Morris Reservoir, reservoir in the San Gabriel Mountains, California
Morris Reservoir is a storage lake in California located in the San Gabriel Mountains and surrounded by trees and rocky slopes. The water is held back by a concrete dam completed in 1935 that rises more than 200 feet (about 60 meters) above the creek bed.
Morris Dam was completed in 1935 to secure the region's water supply and control flooding. From the 1940s through the 1990s, the area served as a Naval Weapons Test Site for developing and testing torpedoes, missiles, and naval weapons.
Morris Reservoir takes its name from the original family who owned the land. Visitors use the place to walk, fish, or sit by the water and enjoy the quiet surroundings.
Morris Reservoir is located about five miles north of Azusa along California Route 39 and is easy to reach. Bring sturdy shoes and your own supplies, as only minimal facilities are available on site.
This site served for decades as a Naval Weapons Test Site where Polaris missiles and other underwater weapons were developed, making it a significant location in weapons technology history. Today most former buildings have been removed and the area is being restored to its natural state, with trees regrowing and the landscape returning to its wild appearance.
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