Kumeyaay Lake in Santee sits within Mission Trails Regional Park, a 7,220-acre preserve that encompasses Cowles Mountain, the San Diego River corridor, and over 60 miles of hiking, mountain-biking, and equestrian trails. The lake, a former gravel pit converted into an artificial freshwater habitat with riparian and chaparral plant communities, anchors a 46-site campground operated by the City of San Diego — a camping resource that complements the family-oriented recreation at Mast Park on Carlton Hills Boulevard. A 1.3-mile out-and-back trail circles the western shoreline and crosses a floating bridge, offering birding access in a habitat shared by waterfowl, mule deer, coyotes, and gray fox. Campers access the grounds via Father Junipero Serra Trail off Mission Gorge Road, with proximity to Carlton Oaks Country Club and overnight lodging at Carlton Oaks Lodge on Carlton Oaks Drive. The campground's 46 sites accommodate both tent-only and RV configurations, with designated fire rings, restroom facilities with hot showers, and a reservation system that limits stays to two consecutive nights on standard weekends and three nights on select holiday weekends.