Silverwood Lake, Reservoir in California, United States
Silverwood Lake is a reservoir in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California, fed by water from the West Branch of the Mojave River. It sits at around 4,400 feet (1,350 m) above sea level, surrounded by pine forest and open hillsides that shift between green and golden depending on the season.
The lake was formed in the early 1970s when the Cedar Springs Dam was completed and held back the flow of the Mojave River. It is part of the California State Water Project, a network that moves water from the wetter northern part of the state to the drier south.
The lake draws many families and groups from the Greater Los Angeles area and the Inland Empire looking for a day near the water. On hot weekends, the beaches and picnic areas fill up, and boats of all kinds share the surface of the water.
The Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area has several entry points around the shore, each with parking, a beach, or picnic areas. Weekday visits tend to be quieter than weekends, especially during summer when the area gets busy.
Even though the lake serves as a drinking water reservoir, swimming is officially allowed in certain areas, which is unusual for a water supply facility of this type. The water is eventually pumped through the California Aqueduct system to reach urban areas far to the south, a connection most visitors never think about while on the shore.
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