Barbosa Lake – South Bay’s Hidden Gem

In the movie “Searching”, Margot Kim is last known to be at Barbosa Lake where she liked to visit to get away.  So you live in the Bay Area and want to Barbosa Lake to do some Barbosa Chillin?

Does Barbosa Lake really exist?

No, Barbosa Lake is a made up location by writer and director, Aneesh Chaganty.  Barbosa Lake is not a hidden gem in the bay area.  Let’s take a look what the actual Google Maps looks like when you keep going down Highway 152, Pacheco Pass Hwy.

Searching Barbosa Location
Searching Barbosa Location
Barbosa Lake Location
Barbosa Lake Location

In the movie Searching, Santa Cruz Mountains – South Bay is shown as the following

Santa Cruz Mountains - South Bay
Santa Cruz Mountains – South Bay

This is what it actually looks like.  The writer worked with Google to fabricate the map around the area.  In reality, Barbosa Lake is known as San Felipe Lake and looks nothing like the scene from the movie.  You would need to drive on dirt roads or park near by to walk to it.

Barbosa Lake in Real Life
Barbosa Lake in Real Life

Aerial view looks like this.

San Felipe Lake
San Felipe Lake

“Searching” takes place in South Bay, San Jose, California.  Several references for the real life Bay Area are used such as the tech companies like Google, Apple, Facebook.  Perhaps it was inspired by the Sierra LaMar murder case.  “San Jose Fins” hockey jersey instead of “San Jose Sharks” and the “Silicon Valley Police Department” while hunting for Margot Kim, and the case was set near Gilroy or what’s also labeled as Santa Cruz Mountains.

Where is Barbosa Lake located?

Barbosa Lake is a fictional location made by the write Aneesh Chaganty.

The closest location by Google Maps, would be San Felipe Lake located west of Gilroy.

You can stop by if you’re driving from the Bay Area to Los Angeles or vice versa

Barbosa Lake
Barbosa Lake

If you want to find the actual Lake used, the film was not actually filmed in the Bay Area.

If you still want to let your imagination run wild, this is how big the Santa Cruz Mountains is

Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz Mountains

So let’s get to the more important question

Fish_n_Chips

Fish_n_Chips : What is your favorite Pokemon?

Summary
Barbosa Lake - South Bay's Hidden Gem
Article Name
Barbosa Lake - South Bay's Hidden Gem
Description
In the movie "Searching", Margot Kim is last known to be at Barbosa Lake where she liked to visit to get away.  So you live in the Bay Area and want to Barbosa Lake to do some Barbosa Chillin? 
Author
Mashew

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