LAKE CUYAMACA
Recreation and Park District
Frequently Asked Questions
Click on a question to see the answer
GENERAL
Can you swim in Lake Cuyamaca?
Are paddle boards allowed on the lake?
Can I bring my dog to Lake Cuyamaca?
Can we visit the lake for free?
What are the Tackle Shop hours?
Are there hiking trails at the lake?
Can I eat the apples I see on trees at Lake Cuyamaca?
CAMPING
Do the RV sites have full hook-ups?
Can we have campfires or bonfires?
Do the tent sites have electricity?
Can you put a tent on an RV site?
Can I sleep in my car or truck on a tent site?
FISHING
Do I need a CA State Fishing License to fish on the lake?
BOATING
Can I use my inflatable kayak or boat on the lake?
Can I bring my baby on a rental boat?
Can my dog come on our rental boat?
GENERAL
Can you swim in Lake Cuyamaca?
No wading, swimming, or body contact by people or domestic animals is allowed.
Are paddle boards allowed on the lake?
Since there can be no body contact with the lake, paddle boards are not allowed on Lake Cuyamaca.
Can I bring my dog to Lake Cuyamaca?
Absolutely! We love dogs here at Lake Cuyamaca. Dogs need to be kept on a least and out of the lake, and please clean up after your dog.
Can we visit the lake for free?
Lake Cuyamaca is a non-profit organization, and an access fee is required. The daily access fee is $10 per car.
What are the Tackle Shop hours of operation?
The Tackle Shop is currently open (winter hours) from 6 AM until 5 PM on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and from 8 AM until 4 PM on Monday through Thursday.
Are there hiking trails at the lake?
Our lake hiking trail is a bit over 3 miles long. It circles the lake.
When will it snow?
At 4,600 feet of elevation, we do occasionally get snow at Lake Cuyamaca, but predicting when it will snow is not possible. Some years it snows quite a bit, other years we only get a dusting once or twice. Your best bet is to keep an eye on the weather reports.
Can I eat the apples I see on trees at Lake Cuyamaca?
We use pesticides on the apple trees at Lake Cuyamaca. For your safety, please do not eat the apples.
CAMPING
Do the RV sites have full hook-ups?
All of our RV sites have water and electric hook-ups. No sewer hook-ups or dump station. The closest dump station is 2 1/2 miles down the road at Paso Picacho at the Cuyamaca State Park.
Can we have campfires or bonfires?
No wood fires are allowed at Lake Cuyamaca, but there are charcoal grills in the picnic areas and at every camp site. Propane stoves and propane fire rings are permitted.
Do the tent sites have electricity?
Our tent sites do not have electricity.
Can you put a tent on an RV site?
Our campsites operate under the "rule of two". You can have a truck and an RV on an RV site, a motorhome and a car, a motorhome and a tent, or two tents. You cannot have two RVs on one RV site. Please keep in mind that our RV sites were not designed for tents, and you would need padding under a tent on an RV site for comfort.
Can I sleep in my car or truck on a tent site?
Our tent sites are not the kind that you park on. In Chamber's Park and West Shore campground, you park in the parking lot and walk to your site. Sleeping in vehicles is not allowed in parking lots. In our Lone Pine Campground you park right next to your site, so you can sleep in your vehicle if you have a Lone Pine tent site. Otherwise, you would need an RV site.
FISHING
Is live bait allowed?
Live bait is allowed on Lake Cuyamaca.
Can I fish at night?
If you have a valid CA State Fishing License and a Lake Cuyamaca Fishing Permit, you are allowed to fish until an hour after sunset. No night fishing is permitted.
Can I catch and release?
You can catch and release anything but trout at Lake Cuyamaca. You must keep any trout you catch.
Do I need a CA State Fishing License to fish on the lake?
Yes, to fish on the lake you need a valid CA State Fishing License as well as a Lake Cuyamaca Fishing Permit.
BOATING
Can I use my inflatable kayak or boat on the lake?
No inflatables are allowed on Lake Cuyamaca.
Can I bring my baby on a rental boat?
Children must be at least 2 years old to go in our rental boats.
Can my dog come on our rental boat?
Dogs are allowed on our rental boats. They just can't jump off the boat into the lake.