Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area — Attraction in Crestline

I tried to make a reservation for tent camping online but no luck. So we loaded up the car and came up anyway. Fortunately they had plenty of camping sites so it was good we chose to try our luck! We hadn't been camping in quite some time and never in our own tents (the boys are grown now) so it was our maiden voyage for a year of various camping trips. It was our "Camping 101" experience and Silverwood is a great place to test the waters!! The campsites are clean, spacious and well equipped with a large fire pit, barbecue and picnic table. We had 3 tents and there was plenty of room on our site (#68) amongst the tall pine trees which provided a good amount of shade. Some of the sites were equally spacious but have far less shade so bring a pop-up canopy just in case. There are 3 port-o-potties that are relatively clean and had toilet paper! They also have some showers and non-port-o-potty restrooms a little farther from our camp but we didn't use them so I do not know their status. We did have a good water spigot and a large, covered, roll-off trash bin close (but not too close) as well which was very convenient. The ranger station sold bundles of (pine) wood for $6 (about 5 pieces per bundle). We bought 5 and burned through those in no time. There is a little shop at the Marina which sells supplies including wood and ice (and he will deliver to your camp site). We purchased 6 more bundles from him ($6 per bundle as well) but he sold us Eucalyptus which is very heavy and dense but fantastic wood for long hot burning. Takes a bit of kindling to get it to catch but once it does it is well worth it. We soon realized we didn't need to buy so many bundles. If you need to buy wood, be sure to ask what kind of wood they are selling you. Pine burns quick so you will spend more money on that. The camp hours have a quiet time from 10:00pm to 6:00am and everyone pretty much followed those hours. We did have a group of college kids up late one night which didn't bother us but we were farther away. I imagine in the summer it could get loud. The only thing that was a disappointment was nothing that the park could control. From our campsite we should have been able to walk to the lake but the drought and usage (some of the water is sent to Perris) have dried up the lake for about a good half mile away from our camp area. Unless you don't mind a long hike, or if you bring a bike, the only way to get to the actual lake is to drive to the marina docking area. At one point we were sitting on a dry dock with the edge of the water about 80 feet away. This is really sad to see and it makes you realize the lake will probably never be full again. It's like witnessing the slow end of the world. Pretty dramatic I know, but it was desolate and sad. The Marina does however offer boat rentals for fishing ($30 for first 2 hours) and the boats look reliable (although I'm no expert). There is wildlife around that is exciting to witness (my son saw an eagle) and the stargazing was breathtaking!! The sound and smell of the wind through the pines is so soothing. It is a wonderful, perfect location for campers like us who have been out of the camping experience for awhile. Great way to get re-aquainted with nature and what it takes to commune in it comfortably. I forgot to bring a frying pan and the Marina sells them so we were never in dire straits. This camping experience helped me fine tune the list of things that are necessities and it helped me realize the things that are really unnecessary and just space busters. The Rangers at the gate are really helpful and friendly! I really have no complaints and only gave it the 4 stars based on the low level of the water in the lake which was...

We were staying down the road at Mojave River Forks regional park (don't go there) and decided to bring the dog and a lunch and have a picnic here. Very nice ranger at the gate. Very expensive, $45 for dry camping (no hookups) and $50 for FHU. Road to the left leads to day use. Along the road are several parking lots each adjacent to a day use area with pavilions, tables and restrooms. The last lot has access to the beach. Restrooms in day use are dirty and do not flush (yuk). Trash everywhere, blaring mariachi and thumping gang music. Alcohol prohibited in day use but that doesn't stop people from breaking the law. Lots of beer trash and graffiti. Cigarette butts. Was super happy to see armed state park police patrolling the park. But clearly they do not have enough cops here. The FHU sites are 90 degrees to the road and buddy sites, similar to many CA state parks. Do NOT recommend you try anything over 20 feet. Have no idea how you could get anything longer into a site. Road is narrow and each row is an out-and-back with a hairpin u-turn at the end. Trees are thick in the campgrounds so don't expect to get satellite reception. The dry (tent) sites are in loops. Sites are on the outer edge, are single sites not buddy sites, and are both longer and have about a 40 degree angle to the road, so backing in is easier. A few of the sites closer to the main road get a little sun for a few hours. You 'might' be able to get some satellite and a few amps charge every day. It would be the kind of place where we could probably only stay two days max due to lack of solar. As is the case with all parks, maintenance is lacking. They apparently have received some budget for new signs but they are insufficient. We drove by the visitor center but it looked closed (11am on Sunday), no one in the parking lot, no signs saying they were open, and didn't look like any lights on. Later when we drove by we saw a ranger coming out of the VC, said he closed it at 1pm. We saw a traffic barricade with a nice large metal sign that said "Visitor Center Open" but it was tucked underneath the stairs to the observation platform. Had they set it out we'd have gone in. There was a paper sign on the window that said the VC was open until 4pm but that clearly is false. There was also a paper warning sign about increased Bear activity. Down the other road is the marina, a huge parking lot, and another day use beach area. There is a store there but we didn't go in. Lots of shelters and picnic tables. The problem with any park with a lake with boating is that they are just huge...

Silverwood Lake Recreation Area offers a peaceful, scenic escape into nature that feels just far enough from the city to breathe—but still close enough to keep things convenient. The landscape is beautiful: sweeping lake views, lush trees, and that crisp, high-desert air that hits different when you wake up in the morning.

The campsites are nicely spaced, and the lake access is a definite highlight—perfect for fishing, kayaking, or just sitting back and taking in the serenity. Trails are well-kept, wildlife is present but not invasive, and the entire area feels like a little retreat where time slows down just enough to reset.

That said, not everything was pure bliss. The folks across from my campsite decided to soundtrack the wilderness with loud, obnoxious music that ran late into the night. It killed the peaceful vibe a bit and was a jarring contrast to the natural stillness surrounding us. A reminder that sometimes it’s not the place—but the people—that affect the vibe.

Aside from that hiccup, I had a genuinely delightful time. Silverwood Lake is a gem, especially for anyone looking to reconnect with nature—just maybe bring some earplugs, or hope your neighbors come with better taste in music and a volume knob.

For this reason it is not worth $50USD. Maybe $20 for the slot. I prefer to hear nature not music blaring louder than most stereos...