Jenks for the Memories

Kayaking, Fishing, and Hiking at Jenks Lake

Name your passion! Whether it’s kayaking, fishing, hiking, barbecuing, or relaxing in a hammock beneath tall ponderosa pines—Jenks Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains is the place for a perfect lakeside summer day.

Nestled in a valley between Old Greyback and Sugarloaf Mountain, Jenks is a man-made, 10-acre lake at 6,800 feet, fed by the Santa Ana River. It strikes the perfect balance between peaceful poolside relaxation and the great outdoors.

Did we mention fishing? Jenks Lake is stocked with rainbow trout and bluegill throughout the year. A pier juts out from the shore specifically so that anglers can cast into the lake’s deeper waters. Or get out there on your own by pushing off in a canoe or kayak from one of the many launching points. With no powerboats, the lake is generally calm and always tranquil. You might even find yourself paddling alongside a family of American black ducks!

A mile-long trail circles the lake and intersects with a portion of Jenks Lake Trail. The loop leads you from the shoreline into some small hills on the south side and back down again. Then kick back at one of the many picnic areas and fire up a barbecue to grill your catch of the day. The lake is surrounded by a dense forest of ponderosa pines, so rigging a hammock between trees is easy and is perfect for a nature nap. Ah, yes—summer in the mountains (z-z-z…)!

From Redlands, follow CA-38 into the mountains for 27 miles. Then turn right onto Jenks Lake Rd. and continue 2 miles to Jenks Lake Day Use Area. Park hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. No camping or swimming. Parking is $5 per vehicle, and a California fishing license is required to fish. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View
  2. Paint Brushy

    This time of year you’ll have good reason to head for the hills—the electric-green rolling hills of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve in Livermore. This 4.5-mile loop hike is like stepping into a plein air painting.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    2025 POST Wildflower Walks

    Get flower empowered! POST’s complimentary 2025 Wildflower Walks guide blooms with the best places to see a variety of florals across the Peninsula and South Bay this spring.

    View
  4. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

    View
  2. Hiker walking along the North Bluff Trail on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park

    Purely Wild

    Channel Islands National Park lives up to its nickname as “North America’s Galapagos.” This less-traveled national park is an undeveloped and isolated series of five dramatic and distinct islands reached by boat. Hike the largest of the islands, Santa Cruz.

    View
  3. Woman hiking the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon

    Truly Grand Day Hike

    One of the best spring day hikes in the Grand Canyon? See layer upon layer of the park’s grandeur—including the river—on this 3-mile (one-way) journey to Skeleton Point via the South Kaibab Trail.

    View
  4. A woman stands amid an array of yellow and purple flowers at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

    Petal Paradise

    Tulips, lilacs, and daffodils—flower power is in full bloom at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge. Sprawling across 150 acres surrounded by mountains, the gardens are putting on their best show right now.

    View