Picturesque Lake Hemet is a
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Lake Hemet's scenery makes other Southern California lakes look almost barren by comparison. It is located on Mount San Jacinto at approximately 4,300 feet in elevation and is surrounded by a forest of ponderosa pine trees. It offers camping and picnic facilities plus it also features hiking trails for the more adventurous person. And hiking trails add up to lots of great photographic locations as well.
A tiny bit of snow remains on the rocks along the shoreline of Lake Hemet.
A bush with small flower buds grows along the shoreline of Lake Hemet.
Lake Hemet (some call it Hemet Lake) is a mountain reservoir which saw it's dam completed way back in 1895. It is a favorite spot for local fishermen who catch rainbow trout, catfish, largemouth bass and bluegill fish in the lake's waters. A hiking trail encircles the lake and provides lots of great shoreline vantage points for those inclined to take photographs (like me!).
View of the hiking trail which encircles Lake Hemet. It is not difficult to get off by yourself and explore the lake shoreline.
There are lots of large rocks and boulders around the perimeter of the lake.
A pass allows you to park at most scenic mountain locations and runs $5 for a single day. You can get a one-year pass for $30. The Adventure Pass is also good for other Southern California lakes such as Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead.
Snow melts on top of shoreline rocks in this view which looks north toward the forested hillside. The south side of the lake actually has more dense wooded areas.
This is another view looking north from the shoreline.
It is very easy to get off by yourself at Lake Hemet - especially if you visit it on weekdays. While it is not a large lake (like Lake Tahoe in the northern part of the state), it does have a lot of charm and appeal. One can get the feeling of being alone in the wilderness by simply taking a walk along the lakeshore trail. Yet the mountain town of Idyllwild is only a short 20 minute drive away.
A lone barren tree grows at the waters edge in this view looking east.
This photo was taken in January and shows a patch of snow on one of the lakeshore boulders. Shortly after I took this shot, a snowstorm brought more than 3 feet of new snow to the mountain.
The water along the northern shore is very calm and still. There are many boulders and rocks to climb on and lots of nooks and inlets to explore.
To be sure, there are many other better known California lakes than this one. However, Lake Hemet offers city dwellers in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Palm Springs a place to get away from it all. It is not far from all three metropolitan areas. But the beautiful forest scenery is very different from what lies at the foot of the mountain below. I heartily recommend a visit to Mount San Jacinto.
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Some of the boulders are pretty large in size around the perimeter of the lake. There are beautiful granite peaks at higher elevations on Mount San Jacinto and on nearby Mount San Gorgonio.
One more look at Lake Hemet on Mount San Jacinto. Although it is one of the lesser known California lakes, it is definitely worth seeing.
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