Directions
From Sacramento, take Highway 99 south to Highway 12 east. At San Andreas, take Highway 49 south for approximately 21 miles. Turn right Reynolds Ferry Road and follow the road into the Tuttletown Recreation Area.
From Central California and the Bay Area, take Highway 108 east from Modesto to Sonora, then take Highway 49 north approximately 11.5 miles. Turn left onto onto Reynolds Ferry Road and follow the road into the Tuttletown Recreation Area.
Phone
209-536-9094
Activities
BOATING, CAMPING, INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS, FISHING, HIKING, WILDLIFE VIEWING, SWIMMING, MOUNTAIN BIKING, PADDLE BOATING, KAYAKING, STAR GAZING, BIRDING, NON-MOTORIZED BOATING, WATER ACCESS, JET SKIING, WATER SKIING
Keywords
TUTTLETOWN,ACORN,CHAMISE,FIDDLENECK GROUP CAMPING,MANZANITA,OAK KNOLL,NEW MELONES LAKE,NEW MELONES: MELONES
Related Link(s)
California State Road Conditions
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, 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.
Recreation
Hiking, fishing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, boating, sailing and road and mountain 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 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.
Facilities
The campground provides modern conveniences like flush toilets, showers and drinking water. Visitors will also find a fish cleaning station in the Lupine day use area. Picnic tables and fire rings are provided at each campsite.
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.
