January is an excellent time to visit Lake Perris, and enjoy the quiet of winter kayaking. Created in 1973 as a reservoir in the California State Water Project, this manmade lake is a popular destination in summer, and is often crowded with boats and jet skiers when the temps hit the 90s. In the early part of the year, however, fewer boats are out on the lake, making it ideal for kayaking in solitude.
Home to more than a hundred species of birds ranging from roadrunners to pelicans, Lake Perris provides enjoyable hours of bird watching while on the water. Make Alessandro Island, located nearly at the center of Lake Perris, your target and enjoy a hike, too. This island is a great place for a stopover with amenities such as picnic tables, grills, shade ramadas, and restrooms.
The park is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with boating hours from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Entry to the park is $10 per vehicle. There are additional fees for bringing in watercrafts; kayaks are free. If you don’t own a kayak, you can rent one. Rocky Mountain Recreation Company, the concessionaire at the Lake Perris Marina, offers kayaks, canoes and small boats to rent by the hour or all day.
Make the plunge into 2018 in a kayak with a winter paddle at Lake Perris.
