Lake Perris State Recreation Area RV & Campground Guide
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Lake Perris State Park in California is surrounded by the Bernasconi Hills and Russell Mountains with south-facing slopes, and the park offers the Lake Perris Regional Indian Museum with educational programs. Visitors can enjoy hiking, fishing, biking, swimming, camping, picnicking, horseback riding, rock climbing, canoeing, boating, and kayaking. At the park, summers are hot and dry, and winters are mild. Lake Perris State Park was developed in 1973 and features a man-made lake.
Nearby Cities
Sun City, CA
Mead Valley, CA
Lake Elsinore, CA
Moreno Valley, CA
Spring 49–76 F
Summer 65–95 F
Fall 54–82 F
Winter 42–64 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Lake Perris State Recreation Area
Campground Accommodations
Lake Perris State Park Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 31 feet
Other amenities: Picnic tables, showers, toilets
Camper Resorts of America
Located between the communities of Riverside and Sun City, Camper Resorts of America is a 2.5-mile drive from Lake Perris State Recreation Area. The resort has well over 260 campsite spaces for all class sizes of RV. Here, you can play horseshoes, mini-golf and basketball as well as join in on the clubhouse activities. Guests have access to a swimming pool, spa and playground for active children and adults. Outside the park, you can go boating, sailing or water skiing.
• Water hookup: Yes
• Electrical hookup: Yes
• Sewer hookup: Yes
• Wi-Fi: No
• Pet-friendly: No
• Other amenities: RV dump station, RV storage, laundry facility, BBQ grill and picnic tables
Happy Camp Campground
Located in Canyon Lake, Happy Camp Campground offers beachfront camping with an amazing lake view. The camp features 55 RV sites that can house large RVs and is only a short 17-mile drive from Lake Perris. Other features include boat docks, a gas dock, a roped-off area for swimming and shaded picnic areas.
• Water hookup: Yes
• Electrical hookup: Yes
• Sewer hookup: Yes
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Pet-friendly: No
• Other amenities: Restrooms, showers, horseshoe pits and RV dump station
Wilderness Lake RV Resort
Located just 20 miles from Lake Perris, Wilderness Lake has 523 sites that include RV sites, cottages and cabins. Centrally located near hospitals, shopping and California highways, the resort has a lot of amenities, including a fitness center, tennis court, softball field, volleyball court and more.
• Water hookup: Yes
• Electrical hookup: Yes
• Sewer hookup: Yes
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Other amenities: Swimming pool, RV storage, laundry facilities, hot tub and more
What to Do at
Lake Perris State Recreation Area
At Lake Perris State Park, you an find many outdoor activities to plan a fun-filled day, including hiking, fishing, bicycling, swimming, camping, boating, canoeing, kayaking, picnicking, horseback riding, and rock climbing. You can also visit the Ya'i Heki' Regional Indian Museum, which offers educational programs about the tribe’s culture and way of life.
Lake Perris State Park offers many outdoor adventures. The two beaches have lifeguards on duty. Slip into your suit, and take your waterski out for a ride.
Inside Lake Perris State Recreation Area
Picnicking – Lake Perris has about 300 picnic sites throughout the park. Some are shaded, but all have tables and grills to help make your picnic successful. The most popular areas are near Perris Beach and Moreno Beach.
Horseback riding – One of the perks of this park is that it has its own campground for horse owners and their horses. There are seven primitive horse campsites at Lake Perris separate from the family sites. Amenities include water troughs, corrals and chemical toilets. Each campsite can accommodate up to two horses and eight people. Horses are permitted on the trails that circle Lake Perris. Your horse is sure to love the outdoors, exercise and fresh air found at Lake Perris, so don't hesitate to bring them along.
Swimming – There are two designated swimming areas at Moreno Beach and Perris Beach. No lifeguards are overseeing the beaches.
Boating – Lake Perris can accommodate up to 200 vessels daily. You are required to get a launch reservation due to the limited space on summer mornings.
Hiking and bicycling – The park has 9 miles of hiking and bicycling trails that circle the lake. Another great trail designated for hiking ascends to the top of Terri Peak.
Scuba diving and snorkeling – Lake Perris permits scuba diving and snorkeling at the west end of the beach. You'll be able to explore what lies beneath the surface, including different species of fish, coral reefs and more.
Rock climbing – Big Rock is open year-round. It gives climbing opportunities for both beginners and advanced climbers. The park has a climb-at-your-own-risk policy. Bring plenty of water as California State Parks don't maintain any fixtures or equipment at Big Rock.
Fishing
All anglers 16 and older must have a valid California fishing license, and you can get a license from any Walmart, sporting goods, or bait shop. Lake Perris State Park limits the fish you can catch during your visit. The state park’s limits are five bass, five trout, 10 catfish, and 25 bluegill, red ear sunfish, green sunfish, crayfish, or crappie. There isn’t a limit for bullhead or carp.
Nature Watching
You’ll see many bird species at Lake Perris State Park, including loggerhead shrikes, sparrows, bald eagles, quail, roadrunners, larks, wrens, hawks, California thrashers, and waterfowl. Along the lake, you’ll see shovelers, swans, pelicans, egrets, killdeer, mallards, widgeons, pintails, willets, and avocets.
Stargazing
You can attend star gazing events at the Lake Perris State Recreation Area during the summer. You’ll need a nighttime pass to attend the events unless you’re camping. You can see the planets, constellations, and stars. The Astronomy Man hosts the events.
Flora and Fauna
Lake Perris State Park offers a blanket of wildflowers, coastal sage scrub, buckwheat, cacti, sagebrush, brittlebush, black and white sage, chamise, penstemon, and desert Encelia. Wildlife within the park includes lizards, rodents, birds of prey, rattlesnakes, mule deer, bobcats, jackrabbits, gopher snakes, cottontail rabbits, roadrunners, and waterfowl.
Hiking
You can hike only on designated hiking trails at Lake Perris State Park. The trails include the Lake Perris Loop Trail, Terri Peak Loop Trail, Bernasconi Hills Trail, Lake Perris Area Trail, and Peak 2413. The park’s hiking trails range from 4.4 miles to 9 miles long and vary from easy to difficult. Pay attention to posted signs for hazards and difficulty levels.
Boating
Boats traveling at the lake’s east end must remain at a trolling speed of 5 mph. Buoys are visible in the restricted area with hazards, including trees, sand bars, and rocks. Boaters outside the restricted area can travel up to 35 mph. You’ll pay a boat fee of $10 per day for motorized boats. The state park doesn’t charge fees for canoes, hand-launch vessels, kayaks, or sailboats if you don’t use the boat ramp.
Swimming
You can swim at Moreno Beach, which is accessible via lots 9 and 10, and Perris Beach, which is accessible via lots 1 through 4. A lifeguard is on duty at each of these designated swimming areas.
Climbing
Lake Perris State Park has Big Rock, which is popular for climbing. It has a height of 180 feet. This vast granite rock offers 34 established routes and 110 bolts to assist climbers. You’ll need 165 feet of rope, anchors, nuts, quickdraws, and runners.
Biking
The Lake Perris Loop Trail is a terrific spot for bicycling.
How to Get to
Lake Perris State Recreation Area
From Freeway 60 East, take the Moreno Beach Drive exit. Turn right onto Via Del Lago, then take a left. Continue on Via Del Lago until you see the Moreno Valley entrance for Lake Perris State Park.
By Car
Entering Lake Perris State Recreation Area
The entry fee for day use is $10, peak season weekends are $20 per vehicle, and senior day use is $2 per vehicle. There are parking lots at each entrance with plenty of space for larger RVs.
We're delighted for you to have the chance to escape your everyday lifestyle in one of the amazing state parks in California. You surely will have an incredible time at Lake Perris State Recreation Area regardless of what leisure activity you decide on. Don't forget to tag RVshare when posting your images on your social media accounts, or you can send us a snapshot photo with a few interesting details about your trip at [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Perris State Recreation Area
The best time to visit Lake Perris State Park is spring or fall. Summer temperatures are hot, and the park reaches maximum capacity fast. Winters are rainy and cold. Pay attention to local high fire or drought warnings, as the park could close when these conditions are present.
At Lake Perris State Park, you’ll see lizards, rodents, birds of prey, rattlesnakes, mule deer, bobcats, jackrabbits, gopher snakes, cottontail rabbits, roadrunners, and waterfowl. You’ll also see bird species, including loggerhead shrikes, sparrows, bald eagles, quail, roadrunners, larks, wrens, hawks, California thrashers, shovelers, swans, pelicans, egrets, killdeer, mallards, wigeons, pintails, willets, and avocets.
There are designated camping spots that have electrical hookups for RVs, and you can camp in an RV or a tent throughout the campgrounds.
You aren’t required to reserve a camping spot, but it’s recommended, as the park can reach maximum capacity quickly in the summer. You can make a reservation up to six months in advance. RV hookup camping for seniors 65 and older is $43 per night, disabled individuals pay $22.50, and everyone else pays $45 per night. You’ll pay $10 for an extra vehicle with a limit of three cars, and the dump station costs $10.
Pets are allowed at Lake Perris State Park, but they must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. You cannot let your pets roam free or leave them unattended. Dogs aren’t permitted on unpaved trails.