Location: County: San Joaquin. Nearest City:
Ripon.
Campsites, facilities: There are 64 sites for tents
or RVs up to 24 feet long. Piped water, fire grills, and picnic
tables are provided. Flush toilets, showers, wood, and a nature
trail and exhibits are available. The exhibits are wheelchair
accessible. Leashed pets are permitted.
Reservations, fees: Reserve by phoning 1-800-444-PARK/7275
($7.50 reservation fee); $15-$16 per night, $1 pet fee. Open
year-round.
Contact: Phone the park at 1-209-599-3810.
Caswell Memorial SP
28000 South Austin Rd.
Ripon CA 95366-9527
Operating hours, seasons: Day use - 8:00 am to sunset.
Entrance station open 8:00 am to 8:00 pm daily May through September;
open all year round.
Directions: From Manteca, drive south on Highway 99
for 1.5 miles to the Austin Road exit. Turn south and drive four
miles to the park entrance.
Weather, clothing: Valley temperatures: summer 85-100
and winter 45-50 degrees. Layered clothing is recommended for
fall through spring.
Trip notes: Caswell Memorial State Park features shoreline
frontage along the Stanislaus River, along with an additional
250 acres of parkland. The Stanislaus provides shoreline fishing
for catfish on summer nights. Other recreation options here include
a fine visitor center and an interpretive nature trail. The Park
is a small, wild refuge in the midst of the Great Central Valley
of California. This unique park protects one of the last remaining
oak-riparian woodlands that once flourished throughout the valley.
The Stanislaus River meanders through the park, with beaches
and swimming areas near the parks' day use and campground facilities.
One of the most magnificent aspects the park has to offer is
its seemingly endless nature trails. The trails allow a glimpse
of what the riparian ecosystem of the valley would have looked
like in pristine times. A majestic Oak Forest is surrounded by
many other lush plant species, some of which are rarely found
anywhere else in the area. The park offers a rich variety of
wildlife viewing. While many of the wildlife species here are
nocturnal and rarely seen, bird watching is a favorite among
nature lovers. Red shouldered and red tailed hawks are often
seen, along with dozens of other winged artists.
© 2001, Miwok Lodge 439, Order of the
Arrow, Santa Clara County Council Inc., BSA
Revision 1.2
