Top 6 Lakes in Ventura County

Lake Casitas is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, especially for fishing, boating, canoeing, and kayaking. It's renowned for excellent bass fishing and is stocked with trout in winter. While swimming is not permitted, the Lake Casitas Recreation Area also features extensive campgrounds, picnic areas, disc golf, and a summer water park called Casitas Water Adventure.

Yes, camping is a popular activity. Lake Casitas offers over 400 campsites, some with secluded lakeside coves and lake views. Lake Piru also provides various facilities, including over 200 campsites with options for RVs, campers, trailers, and tents, some with full hookups.

Absolutely. Lake Casitas is considered family-friendly, offering a water park (Casitas Water Adventure) and extensive picnic areas. Mirror Lake also has family-friendly facilities and opportunities for cycling.

Ventura County offers a variety of trails near its lakes. For instance, Malibu Creek State Park, home to Century Lake, boasts over 35 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. You can also find trails in the Los Padres Open Space, which features chaparral-covered hillsides and oak woodlands. For specific routes, consider exploring the MTB Trails in Ventura County guide or the Road Cycling Routes in Ventura County guide.

Lake Casitas gained international recognition as the venue for canoeing and rowing events during the 1984 Summer Olympics. Additionally, Century Lake, located within Malibu Creek State Park, is part of a landscape famous for being a filming location for numerous movies and TV shows, including *M*A*S*H* and *Planet of the Apes*.

Yes, Lake Piru is a popular spot for fishing. Anglers can expect to find species such as rainbow trout, bass, crappie, catfish, and bluegill. Fishing is permitted from shore, boats, kayaks, and float tubes.

Yes, Lake Sherwood Drive offers a particularly scenic section of roadway near Thousand Oaks, providing beautiful views of Lake Sherwood. This road can be connected into a larger cycling loop. Mirror Lake also offers opportunities for cycling.

The natural areas around Ventura County lakes are home to various wildlife. For example, Los Padres Open Space, near some of the lakes, is frequented by deer, rabbits, California quail, California thrashers, and many other birds and animals. The oak woodlands are an excellent place to observe migrating birds in the spring and fall.

Yes, you can find several scenic viewpoints. The View of Lake Eleanor Ridge offers great views along a 250-300 foot-high ridge between Lake Eleanor and the Las Virgenes Reservoir. Mirror Lake also provides good viewpoints.

Lake Piru is a great place for various water sports, including boating, water-skiing, and fishing. While swimming is permanently prohibited, visitors can enjoy the lake's waters from a boat or kayak. The lake features a full-service marina with 66 boat slips.

Yes, Century Lake is a picturesque feature within Malibu Creek State Park. The park offers over 8,200 acres of rugged terrain, including volcanic rock gorges and scenic pools, with trails that lead to the M*A*S*H* set and offer views of the lake. It's an excellent spot for hiking, picnicking, and bird watching.

Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard is the fifth largest small-craft harbor in California. It's a 126-acre waterfront resort offering activities like jet skiing, whale watching, and beautiful sunsets. Visitors can also enjoy beach-lined parks, picnic spots, and local dining.