Tuttletown Recreation Area
New Melones Lake
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!
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.
Notifications and Alerts
Effective immediately, Reclamation will require all boats launching at Lake Berryessa to participate in a seal program to prevent the spread of invasive mussels. All vessels wishing to launch at Lake Berryessa will be inspected. A red quarantine seal will be applied for 30 days during, which the vessel will not be permitted to launch. Vessels that have finished the 30-day quarantine may return to the lake and have the seal removed by authorized staff and will be allowed to launch. For more information on this updated protocol, please view the press release here: https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/news-release/5031.
The Tuttletown boat launch is closed due to invasive Golden Mussels found in the Delta. To launch, please go to Glory Hole at 8AM-4PM and speak with ranger staff to begin your 30-day quarantine.
As of 2/23, the park entrance gate closure time has been changed to 8PM.
Need to Know
If the entrance station is closed, please proceed to your reserved campsite. There will be a reservation tag and 1 or 2 green hangable car tags clipped to your campsite's post. Please leave the reservation tag on the post and put the other(s) inside your vehicle(s). Please find a Camp Host or Park Ranger if you have questions.
All vehicles must stay on paved roads and parking spots.
Two vehicles permitted in standard campsites. One vehicle permitted in walk-to sites.
Check in time is 3:00pm. Check out time is 2:00pm.
Switching campsites after check-in is not permitted. Please contact a Park Ranger.
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.
Camping fees include boat launch fees.
Campfires are only allowed in fire rings or grills in designated areas.
During National Weather Service "Red Flag Warning" days, wood and charcoal fires will not be permitted.
At New Melones Lake there is a 14 day camping limit within a 30 day period.
Recreation area entrance gates close at 9:00pm.
Vehicle entry after the gates are closed is prohibited. Exit at any time.
Showers are located in each campground and are $0.50. Please bring your own quarters.
Due to the condition of our trees (for your safety and for the safety of our natural resources) tree hammocks are not permitted.
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
While recreating at New Melones Reservoir:
CLEAN, DRAIN, 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/
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
Tuttletown Recreation Area is surrounded by countless 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 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 also located nearby.
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.
Changes & Cancellations
All site changes and cancellations need to be done through the Recreation.gov website.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
TUTTLETOWN RECREATION AREA 6850 STUDHORSE FLAT ROAD SONORA CA 95370
Physical Address
TUTTLETOWN RECREATION AREA 7200 REYNOLDS FERRY ROAD SONORA CA 95370
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 209-536-9094
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
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.
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.
Available Campsites
- Site 132, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 131, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 110, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 032, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 148, Loop Chamise Sites 145-161, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 137, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 115, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 125, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 142, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 061, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 070, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 159, Loop Chamise Sites 145-161, Type Walk To
- Site 160, Loop Chamise Sites 145-161, Type Walk To
- Site 047, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 001, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G01, Loop Fiddleneck Group Site, Type Group Standard Nonelectric
- Site 052, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 042, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 087, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 157, Loop Chamise Sites 145-161, Type Walk To
- Site 067, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 108, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 017, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 025, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 022, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 107, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 051, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 040, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 023, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 119, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 085, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 117, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 147, Loop Chamise Sites 145-161, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 112, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 065, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 139, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 004, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 113, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 103, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 045, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 161, Loop Chamise Sites 145-161, Type Walk To
- Site 020, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 088, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Walk To
- Site 072, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 008, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 031, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 078, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Walk To
- Site 101, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 158, Loop Chamise Sites 145-161, Type Walk To
- Site 123, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Walk To
- Site 021, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 053, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 156, Loop Chamise Sites 145-161, Type Walk To
- Site 019, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 073, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 054, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 102, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 144, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 038, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 093, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 082, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Walk To
- Site 084, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Walk To
- Site 036, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 116, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 048, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 090, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Walk To
- Site 043, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 109, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 059, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 100, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 003, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 140, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 079, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Walk To
- Site 044, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 099, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 071, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 010, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 049, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 141, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 057, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G02, Loop Oak Knoll Group Site, Type Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
- Site 089, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Walk To
- Site 097, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 063, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 083, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Walk To
- Site 062, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 050, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 016, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 121, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 080, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Walk To
- Site 133, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 034, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 074, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 146, Loop Chamise Sites 145-161, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 068, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 086, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 096, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 069, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 104, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 013, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 012, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 095, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 026, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 127, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 066, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 046, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 118, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 143, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 027, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 126, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 150, Loop Chamise Sites 145-161, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 076, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 130, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 134, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 058, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 111, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 136, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 154, Loop Chamise Sites 145-161, Type Walk To
- Site 091, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Walk To
- Site 081, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Walk To
- Site 009, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 028, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 149, Loop Chamise Sites 145-161, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 006, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 035, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 114, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 064, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 077, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Walk To
- Site 152, Loop Chamise Sites 145-161, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 145, Loop Chamise Sites 145-161, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 024, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 138, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 039, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 151, Loop Chamise Sites 145-161, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 060, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 098, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 033, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 155, Loop Chamise Sites 145-161, Type Walk To
- Site 075, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 030, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 106, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 135, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 092, Loop Manzanita Sites 70-93, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 094, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 029, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 120, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 153, Loop Chamise Sites 145-161, Type Walk To
- Site 124, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Walk To
- Site 056, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 129, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
- Site 105, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop Acorn Sites 1-35, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 055, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 037, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 041, Loop Acorn Sites 36-69, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 122, Loop Manzanita Sites 94-125, Type Walk To
- Site 128, Loop Chamise Sites 126-144, Type Walk To
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