Boating
Vessel Inspection Information
All vessels must be clean, drained, and dry prior to entering Lake Perris. All vessels will be inspected for Quagga and Zebra mussels. Those vessels that do not pass the inspection will not be allowed to enter the Park. The vessel inspections will consist of the following:
Your vessel will undergo a physical inspection, where we will look for:
Clean - No encrustation of mussels, vegetation, algae, or debris on or in the hull, drive/propulsion unit, trolling motor, and other components of your vessel. This includes your vessel's trailer.
Drained - No standing water in the bilge compartment(s), bait tank(s), live well(s), or ballast tank(s). Your vessel's bilge plug must be removed. You will be asked to lower the outdrive on your vessel to ensure that there is no water in the lower unit. Please note that standing water includes any wash water or rain water that may accumulate in your vessel.
Dry - All dock lines, tow lines, anchor lines, carpet, PFD's, ice-chests, live wells, and other items that may be wet must be dried. The interior and exterior of the vessel must be dry as well. The vessel's drive/propulsion unit, trolling motor, outboard, and any other part of the vessel and trailer must be free of water/moisture.
If your vessel fails the inspection, it will be tagged with a red seal and put on a no-launch list for 7 days. After that 7 day period has passed, you may return and have your vessel reinspected.
If you pass inspection and launch your vessel, you will have the option of having your vessel undergo a post inspection after you are done boating for the day. After the post inspection, a seal will be put on your vessel. If you return to Lake Perris or Silverwood Lake with that seal intact, you will be allowed to by-pass the inspection station.
Your understanding and cooperation with our efforts keep Lake Perris free of Quagga and Zebra Mussels is greatly appreciated. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause.
Boating Hours
Summer: 6:00 am - 7:30 pm
Winter: 7:00 am - 5:30 pm
Watercraft without running lights must be off the water by sunset.
Park hours change with Daylight Savings Time.
Last launch is 2 hours before lake closing time.
Lake Perris allows power boats, personal watercraft (jet skis), and non-powered vessels (sail boat, canoe, kayak, stand up paddle boards, etc.) on the water. We accept both 2 and 4 stroke engines.
Boat & Vessel Registration
If you own a sailboat over eight feet long or a boat/vessel with a motor (no matter the size), you must register it with DMV in order to legally operate it on California waterways. You can register your boat/vessel at any DMV field office, or mail your registration application.
BOAT/VESSEL REGISTRATION process
Vessels having valid registration in the state of principal use and not remaining in California over 90 consecutive days do not require CA registration.
Boats and vessels from out of state are required to have Certificate of Ownership: this is your evidence of title to the vessel. Certificates issued will also contain the boat’s identifying number (known as the hull identification number), which is the number permanently marked on the transom by the manufacturer or builder, or the number assigned by the state of issue, and marked on the transom by the owner.
CA DIVISION OF BOATING & WATERWAYS - ABCs of California Boating
California Boating Card
Attention Boaters! Lake Perris wishes to remind everyone of California's new law requiring boat operators to have a California Boating Card. As of January 1, 2025, all motorized vessel operators in the State of California, regardless of age, are required to carry a California Boater Card. This includes Silverwood Lake, Lake Perris, and all other inland waterways as well.
Learn more at https://californiaboatercard.com/about-the-card/
Be a Safe Boater!
Being a strong swimmer doesn't make you drown proof! We recommend that everyone (even if you're an Olympic gold medal champion) wear a life jacket! Every person being towed behind the vessel must wear a lifejacket, at all times.
California law requires that every child under age 13 must wear a life jacket at all times while on a moving vessel of any length. (There are three exceptions: Children are not required to wear a life jacket when they are wearing a harness on a sailboat, when they are in an enclosed cabin, and when they are on a vessel during an emergency rescue.)
For more information, following this LINK and SAVE THE ONES YOU LOVE!