Free Admission, Fishing for Vets at Lake Cahuilla

Free Admission and Fishing at Lake Cahuilla for Veterans and Service Members During Memorial Day Weekend

LA QUINTA – As a way to honor and thank all who have served this country, Riverside County is offering free admission and fishing at Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park during Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 29 through Monday, May 31.

The lake was stocked this week with 409 pounds of catfish.

Free admission is open to active duty military personnel, veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard and federal and state reservists, and all other guests in the vehicle. Free entry also covers all day use activities such as fishing. To qualify, veterans need to present valid proof of military service.

For the general public, Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park will have a special $20 per vehicle entry fee on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31.

Those fishing need a state fishing license, required for anyone 16 and older. The state fishing license is not sold at Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park, but can be purchased at retailers.

Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park is located at 58075 Jefferson Street, La Quinta, CA  92253. Summer hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday through Tuesday, with special nighttime fishing hours on catfish stocking Fridays (see schedule on park’s Web page).

“We welcome veterans, their families and the community to enjoy Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park this Memorial Day weekend,” said Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “Our goal and vision are for this park to be a place for veterans to call their own, a safe space for veterans to come and hike, ride a horse, go fishing, or just to relax.”

In August 2017, Lake Cahuilla Regional Park was renamed to Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park in honor of veterans. The renaming measure included free entry to the park for veterans and military every Memorial Day weekend (Saturday-Monday) and Veterans Day (every November 11). The park features flags of each military branch, dedication plaques, lighting and landscaping pathways.

The county park was the site of the first Veterans Fishing Derby in April, an event Supervisor Perez and veterans organizations worked together on to make veterans aware of this recreational resource and draw veterans out to the lake more.

“Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park is a beautiful resource for families to come to and bring your kids to and it doesn’t cost a lot,” said Bill Young, a U.S. Air Force veteran and founder of the Coachella Valley’s annual Veterans Expo. “It has a bonanza of activities, from the lake, camping areas, a playground, and many spots for enjoying nature. We want to keep up the focus on letting veterans know this park exists and is located in our backyard in the Coachella Valley.”

Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park is operated by the Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District via a lease with the Coachella Valley Water District and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.