Riverside - Boating

The lakes that scatter San Bernardino National Forest and the San Bernardino Mountains are usually small, well-suited for canoes and other small craft. But head out past lakes like Jenks Lake and Lake Gregory if you're looking for a wider surface to boat. Big Bear Lake, fed by snow-melt, is nearby, and the north end of the salty Salton Sea, massive on a scale rarely seen in California lakes, is less than 100 miles from downtown Riverside. Closer at hand is Lake Perris State Recreation Area, equipped with sandy beach, swimming areas and boat launches in proximity to popular climbing sites  (horses are also available for rent on local trails).