Beautiful Beaches
Top Reservoirs in LA for Scenic Views & Walking Paths
Last Updated: August 10, 2026
If you're looking for outdoor escapes that combine nature, recreation, and stunning views, the best reservoirs in Los Angeles offer the perfect getaway. The Silver Lake Reservoir is a favorite for locals, with scenic walking paths, a dog park, and panoramic city views. For those who enjoy hiking and jogging, the Hollywood Reservoir near Lake Hollywood Park provides a peaceful loop trail with breathtaking sights of the iconic Hollywood Sign. Further from the city center, the San Gabriel Reservoir and Big Tujunga Reservoir highlight the rugged beauty of the Angeles National Forest, while Devil's Gate Reservoir and Hansen Dam Reservoir combine flood-control engineering with wide-open hiking, biking, and picnic space. Whether you're seeking a serene place for outdoor exercise, a relaxing stroll, or a quiet escape into nature, the reservoirs in Los Angeles showcase the city's unique balance of urban life and natural landscapes. This 2026 guide highlights 9 top reservoirs in and near the city, from Hollywood Reservoir and Franklin Canyon to the San Gabriel Mountains.
Located in the iconic Hollywood Hills, the Hollywood Reservoir stands as a testament to both natural beauty and cinematic history. A serene oasis born from the ingenuity of William Mulholland's engineering prowess, the Mulholland Dam stands sentinel over the tranquil waters of Lake Hollywood, serving as a vital lifeline for Los Angeles since its inception in 1924. Framed by the silhouette of the Hollywood sign and flanked by Cahuenga Peak and Mount Lee, this picturesque reservoir has played host to numerous movie and TV productions, including the memorable episode "Lake Hollywood" from Ray Donovan's 2016 season, alongside cinematic classics like "Chinatown," "Earthquake," and "Rescue Me." As visitors traverse the 3.4-mile loop encircling the reservoir, they become part of a storied landscape where nature intertwines with the magic of Hollywood, offering a glimpse into the timeless allure of this cinematic haven.
Positioned in the heart of Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California, the Silver Lake Reservoir captivates visitors with its serene beauty and vibrant recreational offerings. Spanning 114 acres, the reservoir boasts two dog parks catering to canines of all sizes, a basketball court for sports enthusiasts, and a playground for children to frolic. Overlooking the shimmering waters lies The Meadow, a sprawling 2.5-acre grassy knoll where visitors can bask in the sun, enjoy picnics, or engage in leisurely games. The Reservoir teems with life, hosting a diverse array of ducks, geese, and other avian species. Renowned in the realm of cinema, Silver Lake has served as a backdrop for numerous iconic films, including the enigmatic "Under The Silver Lake," alongside cinematic classics such as "Pulp Fiction," "Gangster Squad," and "Grease." Additionally, the neighborhood has provided a scenic setting for television series like "The L Word: Generation Q" and "You," further solidifying its status as a cultural landmark intertwined with the magic of Hollywood.
Located in the picturesque landscape of Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, the Franklin Canyon Reservoir offers a tranquil retreat for nature enthusiasts and TV history buffs alike. Spanning 3 acres and adorned with Heavenly Pond, this serene oasis served as a cherished hiking spot for the legendary Katharine Hepburn, who frequented its scenic trails during her time with Spencer Tracy. Tucked below Mulholland Drive, west of Coldwater Canyon, and just moments from the glamour of Beverly Hills, Franklin Canyon Reservoir exudes an aura of escape from the bustling city. With a rich cinematic history dating back to the 1930s, the reservoir has been immortalized on screen in numerous iconic productions. Notably, it stood in for the North Carolina lake in the opening credits of The Andy Griffith Show, while also serving as the backdrop for Claudette Colbert's hitchhiking scene in It Happened One Night. Its tranquil waters have provided settings for beloved TV series including The Brady Bunch, Bonanza, The Waltons, Lassie, and Star Trek, cementing its status as a cherished filming location in Hollywood's rich tapestry of cinematic history.
Devil's Gate Reservoir sits at the heart of Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena, just below the JPL campus at the mouth of the Arroyo Seco. Built in 1920 as one of the region's earliest flood-control dams, the basin behind it is largely a seasonal wetland rather than an open lake today, which has turned the surrounding parkland into one of the San Gabriel Valley's favorite spots for hiking, mountain biking, disc golf, and equestrian trails. Birdwatchers flock here for sightings of herons and hawks among the willows and sycamores, while the nearby JPL Oak Grove trailhead offers sweeping views back down the Arroyo Seco toward the Rose Bowl.
Hansen Dam Reservoir anchors one of the San Fernando Valley's largest recreation areas, with a flood-control basin that holds a dedicated swim lake, equestrian center, disc golf course, and miles of multi-use trails for hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders. The Hansen Dam Aquatic Center's roped-off swim lagoon is a summer favorite for Valley families looking for a beach day without driving to the coast, while the surrounding natural area supports fishing and birdwatching along its wetland edges. With the San Gabriel Mountains rising just to the north, it's a rare spot in Los Angeles where flood control infrastructure doubles as genuine outdoor recreation space.
Once a working LADWP reservoir, the Chatsworth Reservoir basin has largely reverted to a seasonal wetland and is now managed as the Chatsworth Nature Preserve, one of the last significant open spaces in the western San Fernando Valley. The preserve's grasslands and vernal pools support one of the few remaining native habitats in the Valley, drawing birdwatchers and school groups for guided nature walks. Framed by the Santa Susana Mountains to the north, it offers a quieter, wilder alternative to the more manicured reservoirs closer to the city center, with docent-led hikes available through the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.
Tucked into the San Gabriel Canyon above Azusa, the San Gabriel Reservoir is a favorite warm-weather escape for LA hikers looking to swap city heat for shaded swimming holes and granite boulders along the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. The winding drive up San Gabriel Canyon Road passes waterfalls, popular fishing spots, and trailheads into the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, with the reservoir itself offering fishing and scenic overlooks rather than boating. It's a popular day trip for anglers chasing trout and bass, as well as hikers heading further up canyon toward Bridge to Nowhere.
Just downstream from the San Gabriel Reservoir along San Gabriel Canyon Road, Morris Reservoir is best known for its scenic pullouts and the historic Morris Dam, one of the tallest dams in the San Gabriel Mountains. While the reservoir itself has limited direct shoreline access, the surrounding canyon is popular with hikers, rock climbers, and anglers exploring the East and West Forks of the San Gabriel River, and the drive along the canyon floor offers some of the most dramatic mountain scenery within an hour of downtown LA.
Held back by Big Tujunga Dam above Sunland-Tujunga, Big Tujunga Reservoir sits deep in the Angeles National Forest along a winding stretch of the Angeles Forest Highway. Sediment buildup keeps water levels low for most of the year, but the dam overlook and surrounding canyon remain a favorite for scenic drives, motorcycling, and access to nearby hiking trails and the Vogel Flat picnic area. It's less about lakeside recreation and more about rugged forest scenery, making it a good stop for visitors continuing on to the higher trailheads of the San Gabriel Mountains.