San Gabriel Lakes

Lakes Around San Gabriel

The weather is warm so it’s time to plan your next summer adventure. If you’re looking for a fun destination, consider visiting a lake near San Gabriel. A lake vacation can be perfect for those who love the outdoors too, as they are a great way to see birds, fish, turtles and other animals in their natural habitat.

There are countless brilliant reasons for making a trip to a lake in San Gabriel during the warmer months – the cool water for swimming, relaxing summer activities such as boating, fishing or swimming. Some of the lakes in San Gabriel have beaches that are perfect for a relaxing day. Don’t you deserve an enjoyable getaway? Load up the car with sunscreen and a picnic basket then hit the road on your next vacation to find a brand new number one spot on a lake!

Nearby Lakes for San Gabriel

A Day at the Lake: An Itinerary

On a day trip to a lake near San Gabriel there are many things to do for families and couples. Whether you’re just looking for a day trip or take a longer vacation to a hotel or a bed and breakfast on the water to make for a bigger, better getaway.

Here are some of our top picks for activities when you make your way to a San Gabriel lake:

Water sports. Should you be able to get access to a fast boat, you might want to have some fun and make a day of flying around the water demonstrating your athleticism and water sports expertise? Take the family out for some wakeboarding or knee boarding as the local lakes offer you several options.

Start paddling. If you like to paddle around, pack up your board of choice and find yourself a lake that has a public boat launch you can use and get out and enjoy the scenery on the waterfront.

Pack a picnic basket. The lakes near San Gabriel provide a wealth of great picnic areas where you can enjoy culinary delights, or just a couple of sandwiches to enjoy while enjoying the scenery. For a romantic evening, a picnic on the beach should be suitably romantic.

Lake Getaway Prep

A day at the lake can honestly be all over the map when you take into consideration which lake you’re going to, when you decide to go, and what you want to do while you’re there. However, we’ve assembled a rundown of popular go-to necessities for you to use as a checklist to make sure you cover your bases.

General items

When the plan is to be outdoors for the majority of the weekend, the following list of items is a good starting point for essentials you are likely to need.

  • Trash bags (one for trash, one for wet items)
  • Sneakers
  • Cords and a charger for portable devices
  • Dry shirt
  • Portable stereo
  • A cooler with water
  • Beach blanket
  • Towels
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellant

Specialty lake gear

The list of items below could be helpful for trips to the lake based on your plans. You may want to double check for some of these prior to hitting the road.

  • Masks and snorkels
  • Worms or other bait
  • Your tackle box
  • Fishing and boating licenses
  • Life jackets
  • Diapers and baby gear
  • Fishing poles, nets, etc.
  • Something to clean up with like sanitizers or wet wipes
  • Books
  • Rafts and floaties

Lake Safety Checklist

While a day at the lake should be lots of fun, you always have to keep safety in mind. When you decide to spend a day at the lake here are some important safety tips.

  • Avoid swimming near rocks or shallow water areas that may not be deep enough to dive underneath and escape from waves
  • Don’t swim alone
  • Always wear sunblock
  • Avoid plants that can sting or cause allergic reactions
  • Have an escape plan for what to do if you get stuck on a boat that capsizes or tips over
  • Always wear a life jacket when boating, kayaking or paddle boarding
  • Don’t mix alcohol with swimming

More San Gabriel Lake Tips

Not everyone has had the opportunity to make their way to the amazing lakes around San Gabriel and might have some questions regarding planning. Of course, every lake is going to possess unique qualities and trappings, but it’s worth noting a handful of items to review while planning that might help you end up with a winning itinerary.

  1. Find a marina. It’s common that lakes will have local marinas that offer boat rentals. Just because you don’t own a boat to enjoy fishing with family and friends or a wild day of wakeboarding. Using a search engine can usually help you find several places that can hook you up with the right vessel.
  2. Research your beaches. Depending on the time of year, occasionally the beaches near San Gabriel may be packed with beachgoers. To find more space to yourself, do some digging on a variety of lakes in the area to learn about how busy they are to find one with a slower pace. To get in on the party, search out the busiest, most happening sandy party scene!
  3. Maximize the best local resources. When you have time for a longer trip, look for local state parks and recreation areas which give you the ability to camp near or even on the water at an affordable price.