Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area

Quarry Lakes is a recreation area spanning about 470 acres with several interconnected lakes formed in old quarry pits. The largest and most accessible lakes like Horseshoe Lake offer swimming, fishing, and boating with varying water depths and sections suited to different activities.

The land was originally part of Mission San Jose but became a gravel quarry starting in 1912 to supply materials for railroad construction in the western part of the country. After mining ended, water filled the old pits and the landscape gradually transformed into the lake recreation area that exists today.

The name reflects its industrial past as a quarry, yet today visitors experience it primarily as a place for swimming, fishing, and boating. The lakes have become a gathering spot where local families spend weekends and people escape from nearby urban areas.

The area is open during daytime hours with parking available at several entrance points, and the best time to visit is during warmer months when lakes and trails are most enjoyable. Paths around the lakes are relatively flat and beginner-friendly, so visitors of different fitness levels can explore the area comfortably.

The area simultaneously functions as a groundwater recharge basin for Alameda County Water District, meaning the lakes play an important role in local water management. This dual purpose as both a recreation site and water storage system is unknown to many visitors who see the lakes only as a leisure destination.