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Locations: Pyramid Lake

Vista Del Lago visitor's center on a cloudy day Woman and child fishing in Lake Pyramid Dock leading into the water people recreating on the beach Motor boat gliding on Lake Pyramid People relaxing at covered picnic space

Pyramid Lake is located about 16 miles north of the town of Castaic, on Piru Creek within the Angeles and Los Padres National Forests. The lake provides regulatory storage for Castaic Powerplant (owned and operated by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power), an afterbay for William E. Warne Powerplant, emergency storage for water deliveries from the West Branch, incidental flood protection, and recreation.

Directions: Pyramid Lake is accessible via Interstate 5 at the Smokey Bear Road exit (Emigrant Landing).

Activities: camping, picnicking, boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, and visiting the Vista Del Lago Visitors Center

More Information: The recreation program is administered by a concessionaire, Recreation Resource Management, operating under an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service. Their phone number is (661) 295-7155.


Fishing is a popular sport at the Pyramid Lake, where you can catch fish such as large- and small-mouth striped bass, trout, catfish, blue gill, and crappie.

Emigrant Landing, reached via Smokey the Bear off-ramp from I-5, has a marina, a boat ramp, beach, and picnic areas.

Vista del Lago Visitors Center, DWR's largest, sits on a bluff overlooking Pyramid Lake.

Family and group campsites are available at Los Alamos Campground in lower Hungry Valley. Hard Luck Campground on Piru Creek also has family camping units when open. Group camping reservations can be made at (661) 295-7155.

Most of Pyramid Lake's beaches are accessible only by boat because of the steep shoreline. Beaches and picnic sites at Spanish Point, Bear Trap, Yellowbar (when open), and Serrano are reachable only by boat. Vaqueros Beach is accessible by vehicle during the summer.

Water levels can change every day because Pyramid Lake provides regulatory storage for Castaic Powerplant (owned and operated by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power).

Boating speed limits differ in parts of the lake. In the canyons where many canoes and rafts are seen, power boats are restricted to low speeds. Higher speeds for waterskiing are allowed on the lake's main body.