Grounds

Vaquero Beach

The best (and most popular) beach in the Pyramid Lake recreation area, this place is perfect for some fun in the sun. Whether you want to go kayaking, swimming, sunbathing, paddle boarding and more, this place has you covered. There’s also close parking, plenty of shade, public restrooms and picnic areas for when it’s time to eat. For more information on the beach and picnic areas, call 661-295-7155.

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Boating

You can go boating throughout the entire year at Pyramid Lake, so start those engines and get cruising! You can access the lake at Emigrant Landing, which is the largest single recreation area in Pyramid Lake and has a marina and large boat-launching ramp. One of the cool things about bringing your boat is that you can get to secluded first-come, first-serve beaches only accessible via the water, like Spanish Point, Bear Trap, Yellowbar, and Serrano.

Fishing

Fishing is available across the lake, making it easy for you to angle for the seasonaly-stocked rainbow trout. Aside from those multicolored beauties, you may also catch large-mouth bass, small-mouth bass, striped bass, catfish, bluegill and crappie to name a few. For more information on fish species, check out their Fish Planting Schedule.

Emigrant Landing even has wheelchair-accessible locations, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to enjoy this wonderful lake.

Land Activities at Pyramid Lake CA Camping Grounds

Hiking

Don’t want to get wet? Don’t worry! The recreation area also has many picnicking and hiking opportunities to occupy your time on land.

Try out the Pyramid Lake Shoreline Trail, a moderate excursion that crosses 1.2 miles of shoreline on the lake, giving you a great view of the lake. This trail is perfect for those who want to experience the beauty of the lake without having to jump in, and it also makes for a great romantic stroll in the evening for any lovebirds out there.

If you’d rather walk through the most popular area of Pyramid Lake, then you should check out the Vaquero Beach to Spanish Point trail. This trail takes you across a different area of the shoreline, with a length of 0.9 miles, making it a little more palatable for those who aren’t necessarily hiking inclined. One convenient aspect of this trail is that it starts close to the Vista del Lago Visitor Center, giving you a useful base of operations to plan out your day’s activities.

Pyramid Lake CA Camping Grounds

While this might seem like to many activities to enjoy in a single visit, the Pyramid Lake recreation area makes it easier to access all the excitement by offering campgrounds so you can plan an extended stay to this summertime delight — after all, who would want to leave such a wondrous place after just one day?

Reserve a campsite at the Los Alamos Campground in the Lower Hungry Valley for the best Pyramid Lake experience possible. The closest campsite to Pyramid Lake, this campground will give you the best opportunity to enjoy everything the lake has to offer; plus, with 90 tent and RV-accessible sites and three large-group sites, there’s plenty of space for everyone. One benefits for campers is that they will have priority to enter Pyramid Lake during busy seasons, thanks to their valid camp tag.

You can also learn how to plan a trip to Acadia National Park on iSportsmanUSA.