By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY

Staff Writer

Now that fall has begun, do not cross Lake Gregory off your list of places to visit and things to do.  The Friday night summer concert series and Market Nights will be continuing through the end of October from 4 to 8 p.m., weather permitting.

These market nights are pet and family friendly. There is a food court for those wanting to eat hot foods, plus farm fresh produce and a booth from Goodwin’s Market. There is beer and wine available and more than 20 other vendors offer services and many hand-made items. Free parking is provided in the large south shore parking lot. The last day will be Friday, Oct. 27, due to the unpredictable weather of winter arriving.

Both trails around the lake remain open during the winter during daylight hours. They are easily accessible from the road at numerous access points. The lower trail next to the lakeshore has numerous exercise stations along the way on the eastern end of the lake. The upper trail adjacent to the road is wide enough for strollers and wheelchairs and has fewer up and down hills on the route. Both trails have free dog parks located along the trail; the new, larger one, adjacent to the meadow, is also next to the parking lot near the Bait and Tackle Shop and the San Moritz Lodge. The Bait and Tackle Shop is also where E-bikes can be rented on weekends. Reserve them at Lakegregory.com.

Lake Gregory is the most serene lake in the San Bernardino Mountains where kayakers, especially those who enjoy an early morning paddle, rave about the opportunity to photograph and listen to the wild birds and ducks, plus sometimes getting the opportunity to watch the forest animals drink from along the shore. Without loud motorized boats creating waves, the peaceful lake is a delight for standup boarders, who sometimes just lie down and float across the smooth water of the lake in the middle of the day and soak up the sunshine. Anyone may launch their own personal kayak, standup boards and other non-gasoline powered watercraft for fishing or for pleasure for only $10 a day; a yearlong launch pass is $89, which is valid from January through December.

The boathouse, which is located on the north shore, is open year-round from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is where Duffy boats, fishing boats with electric motors, kayaks, standup paddle boards, aqua-cycles and more can be rented year-round; reserve them in advance at lakegregory.com.

Lake Gregory has become known as one of the best fishing lakes in Southern California. One of the reasons is it is well stocked with a variety of fish through most of the summer; stocking will resume in spring when the water gets warmer. This last summer, 4,500 catfish were stocked to increase that population, which had been ignored for years.

Lake Gregory is considered one of the best trout fishing lakes in Southern California with lightning, rainbow and brown trout, but it also has largemouth bass, crappie and carp.  Shore fishing at Lake Gregory is from sunup to sunset year round and it is only $89 for a year’s fishing pass or $10 a day at LakeGregory.com/fishing. Fishermen must have a California fishing license.

Lake Gregory Regional Park is fun all year and, of course, the park also has the basketball and tennis courts, a children’s playground and skateboard park operating year-round during daylight hours, located between the west side of Lake Gregory Drive and Forest Shade Road. Pickleball is played there weekly.

For more information on any of these activities, call the Lake Gregory Company at (909) 338-2233 or see their website, lakegregory.com.