Union West - Union Reservoir (Stanislaus Nf) — Stanislaus National Forest

So many things to say about this area - found my new spot!

It's about a 3 hour drive from my home in the Bay Area, the Utica/ Union Reservoirs are right off the 4 highway and Spicer Reservoir Rd (roughly 20 miles north of Arnold, CA). The reservoirs are roughly 10 miles off the 4 highway. There's plenty of signage to guide you to the right place.

If you want to get to Utica/Union Reservoirs, make sure you make a LEFT on the fork where the paved road intersects with the gravel road. There's a small sign at the fork (see attached picture).

The road to this campground offers a mixture of paved and gravel roads, which makes it perfectly accessible for all types of vehicles! I saw plenty of low Honda sedans to larger 20ft+ RVs.

All campsites are first come, first serve so make sure you get here early. An absolute MUST - bring your mosquito nets or repellents. Price is $16.00 per night so bring cash!

Most campsites are heavily shaded with beautiful trees and offer fire pit rings and bear-proof bins. There are two main sites, East and West. Both offer restrooms.

This area is perfect for kayaking, SUPs, boating, fishing, and even swimming. There is a decent boat ramp as well. Similarly, there are day-use areas where you can park for the day without a fee.

I was here early July 2020 and the weather was perfect during the day time (high 80s) and got pretty chilly at night (low 50s) so make sure you bring your firewood!