LAKE ELSINORE, CA — With May Gray at the coast, now is the perfect time of year to explore and visit Southwest Riverside County. Visit Temecula Valley has launched its newest campaign, “10Lake Valley,” a campaign focusing on eight communities and 214 square miles of lakes, rivers, cities, mountain peaks, and fertile valleys of Temecula Valley Wine Country.

Visit Temecula Valley CEO Scott Wilson discussed the push to showcase the SoCal wildlands.

“To me, the 10 Lake Valley idea is that this is the ultimate outdoor playground in our area. You get out there in your own backyard,” Wilson said. “My favorite is hiking around Lake Skinner, and Diamond Valley Lake is massive. It’s beautiful and picturesque for fishing and boating. More, to create core memories with your family.”

Area residents regularly hike, bike, fish, boat, or hot-air balloon over much of our slice of Riverside County.

Jogging trails around Diamond Valley Lake, hiking trails along the Santa Rosa Plateau, and camping at Lake Hemet are only some of the area’s hidden gems.

“For the people who play on the edges and carve their own paths, who never leave a scenic route untaken, or a vista unviewed, the combined efforts of the initiative shows the varied regions that Southwest Riverside County has for residents and visitors to enjoy.

One of the top and most recognizable destinations is Temecula Valley Wine Country, spanning over 2,460 acres of vineyards with nearly 50 wineries. But there is much more to the area than that.

Where are the 10 Lakes Of Southwest Riverside County?

Within Southwest Riverside County, there are ten lakes, all distinct for their beauty, water sports, and fishing. They mirror the surrounding communities of Canyon Lake, Hemet, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Murrieta, San Jacinto, Temecula, and Wildomar:

“These enchanting waters nourish our spirits, flourish our lands, and cultivate a refreshing sense of serenity and connection. So whether you’re here for thrills and watersports or chilling out on the water in the sun, these 10 lakes will stir your soul,” according to the website.

1. Canyon Lake: Welcome to the paradise of this close-knit lakeside community. When you visit,enjoy the hiking, pubs, and clubs and the sprawl of lakes and beaches.
2. Diamond Valley Lake: Surrounded by mountains, come to enjoy the stunning vistas. Home of “monster-sized” fish, you can rent boats or e-bikes at the marina, or walk the 22.7 mile trails around the lake.
3. Heritage Lake: A 1.3 mile walking trail surrounds this 25-acre lake. Come to use outdoor exercise equipment, sports equipment and children’s play areas.
4. Lake Elsinore: Ideal for outdoor adventure enthusiasts, skydiving, hang-glide, wingsuit or boat, jet ski, and windsurfing.
5. Lake Hemet: Fishing and camping lovers, the mountain lake of Lake Hemet offers glamping and lakefront cabins, boat rentals and a swim zone. Seasonally stocked with rainbow and lightning trout, and fish year-round for blue gill, crappie, bass and catfish.
6. Lake Perris: Birdwatchers paradise, this lake is ideal for hiking, biking, scuba diving, water sports, nature walks, horseback riding and fishing.
7. Lake Skinner: Camping, picnicking, splash pad, hiking, horseback, riding, sailing, fishing and non-body contact boating. Day use available. The location of the annual Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival.
8. Menifee Lakes: Surrounded by two 18-hole golf courses, this lake stretches over 36 acres of waterways this lake is an idyllic backdrop of golfers, casual walkers and hikers.
9. Mystic Lake: Another birdwatcher’s paradise, Mystic lake sees 200 identified species of birds annually and sits adjacent to a 9,000 San Jacinto Wildlife area.
10. Vail Lake: Visit the KOA campground and check out the lake for bass fishing, bike park, a world-class bike park with 25-miles of trails, obstacles, flow track and races for mountain biking and BMX.

While Lake Skinner is a reservoir, with no body contact but fishing and boating allowed, lakes like Diamond Valley Lake, Lake Hemet, and Lake Elsinore attract visitors interested in water sports like fishing, kayaking, windsurfing, boating, water skiing, and jet skiing.

The project was in keeping with the statewide initiative to get tourism on track. To do that, extensive research was conducted, deciding on the locally known but not often shared outdoor activities around our many lakes. The result was the 10Lake Valley website and ad campaign, built to educate those who wish to come, stay, and play here. Financing for the project was bolstered by 2022 ARPA funds, according to Wilson.

Chuck Washington, Riverside County’s Third District Supervisor, discussed the project to expand local tourism beyond the valley.

“What many people don’t know about Southwest Riverside County is that there are many unique areas waiting to be discovered, and that’s what 10Lake Valley is all about,” Washington said. “I am immensely proud of this initiative, which showcases the incredible beauty of our region and creates new opportunities for exploration and adventure for our visitors.”

Learn more by exploring online at 10lakevalley.com.

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HEMET, CA — Riverside County supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved the allocation of $796,680 in federal relief funds to support a Hemet youth program aimed at encouraging participants to pursue fire service or related careers.

“I applaud (county Housing & Workforce Solutions) for making this happen,” Supervisor Kevin Jeffries said. “A community fire cadet program is something we don’t have much of in the county for young men and women looking for a public safety career. I thank everybody for making this happen.”

Housing & Workforce Solutions sought the allotment of American Rescue Plan Act funds for expansion and further development of the existing Hemet Community Fire Cadet Program.

Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez, whose Fifth District encompasses Hemet and San Jacinto, is a major supporter of the program, which he described as an effort to encourage high schoolers and college-age residents to “explore opportunities in public safety.”

“The program will impact the county as a whole, as the youth (who) complete it will have the opportunity to … become viable candidates to fill vacant public safety positions throughout the county,” according to an HWS statement.

The county will enter into a roughly 30-month contract with the Hemet Fire Department to expand its Community Fire Cadet Program, offering up to 60 participants paid internship training opportunities, in courses that run about eight weeks long.

The contract will expire in December 2026.

“The partnership with the (fire department) will provide vocational training assistance and direct connection to established vocational training programs that offer further training and preparation to become an emergency medical technician, firefighter or paramedic,” HWS said.

The amounts slated to be paid to those who qualify for the program were not specified.

The board appropriated $6.2 million in ARPA funds to HWS for a range of uses.

In 2021, the county received $480 million in ARPA money and almost $500 million in 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act allocations.

The funds have been used for homeless and rental assistance programs, along with other social welfare efforts, but they’ve also been appropriated for capital improvement projects.

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