Connectivity
No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Glory Hole Recreation Area
New Melones Lake, California
About this campground
Glory Hole Recreation Area is located at New Melones Lake on the Stanislaus River.
Hiking, fishing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, boating, sailing and road and mountain biking are just a few of the activities available in Glory Hole Recreation Area.
Glory Hole Recreation Area is surrounded by many places of natural beauty including Natural Bridges, Camp Nine, Yosemite National Park, Stanislaus National Forest, Moaning Caverns, Big Trees State Park and Columbia State Park.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 38.007500° N
- Longitude
- 120.540278° W
Know before you arrive
Access, sites & campground features
Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.
Access
- Hike-in
- Walk-inPublished approach distance: 85 ft
- Drive-in
- Boat-in
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sites
- Standard campsites
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic table
- FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
- Amphitheater
- ADA access
- Pets allowedDogs are allowed at Glory Hole Recreation Area when kept on a leash no longer than six feet. Pets may not be left unattended, and they are not allowed on the Natural Bridges trail.
- Reservable
For vehicles
- Sanitary dump
- Parking
- Paved parking
- Electric hookups
- Pull-through sites
- Big rig friendlyPublished vehicle length up to 90 ft
Official campground guide
Plan with the full campground details
Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.
Overview
Glory Hole Recreation Area is located at New Melones Lake on the Stanislaus River. The 12,500 surface-acre lake is the fourth largest reservoir in California and is situated along the edge of the Mother Lode, the rich gold vein that prompted the California Gold Rush of 1849. At an elevation of 1100 feet, the diverse and resource-abundant Foothill Oak Woodlands hug the 100 miles of shoreline.
Popular activities on and around the large, yet uncrowded lake include fishing, boating, water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing, sailing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, wildlife viewing, rock climbing, hiking, biking, horseback riding and picknicking. The New Melones Visitor Center offers year-round interpretive events and a museum highlighting natural and cultural resources.
Facilities
The campground provides modern amenities like flush toilets, showers and drinking water. Visitors will also find a full-service marina, boat launch, day-use areas, barbeque grills and a fish cleaning station. There is an amphitheater for Ranger programs and horseshoe pits in the Ironhorse campground. Picnic tables and fire rings are provided at each campsite.
Recreation Area entrance gates close at 9:00 PM, and open at 4:00 AM. Exit gates are never closed.
Recreation
Hiking, fishing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, boating, sailing and road and mountain biking are just a few of the activities available in Glory Hole Recreation Area. Camping is also permitted in designated campsites.
Equestrian trails are also present in the Peoria Wildlife Mitigation Area and open for the general public. Other interesting sites include Natural Bridges, which can be accessed from Parrott's Ferry Road and has a nice hiking trail and a creek that flows through a marble cave. The Table Mountain Trail provides visitors an opportunity to hike to the top of an extensive lava flow which occurred over nine million years ago.
Natural Features
New Melones Lake is located in Northern California between the historic gold rush towns of Sonora and Angels Camp. The terrain varies from rolling hills to steep marble cliffs, and the vegetation consists of oaks, Ponderosa pines, chamise and buckbrush shrubs.
Visitors can experience the beauty of New Melones by hiking the many trails in the Tuttletown and Glory Hole Recreation Areas.
The climate is Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. For those who wish to venture outside the main recreation areas, there are many unique places to visit. Overall, the geography is quite varied and provides many opportunities for all types of recreation.
Nearby Attractions
Glory Hole Recreation Area is surrounded by many places of natural beauty including Natural Bridges, Camp Nine, Yosemite National Park, Stanislaus National Forest, Moaning Caverns, Big Trees State Park and Columbia State Park.
Angels Camp Museum, Calaveras County Museum and Sonora Military Museum also provide great opportunities for learning interesting information about the area.
Surrounding communities are popular vacation and retirement destinations and provide necessary services and shopping opportunities. Golfing, snow skiing, river rafting, commercial caves, historical railroad and Native American museums are close by as well.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Day Use Area
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Interpretive Programs
- Camping
- Boating
- Biking
- Birding
- Jet Skiing
- Kayaking
- Mountain Biking
- Non-Motorized Boating
- Paddle Boating
- Star Gazing
- Swimming
- Water Skiing
- Swimming Site
- Water Access
Amenities and facility features
- Flush toilets
- Showers
- Potable water
- Picnic tables
- Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame
- Dump station
- Amphitheater
- Pets allowedFollow the exact facility restrictions
- Accessible Campsites
- Accessible Flush Toilets
- Accessible Parking
- Accessible Showers
- Boat Ramp
- Boat Trailer Parking
- Campfire Rings
- Coin Showers
- Day Use Area
- Entrance Station
- Fish Cleaning Stations
- Host
- Lake Access
- Marina
- Non-Potable Water
- Paved Parking
- Picnic Area
- RV Parking
- Trailheads
- Vault Toilets
- Water Spigot
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
RV Non-Electric
55 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer, Vehicle
- Maximum people
- 8
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 80 ft
- Check-in
- 3:00 PM
- Check-out
- 2:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- 5 flagged accessible
Standard Non-Electric
68 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer, Vehicle
- Maximum people
- 8
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 90 ft
- Check-in
- 3:00 PM
- Check-out
- 2:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- 6 flagged accessible
Walk To
20 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Tent, Vehicle
- Maximum people
- 4
- Maximum vehicles
- 1
- Maximum vehicle length
- 15 ft
- Check-in
- 3:00 PM
- Check-out
- 2:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Management
1 site- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer, Vehicle
- Maximum people
- 8
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 50 ft
- Check-in
- 3:00 PM
- Check-out
- 2:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Site rules, inventory & rates
Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.
Site rules
- Base site allowance
- https://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/planning-visit/camping.html
- Max Changes
- 3 change(s) per reservation
- Max Concurrent Stay
- 4 campsite(s) held
- Maximum stay
- 14 consecutive days
- Max Simultaneous Reservations
- 8 reservations
- Max Stay
- 14 days
- Max Transaction Reservations
- 4 reservations per transaction
- Reservation cutoff
- 0 days before arrival
- Maximum published vehicles
- 2 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 3:00 PM
- Check-out
- 2:00 PM
- Food storage
- Glory Hole Recreation Area's official facility record checked 2026-10-16 does not publish a food-storage method; confirm the posted rule with New Melones Lake.
- Fire and stove use
- Glory Hole Recreation Area's current Bureau of Reclamation notice prohibits wood and charcoal fires during the 2026 New Melones burn ban; propane-fueled stoves remain allowed.
- Pets
- Dogs are allowed at Glory Hole Recreation Area when kept on a leash no longer than six feet. Pets may not be left unattended, and they are not allowed on the Natural Bridges trail.
Inventory window
Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.
- Currently bookable through
- Apr 18, 2027
- Next release
- Oct 19, 2026, 7:00 AM PDT
- Next book-through date
- Apr 19, 2027
- Group sites bookable through
- Oct 18, 2027
Published seasons & rates
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak SeasonJan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026 | RV Non-Electric | $22 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonJan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $22 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonJan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026 | Walk To | $18 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonJan 1, 2027 – Dec 31, 2027 | RV Non-Electric | $22 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonJan 1, 2027 – Dec 31, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $22 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonJan 1, 2027 – Dec 31, 2027 | Walk To | $18 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonJan 1, 2028 – Dec 31, 2028 | RV Non-Electric | $22 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonJan 1, 2028 – Dec 31, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $22 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonJan 1, 2028 – Dec 31, 2028 | Walk To | $18 | — | — |
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- PLEASE HEAD STRAIGHT TO YOUR CAMPSITE UPON ARRIVAL There will be a reservation tag and 1 or 2 vehicle tags clipped to your campsite's post. Please leave the reservation tag on the post and place the vehicle tag(s) inside your vehicle(s) with dates visible. Contact a Park Ranger if you have any questions.
- At New Melones Lake there is a 14-day camping limit within a 30-day period.
- Check-In time is 3:00pm . Check-Out time is 2:00pm . Please collect and dispose of your camp tags at check-out. • Switching campsites after check-in is not permitted. Please contact a Park Ranger for assistance.
- The recreation area entrance gate closes at 9:00pm . • Vehicle entry after the gate is closed is prohibited. Exit at any time.
- Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. until 8 a.m. During quiet hours, loud noise is prohibited. • Excessive noise (audible beyond 50ft) at any time is prohibited.
- Camping fees include boat launch and day-use fees. Two vehicles are permitted in standard campsites. One vehicle is permitted in walk-to sites. All vehicles must display a campground vehicle tag or an overflow vehicle parking receipt. • Vehicles must remain on paved roads and parking spots. Off-roading is prohibited.
- Campfires are only allowed in fire rings or grills in designated areas. Campfires must be attended at all times and extinguished completely before leaving. • Campers may collect only dead and down wood for campfires. Chainsaw use is not allowed on property. During National Weather Service "Red Flag Warning" days and facility fire bans, wood and charcoal fires will not be permitted.
- All pets must be on a maximum six-foot (1.8 m) leash at all times. Leaving your pets unattended is not permitted.
- The dump station is out of order at this time.
- While recreating at New Melones Reservoir: CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY boats and any other recreational equipment that comes in contact with water. Never dump unwanted bait, worms, fish parts or other organisms into the water. For more information visit https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/ STOP THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES. REMOVE plants, seeds, animals and mud from boots, gear, pets, and vehicles. CLEAN your gear before entering and leaving the recreation site. STAY on designated roads and trails and use local firewood. For more information visit https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/
- If New Melones Lake elevation is below 870', boat ramps are not available. "Water front" campsites may also not be available. Park maps depict an elevation around 1050 feet. Current lake elevation: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/dynamicapp/QueryMM?Stations=NML&SensorNums=6&End=2021-07-19&span=1+month
Getting there & contact
Official directions
From Sacramento take 99 S, 88 W and 12 E to San Andreas. Take 49 S for approximately 15 miles. Turn right onto Whittle Ranch Road and follow the road 2 miles to the recreation area. From Central California and the Bay Area take 80 E, 580 E then 205 E to 120 E in Manteca. Take the exit for 120 E/99 N. Continue on 120 E, then take 108 E to 49N. Turn left onto Whittle Ranch Road and follow the road 2 miles to the recreation area.
Facility contact
209-536-9094