Lake Skinner Camping: Sites, Fees, Rules and Reservations
Lake Skinner Recreation Area has full-hookup, water-and-electric and water-only campsites, and the lake itself is closed to swimming. Here is what the park's own pages say, checked November 2026.
On this page
Quick answer: Lake Skinner Recreation Area, run by Riverside County Parks (RivCoParks) near Winchester, California, lists 199 full-hookup sites, 18 water-and-electric sites and 40 water-only sites. You book online or by phone, check-in is 2 p.m. and check-out is 11 a.m., and you cannot swim in the lake because it supplies local drinking water. We checked the park’s main page on November 12, 2026.
An earlier version of this page said you could swim in the lake, that children under 16 need no fishing license, and gave different check-in times. The park’s own pages say otherwise, so those lines are gone, along with season dates, amp ratings and pool details we could not source.
Campsites and hookups#
RivCoParks’ Lake Skinner page lists three kinds of regular campsite:
- Full hookup: 199 sites with water, sewer and electricity.
- Water and electricity: 18 developed sites.
- Water only: 40 developed sites.
That adds up to 257 regular sites by our count, not including the group loops. The park’s FAQ says all sites have a fire ring and picnic table but no barbecue, and that any site can be used for tent camping.
The pages we read do not give amperage for the regular sites, so check your rig’s needs with the park office at (951) 926-1541. They also do not say which site numbers are full hookup.
A few details from the park’s FAQ:
- Distance to the lake: none of the sites are close to it and all need some walking. The closest are 277-298.
- Shade: the park names sites 101, 107, 119 and 120 among its shadiest.
- Accessibility: three campsites are accessibility-rated, one in each campground. The only accessibility-rated restroom is outside the campgrounds by the splash pad and is for day use only.
Reservations#
The park page says to use the online reservations or call 1-800-234-7275 to reserve a campsite. The booking page offers two ways to choose: a map view, where you set your dates and see available sites on an interactive map, and a calendar view for flexible dates or when availability is tight. It also has filters for RV/tent sites, RV-only, tent-only and sewer hookup.
The registering party must be 18 and may be asked for ID, and every vehicle and rig needs current registration. For general booking strategy, see our lake camping reservation guide.
The park pages we read do not publish a campground season or opening and closing dates. Look at the booking calendar for your dates instead of relying on a season you read elsewhere.
Fees, checked November 2026#
The park page lists:
- Camping: $35-50 per night. It does not say which site type costs what.
- Day use: $6 per adult and $3 per child 12 and younger.
- Fishing: $15 per adult per day and $10 per child 12 and younger per day.
- Boat launch: $7.
- Sewage dump for non-campers: $20.
- Extra vehicle: $6.00 per night, in overflow parking. The park’s FAQ says there are no exceptions to the two-vehicle limit.
The page’s fee note says changes took effect August 1, 2024, and it points to a separate holiday fee schedule for holiday vehicle fees. We also found an undated fee sheet with lower nightly rates. We did not use it because it carries no date, so confirm the price for your site type with the park before you book.
Check-in, hours and site rules#
- Check-in and check-out: 2 p.m. and 11 a.m.
- Camp hours: 6 a.m. to sunset Sunday to Thursday, and 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and nights before holidays. The campsite brochure lists quiet hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Occupancy: no more than six occupants and two vehicles per site.
- Length of stay: 14 days within a 28-day period.
- Tents: all tents and vehicles stay inside the site boundary, and tents are not allowed on the grass.
- Not allowed: fireworks, firearms and drones. Do not attach anything to trees.
Fires and pets#
Ground fires are not allowed. The brochure allows fires only in personal stoves or designated grills and fire rings. Do not gather firewood in the park. The camp store sells firewood, along with ice, bait and tackle, beer and snacks. Before you leave, read how to check wildfire smoke and closures.
Pets must be on controlled leashes of no more than 6 feet and never left unattended, and you must clean up promptly. The park’s FAQ says domestic animals need to be “trailered” between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Dogs are not allowed on boats or in equestrian areas and must stay 50 feet from the high-water mark.
The lake: no swimming, and boating has rules#
The park’s FAQ says Lake Skinner is managed by the Municipal Water District and is the source of local domestic water supply, so body contact with the lake is prohibited. Boats may not pull people or recreational equipment such as tubes, skis or boards. Its quagga and zebra mussel notice adds:
- No inflatables and no flotation devices.
- Vessels are quarantined for 7 days after the mandatory inspection.
- Unopened and unused bait only. Bait is sold on site.
For boats, the park says:
- Every kayak and boat needs an inspection and decal. First-time boater inspections are by appointment only at 951-926-1541.
- The speed limit is 10 mph, and 5 mph within 100 feet of shore, dams, other operational structures and marinas.
- Boats must be at least 12 feet long, 42 inches wide and have 12 inches of freeboard at idle speed.
- Kayaks must be at least 10 feet long and non-bailing. Sit-on-top kayaks are not allowed.
- Jet skis and wave runners are not allowed, and alcohol is not permitted on boats or in marinas.
- The camp store marina rents boats year-round.
On January 27, 2026, RivCoParks announced a reopening ceremony for the boat launch for January 31, 2026, after upgrades that included new restrooms and a fish cleaning station at Boat Launch 1.
For campers who want to cool off, the park has a splash pad, open April 1 through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The hours block says Monday to Sunday, while the FAQ on the same page says it is closed on non-holiday Mondays. Call before planning a Monday visit.
Fishing from camp#
Species, spots and tackle are in our Lake Skinner fishing guide. Here is what campers need to know first:
- The park page lists a state fishing permit for anglers 16 and older. The campsite brochure requires a park fishing permit for all ages and a California license for anglers 16 and older. The two pages differ, so carry a permit for every angler and check at the gate.
- The brochure says no night fishing.
- The camp store sells California fishing day permits and yearly licenses.
Group camping, trails and the wider area#
- Group camping: two loops of 16 sites each, with a maximum of 16 rigs per loop and six campers per rig, or 96 campers per loop. Each site has a 30 amp breaker and water but no sewer. All 16 sites must be paid in full, even for fewer rigs.
- Trails: a 1.5-mile loop around the park is rated accessible. Hiking and horseback riding are allowed on the 6-mile equestrian trail on the perimeter, which is open from May 20 until the end of November.
- Facilities: showers and restrooms, coin-operated laundry at the camp store, an amphitheatre and two playgrounds. The campground playground is for children 12 and up. The park says there is no Wi-Fi.
- Supplies: the nearest grocery store and gas stations are 10 miles away, and Temecula is about 15 minutes from the park.
- Wildlife: the park lists rattlesnakes, coyotes, mountain lions and bobcats, and says no wild animal should be approached. Our beginner’s guide to lake camping safety and guide to camping with kids cover the basics.
Closures and what to confirm#
On November 12, 2026, the park page still showed a notice of a full-park buyout for a private event from November 5 to 7, 2026, with fishing reopening Sunday, November 8. Those dates have passed, but the notice shows the whole park can close for private events. Call (951) 926-1541 before you drive.
The sources do not cover the campground’s season, amperage at regular sites, price by site type or cell coverage.
Sources#
Checked on November 12, 2026: RivCoParks Lake Skinner page, read again that day. Read on November 7, 2026: campsite brochure, RivCoParks booking page, boat launch reopening release.
Frequently asked questions#
Can you swim at Lake Skinner?
No. RivCoParks says Lake Skinner is managed by the Municipal Water District and is the source of local domestic water supply, so body contact with the lake is prohibited. Boats may not pull people or equipment such as tubes, skis or boards. The park’s splash pad is the swimming-style option, open April 1 through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
How many campsites does Lake Skinner have, and what hookups are there?
The park page lists 199 full-hookup sites (water, sewer and electricity), 18 developed sites with water and electricity, and 40 developed sites with water only. There are also two group-camping loops of 16 sites each. The park pages we read do not give amperage for the regular sites; they give a 30 amp breaker only for the group sites.
What time are check-in and check-out at Lake Skinner?
Check-in is 2 p.m. and check-out is 11 a.m., according to the park page and the park’s campsite brochure. Quiet hours run from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. For more on planning arrival times and booking windows, see our lake camping reservation guide.
How much does it cost to camp at Lake Skinner?
The park page lists camping at $35-50 per night but does not say which site type costs what. It also lists an extra vehicle at $6.00 per night, with overflow parking, a $7 boat launch and a $20 sewage dump fee for non-campers. The page’s fee note says changes took effect August 1, 2024, so confirm the current rate for your site with the park before you book.
Can I bring a kayak or boat to Lake Skinner?
Yes, but every kayak and boat must pass an inspection and get a decal first. First-time boater inspections are by appointment only at 951-926-1541. Boating is non-body-contact only, the speed limit is 10 mph, and inflatables and flotation devices are not allowed because of quagga and zebra mussel rules. Jet skis and wave runners are not allowed.
Do I need a fishing license to fish from the campground?
The park page says anglers 16 and older need a valid state fishing permit. The park’s campsite brochure goes further: a park fishing permit for all ages, plus a California state license for anglers 16 and older. The park’s fee list also charges $10 a day to children 12 and younger who fish. For species, spots and tackle, read our Lake Skinner fishing guide.
Are campfires allowed at Lake Skinner?
Only in personal stoves or the park’s designated grills and fire rings. Ground fires are not allowed, and you may not gather firewood in the park; the camp store sells firewood. Fire rules and closures can change with conditions, so read our guide to checking wildfire smoke and closures before you leave.
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