Cleghorn Day Use Area + Swim Beach

Situated at the southwesternmost point on Silverwood Lake and within the Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area, Cleghorn Day Use Area and Swim Beach is an ideal place to spend an afternoon. This kid-friendly beach is staffed by lifeguards during the summer months and has reservable picnic shelters. The water just off the sandy beach area is off limits to power boats, which renders the shallow water less choppy than you'll find in other areas of the lake.

Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area has many fantastic amenities, including ample parking areas, multiple boat launches, 13 miles of nature trails, group campgrounds, the Mesa Campground, restrooms, showers, and viewpoints. The land is home to a wide variety of animals and plants, many of which were impacted by the Old Fire in 2003 that burned 91,000 acres in the vicinity around Silverwood Lake. Keep and eye out for aquatic birds, such as great blue herons and various birds of prey. You might also catch glimpses of ringtails, wood rats, or brush rabbits. Spend the night at one of the nearby campsites and you might also see nocturnal critters such as coyotes and grey foxes. The lake itself is part of an aqueduct, and many species of fish reside in its waters, including trout, bass, and crappies.

The Pacific Crest Trail cuts through the Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area. At 2,650 miles long, the PCT runs from Canada to Mexico, and hundreds of people hike part or all of the trail annually. The trail intersects with Cleghorn Road and skirts the day use area. Keep an eye out for backpackers making their way along the PCT. 

You may also want to check out other nearby adventures such as the Silverwood Lake Swim Beach, Aztec Falls, and the Upper Deep Creek Canyon to Devils Hole.