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San Vicente Reservoir

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

San Vicente Reservoir, at 12387 Moreno Avenue in Lakeside, is the largest reservoir in the City of San Diego system and is used for fishing and boating. The city says it is closed the second Friday of each month, and Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Fees are cash or check only: adults 16 to 65 pay $10.Checked October 23, 2026.

2nd FriClosed Each Month
Tue, WedClosed
$10Adults 16 to 65
FreeChildren 7 and Under
The concrete San Vicente Dam and its intake tower beside a rocky hillside, seen from the water
San Vicente Dam seen from the water. Blervis, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Run ByThe City of San Diego Public Utilities Department.
Address12387 Moreno Ave., Lakeside, CA 92040. Reservoirs office 619-668-2050.
Closures, Read October 23, 2026“San Vicente Reservoir is closed on the second Friday of each month.” By that rule the next closure is November 13, 2026 (our calculation; the page gives the rule only). Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Open DaysSummer, May to October: Thursday to Sunday open for fishing, boating and water contact; Monday open with no water contact; Tuesday and Wednesday closed. Winter, November to April: Monday, Thursday and Friday open with no water contact; Saturday and Sunday open with water contact; Tuesday and Wednesday closed. All from a half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Admission“CASH OR CHECK ONLY.” No water contact: adults 16 to 65 $10; youth 8 to 15 $5; seniors 65+ $7; 7 and under free. With water contact: adults 16+ $8; youth 8 to 15 $6. Private boating or watercraft $10 per boat or craft; kayaks and canoes are included with admission. Anglers 16 and older need a California fishing license.
What It HasFishing, boating, and in summer water-skiing and wakeboarding; picnic tables, barbecue areas and restrooms. Concession availability varies.
San Vicente Reservoir Open the map. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Whether concessions are open: the page defers to the concessionaire’s own site, which we did not read.
  • Current water level: not confirmed.
  • The page prints both “no swimming or wading” style rules and a water-contact fee tier; read the City page for which days allow water contact.
  • Map point is approximate (OpenStreetMap), not a surveyed entrance.

More in East County

FAQ

Is San Vicente Reservoir open on Fridays?

Yes in winter, except the second Friday of each month, when the City of San Diego says it is closed.

Does San Vicente take credit cards?

The city page says cash or check only.

Sources

  1. City of San Diego: San Vicente 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.