Marina
Spend a day out on Lake Hemet where you can experience the tranquil beauty of nature from the water! Our Marina offers several types of pontoon and motor boats to enjoy the water solo or with the whole family!
Our single and double kayaks are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and pedal boats are offered seasonally. We now offer advance reservations for all our boats! Click Book Now to reserve your Lake Hemet adventure!
We also allow our visitors to launch their own kayak, boat or float tube, but with several precautionary measures involved.
Please view our Need to Know section below for Marina rules and guidelines.
Boat Rental Rates are listed upon selecting "Book Now". Rates vary by season, day, boat type, and usage.
See Fee Schedule below for kayak rental prices. Kayaks are not availalble for advance reservation and are offered on a first come first served basis with in-person booking.
Facility Details
RENTAL CAPACITIES
- Motorboats — 4 passengers including dogs
- Standard Pontoon Boats — 6 passengers including dogs
- Premium Pontoon Boats — 8-10 passengers including dogs (depends on boat type)
- Single Kayak — 1 person with a dog
- Double Kayak — 2 people with a dog
If you rent a boat, please arrive to the marina office at least 30 minutes prior to your departure time so you can complete your contract and provide your refundable deposit. Guests arriving late will not have additional time added to their reservation.
Please review the rates below for our boat rentals and click Book Now to make your reservation!
Need To Know
- There is a $150 refundable deposit for all boat rentals and a $50 deposit for all kayak and pedal boat rentals.
- The boat operator must have a valid Driver’s License and be 21 years of age or older.
- Alcohol consumption is prohibited on all boat rentals at Lake Hemet. Driver may not consume alcohol or be under the influence of alcohol during the boat rental period.
- If you are not overnight camping with us, the $25 day use fee has been waved for guests with advanced boat reservations. Day use opens at 7am and day use guests may only book reservations beginning after the day use period begins.
- All boat occupants under the age of 13 must wear an appropriately sized personal flotation device (PFD) at all times while in the boat. All other occupants must have access to a PFD in the boat. PFDs are provided for all guests.
- At this time Lake Hemet does not permit the following: inflatable rafts/boats/kayaks, paddleboards, jet skis, sea-dos, jet skiing, wakeboarding, and boats with black and/or gray tanks.
- Both “Sit-inside” and “Sit-on-top” kayaks are permitted on Lake Hemet.
- All personal vessels must pass quagga inspection with our staff prior to launching and pay the $20 per day personal launch fee.
- Swimming is not permitted from boats or kayaks at any time.
- Canoes are permitted but outriggers are recommended due to winds here.
- All kayaks and boats must be a minimum of 8ft in length and no more than 24ft.
View Fee Schedule
| Fee Name | Amount | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Single Kayak | $47 | 1hr |
| $65 | 2hr | |
| $95 | All Day | |
| Double Kayak | $57 | 1hr |
| $75 | 2hr | |
| $115 | All Day |
Water Activities
SWIM ZONE CLOSED FOR 2025 SUMMER SEASON but the WATER ZONE IS COMING BACK!!!!
We thoroughly enjoy being able to offer a seasonal swim zone to our summer camping guests, but guest safety is always our top priority here. There are a variety of reasons why the swim zone could be closed for hours, days or the entire summer season. Those include: limited water clarity, low water and air temperatures, algae levels, thunderstorms and lightning, and high winds, among others. In 2025 our algae levels are not safe for public swimming so there will no swimming permitted for guests. Access to swimming is never guaranteed with a camping reservation, but we understand very much the letdown that occurs when it becomes unavailable. Our team always works hard to create fun alternatives in that event.
In 2024 our swim zone was also closed for the season due to algae levels, so our team created a very fun Water Zone inside the campground where guests of all ages could come and enjoy inflatable water slides, splash pads, water tables, and squirt guns to cool off together. This water zone was free of charge to all guests.
We will again be opening our Water Zone for the 2025 summer season with an anticipated opening of mid-June
Guests are always welcome to bring their own inflatable pools and water toys to enjoy as well. We have water spigots located throughout each campground, offering potable water that is safe and clean for both consumption and play.
Facility Details
We are not able to offer swimming for the 2025 summer season. Water quality and guest safety is always our top priority and our current algae levels are unsafe for people and pets.
Need To Know
Access to swimming is never guaranteed with a camping reservation.
Lake Hemet is a no body contact reservoir so there are only special circumstances and a specific location where we can permit swimming here if all conditions have been met. There will be no swimming for the 2025 summer season.
Fishing
Lake Hemet is a fantastic location for fishing! The lake boasts healthy populations of Bass, Crappie, Blue Gill and Catfish and we privately stock both Rainbow and Lightning Trout from November to April each year. Our Marina Store and our front Market both carry a wide variety of bait and tackle, and our knowledgeable staff can direct you to the best spots to fish from.
2025 TROUT STOCKS
January 7th - 4,000lbs Mt Lassen
February 25th - 4,000lbs Mt Lassen
March 25th - 4,000lbs Mt Lassen
March 25th - 1,200lbs CDFW
April 22nd - 4,000lbs Mt Lassen
We will begin stocking again in November 2025.
Facility Details
We begin privately stocking trout again in November!
Our private trout stocks will not be announced until after they occur, in order to give the trout time to acclimate and disperse.
We have five large stocks of 4,000lbs each scheduled from November to April. This is an investment of over $100k made by the Lake Hemet Campground, in order to keep Lake Hemet a premier fishing destination.
All of our private stocks are from Mt. Lassen. All trout are catchable size and a large portion of them are trophy size.
November – April: Excellent trout fishing; some bass
March – May: Good bass, catfish, trout at their best
June – August: Bass and catfish are at their best; trout are good
September – October: Bass is good until about mid-October, trout fishing improves with cooler temperatures but still deep
Need a fishing license? Lake Hemet offers fishing licenses at our retail store.
FISHING ACCESS FEE - New in 2025!!
Beginning January 1st, 2025 we are charging a fishing access fee for any anglers who choose to fish from inside the Lake Hemet Campgorund or on the water here. $10 for adults. Kids Under Age 16 fish FREE.
Overnight campers and annual passholders all fish for FREE.
A valid CA fishing license is required to fish anywhere at Lake Hemet.
NIGHT FISHING
Lake Hemet allows night fishing along the shoreline until 10:00pm, only for overnight camping guests. All boats must be off the water by the time the marina closes each day.
Need To Know
Fishing Regulations & Permits:
-
5 Trout (combined total of lightning & rainbow)
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5 Bass (12″ minimum)
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10 Catfish
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25 Bluegill
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We sell fishing licenses onsite at our front market. 2024 Fees: Daily $19.18, 2 Day $29.42, Annual $58.58
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Licenses required for ages 16 and above. No license required for ages 15 and under.
- Fishing Access fee of $10 per person for anglers age 16+. No access fee required for ages 15 and under.
Campers and Annual Passholders fish for FREE.
Please Note: Fishing is not allowed near the dam, and boats are not allowed within 100 feet of the dam or spillway. There is no access to the dam by foot or car.
REGULATIONS
Guests must only fish with as many rods as is indicated on their CA fishing license.
Bow fishing is NOT PERMITTED at Lake Hemet except during our sponsored carp derbies.
Grab & Go Cafe
COME & ENJOY DELICIOUS EATS WITH AMAZING VIEWS
The outdoor seating area attached to our market is a fun place, with cafe vibes, where guests can find delicious house-made eats! Enjoy eating on the deck with grassy meadows and beautiful mountain views while nibbling on one of our handmade artisan sandwiches paired with our famous potato mac salad. Our staff creates a variety of fresh grab-and-go foods daily for your convenience. Grab one of our hearty breakfast burritos and a cup of coffee in the morning or a fresh grilled panini for lunch. We offer a wide array of healthy snacks to enjoy during your visit but few can resist our hand scooped ice cream bar and scratch-made waffle cones!
And don't forget about our famous beef jerkey which comes in three unique flavors.
Whether you are camping onsite or just stopping by, we look forward to serving you and sharing our mountain hospitality!
Order ahead of time and pick up lunch: (951) 659-2680 ext. 4006
Market
Did you forget to pick up that last-minute item?
Lake Hemet offers hundreds of camping, fishing, and food items for your convenience. Ice, firewood, s’mores, ice cream, beer, sunscreen, live bait and tackle, and so much more!
Your trip isn’t complete without a souvenir, so make sure you stop by to peruse our custom t-shirts, hats, stickers, stuffed animals, and fun camping accessories.
We are proud to offer fresh sandwiches, veggies and fruit, as well as campfire s'mores kits.
Take home a piece of Lake Hemet with one of our comfortable t-shirts or hats. We have lots of fun and wearable souvenirs to choose from.
Wildlife & Exploring
Lake Hemet is home to abundant wildlife and birdviewing, and the ability to explore the property by bike or foot.
There are also resident Bald Eagles who nest at Lake Hemet that you will often see catching fish from the lake in the early morning and evening hours.
Grab a pair of binoculars, ride a bike, or set out on a day hike from your basecamp to take in all the sights and wonders at Lake Hemet!
