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Lake Murray

Part of East County, our guide to El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, Lakeside and Alpine.

Lake Murray (Murray Reservoir) is a City of San Diego reservoir with a La Mesa address, 5540 Kiowa Drive. It is open daily from sunrise to sunset and closed the second Tuesday of each month. Fishing is $10 for adults 16 to 65 and free for children 7 and under, cash or check only.Checked October 23, 2026.

DailySunrise to Sunset
2nd TueClosed Each Month
$5Ages 8 to 15 Fishing
FreeChildren 7 and Under
Run ByThe City of San Diego Public Utilities Department, Reservoirs and Recreation Program. It is a city lake, not a City of La Mesa park.
Address5540 Kiowa Drive, La Mesa, CA 91942. Phone 619-668-2050.
Hours“Open daily – sunrise to sunset.” Closed the second Tuesday of each month. Open Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Fishing FeesAdults 16 to 65 $10; youth 8 to 15 $5; seniors 65 and over $7; children 7 and under free. Cash or check only, per the page. Anglers 16 and older need a California fishing license.
Boating FeesPrivate boats $10 per boat or craft; kayaks and canoes $7 per craft.
AllowedBoats, canoes, kayaks, float tubes, fishing, leashed dogs and picnic tables.
Not AllowedStand-up paddleboards, swimming, wading, camping, ground fires, alcohol, glass and smoking.
Water Level NoticeThe page, on the date read, said the water level is restricted to 90 feet by the State Division of Safety of Dams; “Between 80 and 86 feet, the private boat launch ramp is unavailable” and shoreline access was unavailable because of muddy, unsafe conditions. The notice showed no date and reads like a summer notice.

Before You Go

Check the City page for the current water level before you go. The notice we read on October 23, 2026 carried no date, so we cannot say whether the boat ramp and shoreline are open today.

Lake Murray Open the map. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Whether the boat launch and shoreline are open now, and the date of the water-level notice: not confirmed.
  • Free days: none stated beyond children 7 and under.
  • Lake Murray Community Park, a separate City of San Diego park, is not listed because no official park page was read.
  • Map point is approximate (OpenStreetMap), not a surveyed entrance.

More in East County

FAQ

Who runs Lake Murray?

The City of San Diego Public Utilities Department. The mailing address is in La Mesa, but the lake is a San Diego city reservoir.

Can you swim at Lake Murray?

No. The City page lists swimming and wading as not allowed.

Sources

  1. City of San Diego: Murray Reservoir

Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.