Hiking in El Capitan Reservoir: trails, map and practical info

El Capitan Reservoir is a reservoir in central San Diego County, California. It is in the Cuyamaca Mountains, about 30 miles (50 km) northeast of the city of San Diego and two miles northwest of the town of Alpine.
The reservoir is formed by El Capitan Dam on the San Diego River and has a capacity of 112,800 acre feet (139,100,000 m3). The 237-foot (72 m) dam is composed of hydraulic fill and was completed in 1934. The dam is owned by the city of San Diego and its primary purpose is to supply drinking water. It is the largest of the city's reservoirs.
The amount of runoff that enters the reservoir varies considerably. During a 25-year period, it ranged from 1,000 to 70,000 acre feet (86,000,000 m3) per year (39 to 2,700 L/s). The water in the reservoir usually consists of runoff from above the dam, but in years of drought, water is sometimes transferred to it from San Vicente Reservoir, which is the terminus of the First San Diego Aqueduct.
There is limited recreation available at the reservoir. Boating and water skiing are available from May through October. Personal water craft are limited to a designated zone, except when towing someone. Also, the long and narrow north arm of the lake is only open to watercraft on Sundays. Fishing is allowed all year. There is no camping at the lake. The nearest camping site is about 10 miles (16 km) away at Lake Jennings.

In winter

According to the City of San Diego's El Capitan Reservoir page, the reservoir is open Friday through Tuesday, from half an hour before sunrise to sunset, and closed Wednesday and Thursday. It is also closed the first Friday of each month. The page's holiday schedule lists Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day as closed days. For questions, contact the City's Reservoirs and Recreation Program at 619-668-2050 or lakes@sandiego.gov.