10108 Bass Road
Lakeside, CA 92040
Though it is only five miles east of El Cajon, Lake Jennings County Park offers its visitors a relaxing sense of being in the country. Hikers can wander along miles of trails across chaparral covered hills. From a campsite high on a ridge, campers will enjoy a sunrise over the lake far below. Those with a passion for angling might hook into a trophy-size catfish. Everyone will enjoy the spectacular views of the El Capitan open space preserve, the rugged face of El Cajon Mountain, and the San Diego River Valley. Truly, Lake Jennings is a convenient year round recreational retreat.
A Park is born
The centerpiece of the park is Lake Jennings itself. It is a fairly new addition to the county, having been created in 1964 by the construction of a dam across the mouth of Quail Canyon. That rock filled dam, 200 feet high and an impressive 975 feet thick at its base, holds 3 billion gallons of water for use by residents of nearby communities.
The campground was built two years later by the Helix Irrigation District, using state grant funds. Though the lake itself is under the jurisdiction of the water district, an agreement between the district and the county allows the parks department to lease the campground. Together, the two agencies provide the public with both drinking water and recreational opportunities.
Fish and Fowl
Many of Lake Jennings's visitors come to the park for one reason: its fish. Indeed, the lake harbors a tantalizing variety: largemouth bass, blue and channel catfish, rainbow trout, and bluegill. Trout are stocked during winter months and catfish during summer, which makes fishing a four-season activity. Anglers can enjoy fishing from county park's 2500 feet of shoreline seven days a week, but they may venture out into the lake (operated by the Helix Irrigation District) by boat only on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. A California fishing license and daily permit are required. Read more about fishing at Lake Jennings and our other renowned fishing destination, Lake Morena, on this page. Please note that the fees charged by the County for fishing from park shoreline differ from those charged by the Helix Water District for fishing elsewhere in the lake.
Lake Jennings is home to more than finny creatures, of course. Desert cottontails are the commonest animals in the park, and they are joined in the brush by black-tailed jackrabbits, California ground squirrels, and western harvest mice. Coyotes are frequently heard at night, though they are seldom seen by day. Bobcat, possum, striped and spotted skunk, and mule deer are other animal visitors. Bird life is quite varied. The lake supports flocks of waterfowl during the winter, and the chaparral is home to one of the county's rarer residents, the cactus wren. Other birds you might see include wrentits, red-tailed hawks, and several species of sparrows in winter. This web page has an extensive list of the birds you might find at Lake Jennings, and where to look for them.
Facilities
Lake Jennings County Park is especially suited for recreational vehicle campers. A sizable number of the nearly 100 sites are pull-through full hookups, with many more being partial hookups. Groups can reserve an enclosed clubhouse. There are also a number of walk-back tents sites, along with a youth camping area. Hot showers and a holding tank disposal station will make your stay more convenient. A playground, horseshoe pits, and a nature trail add to the recreational options in the 100-acre park. And only minutes away, three other county parks offer more vistas into this part of San Diego County.
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