Lake Gregory
Fishing at Lake Gregory feels like a world away and offers an affordable and accessible escape from city life. Just about a 2-hour drive east from Los Angeles, Lake Gregory is in the mountains of the San Bernardino National Forest. This beautiful fishing lake is nestled in the cedar and pine forest valley of Crestline and is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Known as a prime fishing destination in Southern California, it provides ample shore fishing access to the lake, as well as a marina with boat rentals and launch facilities.
History
Lake Gregory is actually man-made. Originally known as Houston Flats, the lake and surrounding area was developed and named after Arthur Gregory, Sr., a Redlands citrus grower, who first built a sawmill in the area for orange crates. Gregory helped secure a Works Progress Administration (WPA) grant in 1937 to begin work on damming the east and west forks of the Houston Creek to create the lake that you can enjoy today.
Lake Information
Lake Gregory is managed by San Bernardino County Regional Parks and includes hiking trails, picnic areas, and a swimming beach with water slides that is open seasonally during the warmer months. For those visiting the lake strictly to fish, here is some important information:
Address: 24171 Lake Drive, Crestline, CA 92325 (San Bernardino County)
Phone: (909) 338-2233
Website: parks.sbcounty.gov/park/lake-gregory-regional-park
Location: From the intersection of the 210 Fwy and CA-18 in San Bernardino the lake is 17 miles north on CA-18 up the mountain to Crestline and is only 8.1 miles from Lake Arrowhead.
Lake Elevation: 4,613 ft., and the ridges around the lake climb up to a thousand feet higher
Lake Size: 120 acres
Lake Depth: 80 ft.
Lake Temperatures: Ranges year-round from 55°F to 69°F
Crestline Weather Averages:
The summers are hot, arid, and clear and the winters are very cold, partly cloudy or snowing. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 31°F to 87°F and is rarely below 23°F or above 94°F.
Fish Stocking: Lake Gregory is, first and foremost, a trout-fishing lake. Both the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and the Lake Gregory Recreation Company stock the lake with a monthly stock of Rainbow Trout throughout much of the year. Many of the Rainbows are caught quickly by local anglers who pay close attention to the stocking schedule, but others live to become giants, occasionally tipping the scales at 10 pounds or more. Surveys by the DFW have turned up good numbers of Largemouth Bass along with Channel Catfish, Bullhead, Black Crappie and Bluegill. The lake also presents an annual Trout Derby, and year-round cash prizes for anglers that catch the few tagged fish that are released each month.
Fishing Fees/License: Anglers can fish from any area of the shore from sunrise to sunset year-round except the beach area. To fish at Lake Gregory, a fisherman must have a state license and pay the $8 daily fishing fee. Children 4 and under can fish for free. Pay-stations are located around Lake Gregory Regional Park. (The day-to-day operations of the lake are subject to change without notice). California anglers can now purchase 2021 fishing licenses directly through the CDFW-Online Sales website or from authorized license agents such as Ace Hardware in downtown Crestline. The cost of a 2021 annual resident fishing license has been set at $52.66, while a one-day state license costs $17.02.
Boating: Private vessels and power boats are not allowed on Lake Gregory, although rowboats, paddle boards, pedal-powered “water trikes” and paddle boats are available for rental. Boat fishing is seasonal, and the Lake Gregory Boathouse opens the last weekend in April and closes the third weekend in October. The rowboats may be affixed with the renter’s own electric trolling motor. Many like to fish from a hard-bottom kayak at Lake Gregory since the lake is so calm. The one-day kayak launch fee is $13. Both local fees are payable at the San Moritz Lodge from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.
Bait & Tackle: In addition to the Lake Gregory Boat House, there are local places to purchase a fishing license, fishing equipment, and bait near the lake:
Goodwin & Son’s Market
24089 Lake Gregory Dr,
Crestline, CA 92325
(909) 338-1705
goodwinsmarket.com
Ace Hardware
23895 Lake Dr,
Crestline, CA 92325
(909) 338-1617
acehardware.com
Lake Gregory Regional Park Facilities & Recreation: You can fish from the shore, picnic, and hike year-round, and can swim, boat, and enjoy the Splash Island Floating Waterpark seasonally all on 150 acres of forest in the San Bernardino Mountains. There is a shaded, 2.5-mile walking path that circles the lake. It is perfect for dog-walking or an exercise routine thanks to the free outdoor exercise machines stationed at points along the path. Also, those visiting Lake Gregory Regional Park will find the following:
- Dog Park
- Restrooms
- Grills
- Picnic Tables
- Picnic Shelters
- Snack Bar
- Bait Shop
- Swimming Beaches
- Two-300 ft. Water Slides & a 13,755 sq. ft. floatable Splash Island (seasonal)
- Zero-Depth Kids Splash Fountains & Sprinklers (seasonal)
- Rowboat Rental (seasonal)
- Aqua Cycle Rental (seasonal)
- Paddle Board Rental (seasonal)
- Paddle Boat Rental (seasonal)
- Sail Board Rental (seasonal)
- Basketball Court
- Sand Volleyball Court
- Kayak Launch
- Hiking & Fitness Trail
- Meeting, Conference, Banquet & Wedding Facilities at the San Moritz Lodge
- Public Phone
