Lake Morena County Park: Camping and Fishing, Campo

Part of Lakes and Lake Guides, our guide to San Diego County lakes, reservoirs and the rules for fishing them.

Lake Morena County Park near Campo has 86 campsites, group sites, wilderness cabins, boat rentals and 8 miles of trails at about 3,000 feet. Day-use parking is $5. Fishing needs a County permit and a California license. Trout season has ended for the year.Checked October 23, 2026.

86campsites

$5day-use parking

$8adult fishing permit

All ageskids and families

Address2550 Lake Morena Drive, Campo, CA 91906

PhonePark (619) 579-4101; fishing report (619) 687-1496

HoursCamping 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The park page says day use and fishing and boating run sunrise to half an hour before sunset; the fishing page says the lake is open 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with boats off by 6:30 p.m. The two pages differ (unconfirmed which applies).

Day-use parking$5

Fishing permit (County)Adults 16+ $8.00; juniors 10 to 15 $5.00; 9 and under free; seniors 62+ and disabled $5.00

Boat rentalMotor boat $55.00 a day ($35.00 senior or disabled); row boat $25.00 full day ($21.00 senior or disabled); private boat $12.00

Camping feesCollected in advance; $8 non-refundable reservation fee per site; extra vehicle $6; extra dog $2 a night. Nightly site and cabin rates: see the official site (not confirmed here).

ReservationsReservations Center (858) 565-3600 or (877) 565-3600, or online from the park page

Fishing at Lake Morena

The County fishing page, updated August 22, 2026, says catfish, bass and carp are being caught throughout the lake and lists trout and panfish. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout several times a year, trout stocking is typically January to March, and the page says trout season has ended for the year. Live bait fish and crayfish are prohibited.

You need a County fishing permit bought at the park and a California fishing license. The County says the State license is not available at Lake Morena or nearby. See California Fishing License and Limits.

Boating Rules

Boat rentals must be reserved by 1:00 p.m. and do not run in high heat advisories, high wind advisories, rain, lightning or snow. Every vessel and piece of equipment needs a quagga mussel inspection (clean, drained, dry). The speed limit is 10 MPH and waterskiing is not allowed. Swimming and direct body contact with the water are not allowed.

Camping and Trails

The park lists 86 campsites, group sites, wilderness cabins, a pavilion, a playground and 8 miles of trails, including kids’ TRACK trails. It sits near the Pacific Crest Trail. Two dogs are allowed per campsite as part of the site fee. Hiking trails elsewhere are covered in our other guides.

What We Could Not Verify

Nightly campsite and cabin rates are not confirmed here; County Parks and Recreation can confirm them.
Closing time is not confirmed: the park page says half an hour before sunset and the fishing page says 7:00 p.m. County Parks can confirm which applies.
Fire-restriction status was not read. The park page shows a Storm Recovery Information banner pointing to a closures page we did not open; County Parks can confirm what is closed.

FAQ

Does Lake Morena have camping?

Yes. The County lists 86 campsites, group sites and wilderness cabins.

Can I buy a fishing license at the lake?

No. The County says the State license is not available there or nearby.

Is it trout season?

The County fishing page says trout season has ended for the year, with stocking typically January to March.

Sources

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.

Lake Morena County Park Lake Guide