Lake Skinner Recreation Area — Attraction in Temecula

This is a review for Group Camping Reserved Area - Group A: Dates: June 10-12 (2022), Weather: Low 60'sF - Mid 90'sF with very low humidity. Arrived around 4pm to Group camp site A (see photo) and as you can see, there isn't much shade from trees.

PARKING: Each parking space has electricity hooks up (yay!, I can charge my electronics or if you have an SUV (like a Range Rover) or RV -- you can plug into to run you A/C unit, fridge, 60" TV, etc) Helpful Tip: Bring a really, really long extension cord. Bright orange would be a good idea so you don't trip over it in the dead of night when you have that nature calls. There ARE 2 porta potties ( 1 regular, 1 Handicap stall) but I didn't use them. More on why further down in my review.

WI-FI access and Phone Service: I have AT&T - I only had 1 or 2 bars at the campsite. I received text messages but there seemed to be a delay. As far as streaming a video or the baseball game on my phone using my data plan...nada, not happening. My fellow camper did purchase Wi-Fi access for $5 for a 24hr period and was able to play his game on his phone but not at the campsite. He had to drive to the Camp Supply Store parking lot to stream his game.

Mini Lake - Just beyond Group B camp site is a small lake that can be accessed via a trail. I think you can rent a non-motorized boat to go fishing or row around. Check the website if you can bring a kayak or stand up paddle boards. I didn't see any paddle boarders on this lake when I was there. I did see campers fishing early morning and late afternoon... and yes, they did catch dinner! Helpful Hint: Be sure you have a current fishing license pinned on you and can be easily identified by Dept of Fish and Game. Fines are steep!

Bathrooms/Showers - There were no flushing toilets or showers within the Group Camping area. You'll need to drive about 5 mins to either the Camp Supply Store or go to the Showers and Flushing toilets that are situated between individual campsites Group A and Group B areas. The showers are FREE -- no need to bring quarters. If you're an early riser (6-6:30am), you'll be rewarded with having your fill of a hot shower. Helpful Hint: Bring flip flops, your own soap, shampoo for the showers. None of that is provided in the bathroom or showers. Bring your own TP or flushable wipes too. By Saturday evening, the TP ran out of the women's stalls. I heard some ladies asking their male companions if they could grab some TP for them from the men's stalls.

Splash Pod - If you're looking for a spot to beat the heat -- seek out the Splash Pod. There were "kids" of all ages splashing, playing and hanging out in the streams of water. If you pack up a picnic, pop up tent and beverages, you can pretty much stay the entire day. Slather on a ton of SUNSCREEN and bring along a good attitude. There will be lots of kids! (young and "seasoned")

Adult Things to Do: The Temecula Wineries are a mere 10-15 mins away once you get out of the Lake Skinner recreation area. I didn't do any of the boating or fishing activities but they are available.

Suggestions: If you're planning a GROUP camping adventure, I'd suggest booking Group B site instead of Group A site. Group B has trees that can provide a canopy of shade, a nice view of the small lake and generally, just is better suited for GROUP camping.

Oh -- One last thing -- there is a pergola with a dozen tables/benches, 2 fire pits, 2 large capacity BBQ grills (bring your charcoal), water spouts for easy clean up, trash cans and recycle container.

Overall, a nice experience. The general campsites were too close together for my comfort. I had booked campsite 166, Group A just in case the GROUP camping area would be too crowded. Thank goodness there was space for me in the GROUP...

Let me start off by saying I had really high Hope's for lake Skinner. I'm confined to a wheelchair but have always loved fishing and haven't been able to really do that since being sentenced to this chair. So when I heard that Skinner had a specific area for handicap anglers I was quaking in my chair with excitement.

So, as far as the handicap fishing area goes it isn't what I had hoped it would be. Lots of soft sand, exposed tree roots and steep declines leading to the water. Had I been on my own there would have been no way for me to navigate all of this and get within 40 feet of the water. This area is also not regulated at all, so while it is posted as a handicap area there is no enforcement and thus finding a spot to set up and fish was very difficult and crowded. Managed, with the aid of my spouse, to work the chair over, under, down and through all the obstacles and people to get near the waters edge. Now I'm not a professional by any means but I am a reasonably experienced angler and have never had a problem catching fish, until Lake Skinner. Five hours and every trick in my tackle box later I hadn't gotten so much as a nibble. Infact the only thing I had managed to catch was a sunburn and an ever decreasing area to fish as more and more people arrived and squeezed onto the bank, imagine the trash room scene from star wars and you'll understand how I felt. Needless to say we were ready to pack it in, but after paying 38$ (not including licenses) just to enter the park I wanted to catch something!!!!

We moved around the lake to the marina where a gentleman named Preston was working and gave my family and I permission to fish from the dock on the kayak/canoe ramp despite it being posted as prohibited to do so. Preston, you're the man and the only reason I gave any stars at all. We spent another 4 hours fishing from the dock, but still not even a nibble. Sunburnt, tired, and disappointed the family and I decided to throw in the towel despite feeling cheated. After all, paying 38$ for the privilege to not see a single fish all day (no one anywhere around us caught anything either), when it is my understanding that this is a stocked lake is pretty agrivating.

Here are some things would have prompted more stars: A concrete handicap ONLY area that allows people with all levels of disability to enjoy the lake.

Either increase your stocking of fish or decrease the price to enter. 10.00 per adult is fine and all but charging another 8.00 for each of my daughters (5 and 6 years old) for a handicap area that isn't maintained or enforced and to spend a day not catching anything but a sunburn is pretty ridiculous and frankly you...

Lake Skinner, what a beautiful place to camp or picnic. Now that we have that over, let's get down to a " real " review. I admit that it is a beautiful place to visit; if it is during the middle of the week and not in the summertime. Most people will give it a great review, because they have blinders on to the real facts. There are a page full of rules that are set in place for insurance purposes, that are very seldom enforced. I was fishing at launchsite number 2 and there were people on the dock and in the ranger boat fishing. It is all posted with a no fishing sign on the dock. I asked an employee about that and he said go ahead and fish there, we can't keep people off; then why post no fishing. No swimming in the lake; you see kids and dogs in the lake all summer long. Keep you pets on a lease at all times; yeah right. You see pets in the campsites and parks off the leash all the time. Speed limit 15 miles an hour; except if you are an employee in a park vehicle; mostly at 35 to 40 miles an hour. Get my point, many rules and little enforcement. The balloon festival; what a nightmare. They ruin the park areas for the all mighty dollar. I talked to the people that work and live here; you can see the truma in their faces. Weekends in the campgrounds are a free for all, and a park truck drives through with the windows up; I see nothing!! Nice park, no rule enforcement; just take the money. Close your eyes and take the money !! It is now 4 weeks since my last post and I am fishing around launch site number 2. There are 4 young men fishing on the dock; posted not to fish on the dock. I asked an employee if it is open to fish on the dock, they said no to me. They ignored those on the dock; excuse was that they do not have the staff to keep people off of the dock. Post all the rules, take the money, don't enforce the rules; par for the course !! Remember, at lake skinner the rules are how you want to make them; yes means no and...