Overview

Tuttletown 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 Foothill Oak Woodlands hug the 100 miles of shoreline.

Popular activities on and around the large lake include fishing, boating, water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing, sailing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, wildlife viewing, rock climbing, hiking, biking, and picknicking. The New Melones Visitor Center offers year-round interpretive events and a museum highlighting natural and cultural resources.

*COMING APRIL 2021: A new disc-golf course is being constructed and will be available for play! 

Facilities

The campground provides modern conveniences like flush toilets, showers and water spigots. Visitors will also find a fish cleaning station and electric vehicle charging station in the Lupine day use area. 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.

Natural Features

Recreation

Hiking, fishing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, boating, sailing and biking are just some of the activities available in Tuttletown Recreation Area. Equestrian trails are also present in the Peoria Wildlife Mitigation Area and open for the general public. Camping is also permitted in designated campsites.

Other interesting sites include Natural Bridges, which can be accessed from Parrott's Ferry Road. It has a hiking trail and creek that flow 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.

Nearby Attractions

Contact Info

Important Notices

• 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 an additional $8 for registered campers or $4 for Senior/Access pass holder campers. Please pay using the automated fee station at the park entrance. 

• 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 910', 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 

Available Activities

• Wildlife Viewing - Wildlife Viewing
• Hiking - Hiking
• Fishing - Fishing
• Camping - Camping
• Boating - Boating
• Mountain Biking - Mountain Biking
• Birding - Birding
• Jet Skiing - Jet Skiing
• Kayaking - Kayaking
• Non-Motorized Boating - Non-Motorized Boating
• Paddle Boating - Paddle Boating
• Star Gazing - Star Gazing
• Swimming - Swimming
• Water Access - Water Access
• Water Skiing - Water Skiing
• Interpretive Programs - Interpretive Programs

Directions

<p>From Sacramento take 99 S, 88 W and 12 E to San Andreas. Take 49 S for approximately 20 miles. Turn right onto Reynolds Ferry Road and follow the road 2 miles to the recreation area.</p> <p>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. Take 108 E to 49N. Turn left onto Reynolds Ferry Road and follow the road 2 miles to the recreation area.</p>

Cancellation Policy

<p>All site changes and cancellations need to be done through the Recreation.gov website. </p>

Contact Information

Phone: 209-536-9094

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip