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This recreation area is part of Eastman Lake
Modesto Reservoir Regional Park is located at 18143 Reservoir Rd., a few miles from the town of Waterford, just off Highway 132. It offers over 3,200 acres of land and 2,800 acres of reservoir for recreation and camping.
$40 - $60 / night
Codorniz Campground on Eastman Lake is a perfect launchpad for activities like canoeing, birding and hiking. Tucked in the Sierra Nevada foothills, the area attracts abundant wildlife like bobcats, golden eagles, mountain lions, hawks and wood ducks.
Eastman Lake is the first designated Trophy Bass Fishery, by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Both young and old anglers will find fishing on Eastman lake a satisfying challenge. At the campground, visitors can try their hand at disc golf or challenge a group of friends to a game of volleyball. Horseshoe pits are also available for a little friendly competition.
The rolling hills around Eastman Lake are surrounded by tall grasses and scattered oak trees, giving way to stunning mountain views. The lake features 1,780 surface acres, fed by the cool waters of the Chowchilla River.
The Sierra National Forest is a short drive to the east of the campground.
$20 / night
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.
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.
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.
For facility specific information, please call (209) 459-7290.
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.
All site changes and cancellations need to be done through the Recreation.gov website.
$22 / night
Yosemite Ridge Resort is located on State Highway 120, which is open all year and only 12 miles from Yosemite National Park’s west gate. We are located in Buck Meadows, population 50, within the beautiful Stanislaus National Forest surrounded by pine covered mountains. Since we are so close to the park, our lodging near Yosemite Park is the perfect base camp for your Yosemite Adventure, whether it be for one night or one week.
$40 - $80 / night
Guide
This is an awesome spot, the hike out was absolutely gorgeous. We accessed it from the Palomarin trailhead. Beware, the costal weather can be volatile and you could get flash rain. Also, I highly recommend planning your visit with the sunny weather because it’s easy to pick a day that has endless overcast here, and it’s just not quite as much fun.
Also be careful what campsite you reserve. Some are absolute gems off on the ocean bluff. Others are more inland and packed in
Guide
No wifi, bathrooms did not have hot water.
Cool park with extremely friendly and helpful staff. Cannot say enough about the great park rangers and camp hosts.
There were people close by to us with several tents and campers in one spot, not sure how this is monitored.
Spotty T Mobile Service $32 per night
GuideThere are few gems along the Hwy 99 route between Sacramento and Bakersfield but this is definitely one of them! Located a short 20 miles east of 99, just north of Fresno, this Army Corps of Engineers campground is stunning. Situated among rolling hills that are luscious green in the spring, this campsite is quiet and packed full of things to do. Whether you want to bike, hike, fish, boat or just sit and enjoy the peace and quiet, this is the site for you!
We're dry camping at the Wildcat site which the ranger said is rarely used. There is no one else in the whole campground!
Coyotes howled in the distance last night and it was dead quiet. Going to take the road bike out today and explore some of the roads around the Lake. Lake is full after the 2023 season.
GuideIt’s a quiet campground on a hill. You are at least 30 minutes from any stores. The lake is beautiful but the campsites with power and water do not give a view of the lake at all with the exception of 42. AT&T cell signal from 45 was non existent but T-mobile worked well enough to stream Netflix. I enjoyed my stay. Clean and the camp hosts were great.
GuideA very cool spot for backpacking in with 6-8 miles to hike in, depending on the trails you take. The tall grass gave some privacy between neighboring campsites. Nice to have a water spigot on-site. Vault toilets with paper towel, no soap. Trash and recycling containers were handy. Just yards away from the beach. Just a reminder to cancel your reservation if you don’t plan to come, there were 2/8 sites not occupied on a Saturday that could have been used by someone who really wants to experience this great location.
Guide
We were there for 1 night. The view at campsite 57 is gorgeous! However, be prepared for the heat. It can reach up to 110F in summer. It is toasting even with shade. Restroom and showers need maintenance.
GuideWe rented sites #10 & #11 for the weekend of 6/2-6/4/23. Sites #9-11 make up the cul-de-sac so it was great for our kids to ride their bikes and scooters. It would make the perfect group site as they were a bit tucked back from the other sites. Site #12 could easily be connected to site #11 as the brush is well-cleared between the two.
These are the closest sites to the water in the campground, but unfortunately water access is pretty limited (there’s a small trail that leads down to a rocky edge, but wouldn’t be great for small children). We drove to a beach area found about a mile up the road. There is also a day-use area across the lake with some good swimming sites.
The campground was very clean and had rangers and a sheriff patrolling regularly (but not bothersome).
There is a small pit toilet right next to site #12, but there are larger bathrooms up the road with flushing toilets and showers. There is also a nice playground for the kids too.
Unfortunately site #10 does not have a shade structure but #9 does, and #11 is well shaded by trees.
We had one raccoon visitor the first night (came out of the drainage pipe under site #12) but otherwise no other wildlife. We were warned that rattle snakes are out, but we were fortunate not to see any ourselves. There is also quite a bit of brush around the campsites so be aware if you bring dogs. They are supposed to be kept on leash at all times, but our lab just brushed by some of the weeds and was littered with foxtails. So just something to be cautious of.
Although we were disappointed with not having better water access, it really is a nice campsite overall if you’re okay with driving up the road to swim.
GuideOur first time here, reservation required before showing up. This was the off season so everything was open and quiet. Nice bathrooms no charge. Playground for kids. They have full hook ups or you could do dry camping. Every camp has it own water so that was nice. Good price for $20
LegendI used to live in the area and wish I had spent more time camping in and around the Point Reyes National Seashore. This camp has been open for generations but is still lightly used because it’s a bit out of the way and not friendly to big rigs (this is part of the charm, pack in and walk in). Tons of amazing hikes and you feel like you are really far away from the hustle and bustle even though the lights of San Francisco are almost visible on the horizon. I have a soft spot for waking up to fog first thing in the morning! (But on that note, be aware that fog is wet and you may want to use your rain fly and such!)
Ranger
We have been there three times, twice for day trips when our kids were camping there and one time where our son's and daughter's family and us were camping there for three days weekend. Full hookups were use and enjoyed by all each time. On the T-Island sites you right on the water. Which is were we go. Both our kids family have Kayaks so that makes getting on the water great. Nice bathroom.
Scout
We starter visiting Modesto Resivor in the sixties. My father would hail all of our gear out to one of the many islands, and let the kids and dogs run free. Now that we are older, we camp on the shore line. Rustic tent camping near the water-skiing course is my favorite. Quite nights and darker stargazing. Blonde Beach is where your likely to find us Jetskiing.
ScoutGreat campsite. Lotsa camp space. Clean grounds, restrooms showers.
ScoutHad an amazing overnight stay! Since it was a Sunday night hardly anyone on T Island. Rangers were so helpful!
RangerThey offer senior and military discounts. Both tent and RV full hookups around a lake. The only real problem is there are a few months during the year that they restrict the human contact with the lake water due to all the waterfowl poop in water. Many Geese that use their winter homes.
RangerNice campsites full hookups
GuideHiking in from the falls site at sunset will reward you with the most spectacular sunset views!! It’s easier to hike in from the Bear Valley side though and then you can always do a little evening hike along the ridge too. Love camping so close to the beach and the campsites have some privacy from other groups which is great too.
Scout
It is beautiful, clean and not crowded. We planned it last night and it had plenty of spots to pick from. The only downside is that the park closes at 8:00 pm so we had to sleep behind the entrance until 4:00 am when they opened the door again. A Fire ring and a bench available at each spot.
ScoutOut in Central valley is Woodward Lake. Great for a day trip if you live in the Bay area and want to get away. They have boat access to the lake. My favorite thing about this lake campsite is almost every campsite is connected to the lake so if you have boat or jetski bring it up to the site after unloading. Also the campsites are super close to neighbors and people love to party here. To me this is a plus but I understand the other side of things just know that things get quite fun here and is 5 o'clock somewhere 24/7. Holidays usually offer fireworks. Overall great spot for family fun or even nonfamily fun haha .
ScoutArmy corp ladies were knowledgeable and nice and willing to help us not only w camping but tons of info! Great staff. Campgrounds very clean
Scout
Place is run down. No hot water. If you have a big rig then it's bearable. We didn't and should have looked another Yosemite entrance for camping. Obviously had to stay here because we didn't get a spot inside the park.
ScoutIt’s best in the spring and fall. It’s nice and quiet and the spots are not too close to each other. Staff is nice and grounds are clean.
GuideA nice campground. Lots of space between sites, some with electric and water. Nice views of where the lake should be, with volcanic outcroppings all around. Site 01 was shaded, level and easy to back our 24 foot trailer into. Unfortunately the lake was way low due to drought. Things we did not like: (1) although not far off of Highway 99, the road from Chowchilla was incredibly rough. 15 miles of poorly-patched pot holes. I went no faster than 35 mph but still bounced the rig badly. (2) a vagrant guy was wandering around for the three days we were there. He came up to our trailer once; he seemed harmless but pretty out of it, maybe just stoned. (3) a large gathering of campers in the tent area were loud and raucous well past midnight, laughing, loud music, and drunken arguments. We were worried they could break out weapons. (4) bathrooms were cleaned daily, but quickly trashed, probably by the aforementioned campers.
ScoutWay huge depths of camp ground area... Water is nice excluding the dirty appearance it was fun taking the boat out there
Scoutcool place
TravelerCame here for a spontaneous family trip and was one of the only campgrounds with any availability. Though my bar was low, the campsite exceeded my expectations. The view was gorgeous, and there were a lot of hiking trails to choose from. The only setback was the closeness of the sites and some neighbors weren’t always mindful after dark when it came to noise. Something I wouldn’t mind usually but I brought my two toddlers along. Overall amazing site, pack for cold nights, and bring earplugs lol. We were at site 70.
RangerHardly anyone here at the moment. We pulled in on Easter Sunday to a near empty campground. The campground is quiet and the scenery is amazing this time of year. There are easily accessible hiking trails that were a great help in wearing out the pups. We loved site 106 in the Big Oak campground, but found others that were even better view wise. 116 and 117 had great views of a larger part of the lake. Water level is down considerably. $22 per night plus online reservation fee. Our total for 2 nights was $52. No hookups.
Update: We liked this campground enough to come back a second time in two weeks. The campground was a little busier than last visit, but surprisingly empty during the week. The mosquitoes have definitely increased! Site #142 has great afternoon shade, a nice view, and is very level. It’s also a handicapped accessible site so I’m not sure what availability will be like in busier months. Took the pups for a walk on the Carson Creek Trail. It’s listed as a ‘moderate’ trail as is the Gold Rush Trail. Don’t be dissuaded by that. Both trails are really easy and offer great views.
GuideYOU CANNOT CAMP HERE. However, this gorgeous state park has dozens of beautiful trails winding through cattle country and down along streams and ponds in the Dinosaur Point area.
NO WATER. Note that there is no safe potable water at the park, so if you're hiking, bring plenty to drink.
NOT DOG-FRIENDLY: Dogs are allowed on leash in the parking lot only. You cannot hike with your dog here.
VERY HORSE-FRIENDLY: The park is especially friendly to horses, because the lady that donated the land was an equestrienne. There is a corral at the main parking lot area and the park is fenced for livestock. They make a point of stating that although the water in the creeks and ponds is unsafe for humans, it is safe for livestock and horses. (The one exception to the no camping rule, actually, is when those on horseback are allowed to camp during special events.)
Horse camping in California offers a unique way to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to saddle up and enjoy nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Atwater, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Atwater, CA is Wildcat Campground — Point Reyes National Seashore with a 4.8-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Atwater, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Atwater, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
