Pyramid Lake Recreation

Pyramid Lake

Recreation at Pyramid Lake

Update September 17, 2024: Effective until March 31, 2025 per U.S. Forest Service order, Pyramid Lake Recreation Area has several fire restrictions, including no fires of any kind, no portable lanterns or stoves, and no smoking. For more information, visit U.S. Forest Service website.

The following areas at Pyramid Lake remain closed to all uses due to Post Fire damage and hazardous conditions: Yellowbar boat-in picnic area, Piru Creek area, and Tin Cup area.

Pyramid Lake, located in the Angeles and Los Padres National Forests, is a reservoir formed by Pyramid Dam on Piru Creek, near Castaic, California. It is a hot spot for outdoor recreation and attracts thousands of visitors each year who soak up the sun and take in the lake's scenic beauty.

The 386-foot-tall earth and rock dam was completed in 1973 and named after a pyramid-shaped rock carved out by engineers building the Old Highway 99. Pyramid Lake spans 1,360 acres with depths of 700 feet and 21 miles of shoreline.

The lake provides storage for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Castaic Powerplant. Additionally, it offers a number of outdoor recreation opportunities.

The Vista del Lago Visitor Center offers free admission and is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The building offers a viewing deck with a panoramic view of Pyramid Lake and the surrounding mountains. Located off Interstate 5, north of Santa Clarita, take the Vista del Lago exit.

For more information about the Vista del Lago Visitor Center, call 661-944-8740.

For more information about the Pyramid Dam Modernization Program, visit our web page.

DWR regularly monitors SWP reservoirs for harmful algal blooms. For current conditions, visit DWR's algal bloom webpage.

Contact

For more information, contact the Vista Del Lago Visitor Center at Lake Pyramid at 661-944-8740.

For additional information on visiting Pyramid Lake, contact Rocky Mountain Recreation.

For information on launches and rentals, call the Main Entrance Kiosk at 661-777-2242.

 

Park Hours

The Pyramid Lake Vista del Lago Visitors Center is open seven days a week 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except major holidays. 

Resources