Pyramid Lake Recreation Area/Los Alamos Campground

Spent this weekend at the lake and campground. it was a great weekend with the following pros and cons.
Pros:
close to L.A.
easy to find
kayak rentals right on the lake. single $ 30 for 2 hours, $ 40 for a double. (kayaking was fun!)
boat launching close by.
got there by 9am and luckily got a shaded area.
there are only around 6 of them total so take an easy up or beach umbrella .
$ 2.00 for swimming
$ 11 parking
tip: if you have cAmp reservations but not going to campground until check in at 2 pm go to camp ground first anyways and grab your lake entry pass so you don’t have to pay for entry. one car enters free per camp site rental. it’s only 1 mile north of lake.
Cons:
green algae water– gross
none of us went in to the water except for kayaking and avoided going into water and this is why: my friends little girl was the only one that did. as soon as she walked out she began to be itchy. unfortunately the local store was closed. we were sent to campground to see if the store there had anything for relief and store was closed. some ended up driving north more to Gorman to find a store and buy Benadryl and itch spray for little ones ! worked fantastic but it was $ 10 for a tiny can. what a headache that was but we continued to make the best of the trip.
Later before heading to campground we also had to find a supermarket and the closest was in Frazier park. 3 miles north or Gorman then 3 miles west from freeway exit towards Mt. Pinos.
tons of
we finally arrive to campsite. very little trees so take a canopy for cover. it is very very open. you can see all the camp sites around you. didn’t see any wild life except a tiny scorpion as we packed up to go and quite a few dead fish washed up on the sides of the lake. only good part was the park ranger was cool and we hung out with a fun crowd. that’s all.

Fun place to be. If you are planning to renting a boat, call first and make the reservation. The water is a little murky but that didn’t stop people from swimming. They have kayaks too but it is limited to an area outside of the speed boats. Just sit back on the boat and let the wind carry you to the end. Oh and wear loads of sun block if you are going to be out there for longer than an hour.

Okay, so I should start by saying that I would have definitely given the campground itself a 4 or 5 out of five. The camping is quite spacious, bathrooms are well maintained, and the terrain keeps the noise from other campers from traveling too bad. Definitely would go back for that.
But… The swimming area…
My friends and I shuffled across the barren wasteland that they call a beach, and laid our towels down on a very small patch of rock hard clay, that was slightly less hard and rocky than the rest of the clay. The beach itself is about eighteen feet wide, and is split in half by a re purposed press-​box/​lifeguard stand, not to be mistaken for the tower of Isengard, though it is approximately the same size.
The entire swimming area is about 40 feet wide, and about 70 feet long, but its tough to judge distance once you’ve been in the water for more than a few minutes, this may be due to a hallucinogenic effect caused by the neon green algae that makes you feel you are swimming in the middle of a giant hipster-​grass smoothie.
Forgetting the ridiculous parking-​lot appearance of the beach itself, once you enter the water your feet will be absolutely destroyed by what I can only imagine to be the piles of shattered Christmas ornaments that must layer the bottom of this lake… Of course I could be wrong about this too, because God knows you can’t see more than six inches into the green sludge.
All of these conditions would be fine if I was on a drunken road trip, and stumbled across a rock quarry full of water and wanted to take a toxic dip. But this is far from that. When you enter the park, they charge you $ 12.00 per vehicle for parking, and then an additional $ 2.00 per person if you want to enter the cess-​pool… Well sort of… The lifeguard made sure that each person in our group was wearing our wrist bands for swimming, but the tribe, 50 strong, of wild children that rove the beaches, screaming, throwing things, stumbling across you as you lay on the clay slab, were able to enter the water — presumably to feed on life below the sludge– with no sign of payment.
If a place is going to charge an arm and a leg, they should expand the swimming area, and maybe spend a few bucks to maintain it. This place is a joke.

My family and I stayed here over the LaborDay weekend Fri-​Monday and we had a blast! (it was my kids 1^st time camping) I loved loop 91 It was more private then some of the other loops I noticed. It was all around a great spot!
Pros: This camp site had a place to wash pots and pans, close to the lake, fire wood for sale only $ 6 a bundle (a bundle of wood lasts about 1 hour), Free addmition to the lake.
A few cons: no soap in bathrooms or seat covers, At the lake you have to pay $ 2 for swimming (which adds up if you are there for a long weekend with a big family). Other then that it was an awesome stay! I would camp here again!
Oh and no one from my family got the swimmers itch.

The campground was okay. The lots were kind of small so I am glad that we had two of them, especially since one of our lots we could only use half of since the one side was covered in thistles. They had cut the thistles down but they never removed them so it was very thorny. I had to get tweezers out to pull several thistles out of my foot… partly my fault though for walking in sandals. We had lots 11 and 13. 11 had a pull through driveway and 13 had a back in driveway. Oh! And make sure that you really secure your tent. When you’re not in it leave the window covers down because otherwise you’ll find that the winds will collapse your tent. 3 of the 4 tents on our lot collapsed because of this. Mine was the only one that didn’t because I left the window covers down and that let the wind pass through without a problem.
The bathrooms had flush toilets and lights in them, which was really nice since most campgrounds just have pit toilets and you have to bring your own lantern. But oddly, they did not have soap for the sink. So make sure to bring your own or have baby wipes handy.
There isn’t much tree cover so make sure you bring a tarp or picnic table tent. There were a ton of ants all over the ground but there’s not much you can do about that, I mean it’s nature. Just don’t leave any food open for hours and you’ll be fine.
We did have some VERY loud neighbors who thought blaring mariachi music through their car (complete with a subwoofer) was a great idea starting at 6:30am. I talked to them about turning it down and they did, however that didn’t last long. Finally the camp hosts drove by and told them to shut it off. It took all day and into the evening before they took action though. I guess enough people had to complain before they would do anything. The music was seriously so loud you could hear it all over the entire campground, and it’s a good sized campground. These people also thought it was fine to just trample all over our campsites to climb the large hill behind us. Super rude. Not to mention they were all hammered the entire time even though they had children with them. I don’t hold this against the campground though since they can’t pick their patrons.
It was really nice to get a free pass to the lake. One comes with each site you rent. Just make sure that if you rent a boat (we rented a pontoon) that you leave like a half hour to an hour before your pick up time. It took forever for us to get into the marina and park. I’m not sure what the hold up was since the boat inspection is well before the marina entrance. The lake has a lot of slimy seaweed in it but again, that’s just part of nature. We had a really nice time on the lake.
Overall, I’d say it was a pretty good campground. I’d change a few things about it, like adding soap to the bathrooms, having the lots cleared of thorny thistle, and having the camp hosts act a little quicker when it comes to unruly/​very loud patrons but overall it was decent.

Great place to ride jet skis and enjoy a good weekend day trip close to LA with the family. But take your jetski to delamo Motorsports for a thorough dry cleaning of your jet ski before you go out or you will not be allowed to get on the lake what a waste. but I took mine to the service department and had it completely dried. My favorite part about this lake is that to me it says sliced of Havasu although there are a lot of Rangers and sheriffs being very picky about the safety rules and regulations its ok only in to keep us safe. now the part to look out for is the inspection station arrive early I was there s 440 in the morning because it opens at 5 a.m. the actual park gates open at 6 a.m. but the inspection process is very thorough due to the muscle infestation from the Havasu River. please listen please listen please listen do not have a single drop of water on your jet ski or boat you will not be allowed to enter. The Rangers in fact inside the hole ask you to remove your seat and ask you to try start for to check and see if any water comes out or is on the boat as well as they rub their hands on the trailer and the bottom of the boat for any potential muscles that may be attached.
Ok besides that hell the weight at the main entrance can take a long time so once you get in the morning and if you’re there early enough you will not have to wait much be at the main entrance gate by 530 and there won’t be that much of a line only a few cars ahead of you but once you get in do not leave to go to the market and then come back you’ll be asked to sit in the same line as a people have not paid and do not have the entrance tag /​ticket.
Lastly the views are beautiful go and explore all the small coves do not go the wrong way once you loop around the end of the lake the jet ski beachfront area where there swimming for children is nice but the real good ones are the other three away from the dock there more private secluded and you have less neighbors and less crowding and safer for the kids.

What a great spot to camp!!! I brought a group of about 25 of my friends to Loop 2 with 4 campsites. Chris is the ranger who runs that campground and he was so welcoming when we got there. He went over the guidelines, helped us contact the boating people to let them know we were running late, and then we were off to the lake. It was so easy, and you can tell Chris really cares about the people staying there, thanks Chris! Just be respectful of other campers, I didn’t realize how close and open the campsites in the loops were from each other so its not as woodsy as forest campsites, so there are less barriers to trap sound.
Pyramid lake — Awesome! Highlight of the trip! We had 15 people on 2 pontoon boats for 4 hours and it was perfect. Almost all of us swam in the water, it was a cool temperature and OMG refreshing! Lots of boaters were there, so it was quite busy. There were some reports and complaints about some algae and swimmer’s itch, but none of us had any reaction to the water. The people at the lake will tell you if its unsafe to swim. The woman who worked at the boating rentals office, didn’t catch her name, was beyond patient with my large group. She handled us so well with all of our cash and credit cards, she really made this experience easy. One of our boats got back a little late, we headed back at around 5:15 but the other boat had the map and had taken off earlier in the afternoon. We finally found the dock and again this woman was accommodating to our tardiness. Thank you!
I would definitely come back here, maybe in a smaller group and spend all day on the water. The staff was beyond helpful, they pick up the phone and can help answer any questions. Thank you Lake Pyramid for a safe and fun summer weekend!!!

My family and I had an awesome weekend here. Thanks to Chris in Loop 2 we had a pleasant and exciting time at the campground. We stayed in Loop 2 spot 39 and 41. Its really good for shade but real narrow. I think the best campsites for a big family would have to be the center campgrounds. The Lake was great, the best picnic area is at the far end of the mountain. With lots of shade and sand area where you could park your jet ski or boat. Only thing is in order to get these spots be at the gate by 5 – 5:30 the latest. By 10:00AM there is already a very long line with all the spots taken. The front gate staff were awesome and will answer all your questions. The sheriffs are a bit mean but as long as you don’t call attention to yourself they will leave you alone. In all great place to bring your fam.

Do not swim here! Beware — swimmer’s itch!
My family stopped here to swim on our way to Los Angeles. Within ten minutes my husband and kids got out of the water. My husband mentioned that he itched. Within minutes of getting in the car the kids started screaming. It was almost an hour before we found a place where we could stop. We hosed the kids down. The next day my husband, whose rash was the worst, went to the doctor and was diagnosed with «swimmers itch» — a rash caused by parasites in the water.
There was no warning posted. In fact, we paid $ 17 for my husband and kids to swim. They shouldn’t allow swimming. If this is a seasonal thing, they should at least test the water. It was a horrible experience.

Me and my family really love this place! The staff in loop 4 she was a nice lady! The place was clean, the bathrooms CLEAN! the lake was close about 3 to 5 minutes driving, the only thing is the it need more shade, but other than that a really nice place to camp. site 82 and 84 nice shade!
El lugar esta grande muy limpio y la persona que nos atendio en loop 4 muy atenta persona, si llevan madera o hielo no hay problema ella se lo lleva hasta el sitio de uno $ 7.00 por 6 pedazos de madera y $ 3.00 la bolsa de hielo de 7 lbrs. Los inodoros muy limpios y los espacios son mas grandes en loop 4, algunos tiene sombra otros si necesitan sembrar mas arboles para que haya sombra, pero en si el lugar esta muy bonito!
El lago de emmigrant land esta de 3 a 5 minutos en carro del campamento. Espacio#82 y #84 tienen buena sombra!

We came to this lake two weeks ago and it was actually pretty nice and relaxing. It’s quiet and not so many ppl around. I highly recommend coming just to ski or be on your boat. Beware of swimmers itch when you get in the lake!

This lake is awsome my family had the greates time. Would definitely recommend this place.

This was a great little weekend getaway. We reserved a campsite for one night and that gave us a free pass to access the Lake both days we were there. The camping car hang tag is your ticket in. We did not participate in any Lake activities this time since we brought the dog. Although dogs are allowed near the Lake and around the picnic tables, they are not allowed on the swim beach or in the water. There looked like there was a nice swim beach that costs a couple dollars extra, that might be nice to try next time. The visitor center was also interesting with well done presentations on how water is sourced and moved throughout the State. Great educational thing for the kids and a nice break from the heat with A/​C bathrooms. The Lake also boasts boat rentals at what seems reasonable rates especially if you get a few friends to split the cost. There’s also kayaks and paddle boards.
Back to the camping. The campground is pretty open with very few shaded areas. We stayed in Loop 2 site 29. This site is located along the South East side of the campground loop. I suggest getting a site anywhere in the South East sides of any of the loops. They are more protected from afternoon sun and early morning light from the nearby hills. A little bit of brush and trees along the hillsides will provide some afternoon shade and in the morning the hills will block the sun from heating up your tent really early. Also note that this campground is not located right on the lake. You can’t even see it, but it’s a short couple minutes drive away to Emmigrants Landing where boat rentals, bbq picnic areas, and a swim beach are located. Another couple minutes down from that on the Hwy is the Vista Del Lago Visitor Center and another swim beach and picnic area. Both Lake locations are included in your free access if you’ve paid for a campsite.

My girlfriend and I camped there 6÷13−6÷15 and had a blast. We got in late on Saturday night and Joe and Shelley couldn’t be more helpful! We were in loop 1 and camped at site 8 which I would recommend for big party’s but during the day no shade so I would reserve 1,3, or 14 for the best shade. We rented a pontoon boat for 6 hrs which was awesome in pyramid lake which is a 1−½ miles from the campgrounds, very convenient. Dog friendly at the campgrounds, on the lake, and in the pontoon boat just have to be leashed. Always ask for Joe and Shelley while there, they’re diligent, professional, and will play Wii with you if they like you

Camped here from June 5 – 7 in loop 4, site 76. We had THE BEST time. Our host was amazing and very helpful. The site was pretty big, so we had plenty of space. You can buy a bundle of wood for $ 6 from the hosts as well, which is great.
The lake is about a 5 minute drive down the road. If you are camping, you get into the lake for free, but still need to pay the $ 2 fee if you plan to swim. We rented a pontoon boat for the day. 6 hours @ $ 240. Not bad! There are 2 floating bathrooms (which were clean) and several docks with bathrooms as well all over the lake.
I’ve read reviews that they are anti fun havers there, but we experienced none of that. The people at the lake store were amazing and helpful and as I said, so were our campsite hosts. Would definitely stay there again.

Me and few of my friends went camping here this weekend. There wasn’t that many people here this weekend, which was great. It’s very clean, has 4 bathrooms, water spiget. A guy named Chris is there on site and he will help you with anything, problem with the site, changing to a different site, need info, you can even buy fire wood and ice. He was very helpful and a great guy.
I was in 44 and 45 in loop 2. There are times that it gets very windy but nothing that became a big problem. It’s like 2 miles down from lake pyramid and it has a big parking are on my site where we parked our suv and a trailer with 2 jetskis.
Oh! One really useful tip I can give you guys is, pitch your tent behind a tree or get an area like 38, 39 or 41 where your right next to a hill with trees. The sun rises pretty early and even tho it’s not hot yet, the sun will beat against your tent and make it into a sweat box!!! So protect yourself from the east if you want a little bit more sleep.
Overall, I really had a great time this weekend and I will definitely come back. When you get there hit up Chris and he will take care of you.

I had the most Amazing time Camping with about 20+ people this past Memorial day weekend! We were at campsite 14, 15 & 16. We Even got Rained on while sleeping on Saturday. I love the rain so hearing it outside my tent while sleeping was soothing. It rained early in the am like 2−5am. What’s sad is California’s drought is So Bad When we got up at 7am you couldn’t even tell it rained everything was completely dry. Make certain to bring scarves & Big fluffy jackets no matter what the weather is in the day time, It gets COLD like below 50* at night.
Lake Pyramid is a nice place to camp. The people who worked our area came around like 1x every hour to sell firewood & Ice and ask if we needed any help. They were Very Nice (They mentioned they had only been doing this for like 2 weeks so their definitely NOT the mean individuals who worked here prior that everyone wrote about).
The Bathrooms are kept quite clean. My friends left hand soap in each one (bring your own because it’s not automatically there). I believe only one toilet ran out of toilet paper & that was quickly fixed). Also, Make certain you look on both sides of the restrooms when waiting for one. I had no idea there were 4 stalls rather than 2 until someone told me.
I am NOT a fan of pets (pet lovers IDGAF if you claim your dog doesn’t bite! If it runs towards me I’m going to mace/​taser it #EndOfStory) There were only a few idiots with pets who let their dogs run w/​o leashes luckily they weren’t camping directly by us. They were however by the restrooms. But luckily none ran over directly to us.
Make certain you bring a flashlight it gets dark at night. I also went Hiking which I haven’t done in well over 20+ years. They have several hiking paths. Pyramid Lake is perfect for hiking.
The lake/​pond area is like 2 miles from the campsite (so it’s best to drive to it) they have it roped off for swimming and it does look a little dingy (More mud than lake) so we didn’t swim. We did however rent a boat for 8 people for 2 hours & that was Amazing. The price for the boat is low so definitely check out their rentals.
A majority of my friends were there Friday until Monday (Memorial Day). I was there Saturday-​Sunday. The only reason I didn’t stay longer is because there are NO showers. Other than that Pyramid Lake is a Awesome place to camp Especially if your new to camping. It’s not far from the freeway & easy to get to. They also have a overflow place for vehicles to park. The price on that depends. We got lucky & didn’t have to pay Anything! I’ll definitely go camping there again.

My husband and I recently visited Pyramid Lake Visitor Center (Vista Del Lago) and learned so much about water conservation and where our SoCal water comes from! It was a fun little detour to take, while driving northbound on the I-​5 freeway from LA towards Central Valley. In fact, you’ll see it on the left hand side as you drive up the hills in «the Grapevine».
There are restrooms inside the museum/​visitor center if you need to take a break. A theater + exhibits are available too, and everything is FREE.
SAVE WATER, SAVE CALIFORNIA!
More photos here:

If you love the outdoors and don’t mind dry camping, this is a sweet little spot to stay that is close to Pyramid Lake. The weather was perfect, sunny and low 70s during the day and high 40s at night. The campground itself is very clean.
Restrooms have flush toilets and are well maintained also. Downside (and it’s the only one) is that there isnt hot water in restrooms, or soap and paper towels to wash hands.
Other than that, our camp hosts in Loop 3, Chris and Shelly, were fantastic, very attentive without being invasive. Really friendly couple who truly seem to enjoy what they do.
We always stay in site 22. which provides some afternoon shade from mountain, and is up off the road a bit. We will continue to come back to this spot nestled in the mountains.
Perks:
Quiet atmosphere
Firepits with grill
Level tent sites
Clean restrooms
Close to lake
Great weather
Friendly hosts

A lot of people have commented that they cannot find the shooting grounds here. The grounds are all the way around on the opposite side of the lake, towards the forest area. I have added pictures so you can get an idea. Don’t go there in the Summer though, the Ranger won’t let you shoot if the fire danger is high, best time to go is fall and winter. But they do shut down the shooting areas for hunting season and reserve it just for hunters.