santee lakes

Relaxing park owned and operated by Padre Dam Water District. However, the more I visit the lakes, the more I feel Santee Lakes is operated by Padre Dam for the sole purpose of generating income, and for what? or whom? But, if you have no problem with the $5 entrance fee (and that's just to get into the place) then experience it for yourself. I personally like to take my bicycle there ( you can get into the park by foot or bike through a side gate; east side, mid park, without paying a fee. I wonder how much longer that will last?) and ride around the lakes. Plenty of wildlife (especially ducks). One lake has cabins for rent. And the northernmost part of the park has a pretty nice RV park. Go and enjoy!

An excellent place to sit and relax with good views, soothing water and quiet in the city. Decent amenities for an outdoors venue.

We had rented a campsite here in Santee Lakes. Had alot of fun. You can rent paddle boats, which kids loved. Just remember it cools off at night. You can see alot of stars...just beautiful!

gorgeous place, extremely well kept and clean. Much larger sites than usual, you actually have space around you! Clean bathrooms, however my shower was nearly cold while my girlfriends was steamy hot. We were backed right up to the lake and had ducks and mud hens for entertainment, they practically swarm you when you feed them. WiFi was way above average as was the service from the people. We'll be going back!

$23 for entry and 3 fishing pass for 6 yr, 8yr, and 13 yr. 3 hours 3 poles with lines in water no bites, no fish, in a lake stocked yesterday. We tried bottom, lures, and bobbers. We pulled out lots of water weeds from bottom. Kids were bored after thirty minutes. I feel you might as well fish a lake where there is no charge. Where you are charged you should not get skunked!!!!

Great hook up sites. Nice bike paths. Small pools, but with the lakes there are boat rentals and lots to explore. Rangers are nice and staff is very helpful. Would benefit from a cafe on site.

We are been here several times and each time we are impressed. The entire grounds are spotlessly clean from the grounds, multiple playground areas, pools, jacuzzi, laundry room, restrooms, dumpsite, and office. Terrific wifi reception. Multiple covered pavillions for picnics, and great areas for fishing. There is no night fishing. There are several lakes. Perfect areas to walk on sidewalks, and lots of areas to bicycle. Big pet walk area, but it isn't fenced. Lots of water fowl to watch. Floating and stationary cabins to rent. Paddle boats and bikes to rent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Very small spray park summers only. There are spacious rv sites, and very few tent sites. Their website is very user friendly. They even show pictures of each individual campsite. We always get a lakeside site, and I won't share site number. Lol That is my secret. Finally, nice store with food and camp supplies. Staff is friendly and helpful. Nice peaceful setting close to San Diego attractions. I highly recommend Santee Lakes

I am so not a fisherman. In fact, I actively dislike fishing. I think it's boring, plus talking is discouraged. But my cousins were dead set on it so I went. It was lovely, I was bored and nobody caught anything!

Visiting Santee lakes is a great way to get away from it all! We loved riding bikes there and the cabins.

A good place for fishing, walking, running or for RV parking. The park is a series of lakes which clean local waste water. Well used by all the above.

A great place for the time honored tradition of taking your kids fishing. The small store on site has bait, etc. A friend and ground keeper testifies that a young boy pulled a 2 foot catfish from the lake using a hot dog for bait. He also mentioned that on a rare occasion of draining a lake they moved several exceedingly large catfish fish one lake to another. So be advised they are there.

We stayed 4 nights in a lakeside cabin. It was nice sitting on the porch watching the sunset over the lake. The cabin and park was clean, quiet and very camper friendly. The paddle boats are included in the cabin fee. There is a store on site. The cabins have heat/air, nice kitchen, a TV, wifi, an outdoor gas grill that was clean. they told us that the host would clean it for us when we left and clean out the fire pit. That was great, we didn't have to do either! Our only complaints with the cabin were: 1. They need another mirror. 3 of us, 2 women, trying to get ready with only one small mirror in the bathroom was difficult . 2. The mattresses were terrible, especially the ones on the bunk beds and the roll away bed. The one in the bedroom was fair but the others were really bad. Our adult daughter was pretty uncomfortable. It slept 5 for sure 6 if one is on couch. Otherwise, we loved the place and would definitely stay here again.

Santee Lakes is a nice oasis in town ,in the winter they stock rainbow trout.you can also rent a cabin on the lake they are limited so reservations are recommended.they have a country store for supplies and bait, you dont need a state fishing license just a lake permit to fish,they also have a nice RV park for great camping and fishing.Also a nice play area for the kids.they also have paddle boats on one of the lakes there are 7 total.

Love the lakes! Over the years they have done a lot of improvements and going there is great to get away for some peace and quiet. I enjoy just going there and walking to see the birds and other people walking, fishing or just relaxing.

So much to do here: fishing, walking/running, family get-togethers, camping, movie nights. Even have 10 cabins for rent on Lake 7. Seven cabins are along the shore and three that are floating on pontoons. If you haven't been there lately, you haven't been there at all.