Location: County: Stanislaus. Nearest City: Turlock. See map 3.

Campsites, facilities: There are 66 sites for tents or RVs up to 27 feet long. Piped water, fire grills, and picnic tables are provided. Flush toilets, showers, and a boat ramp are available. The boat facilities are wheelchair accessible. Leashed pets are permitted.

Reservations, fees: Reserve by phoning 1-800-444-PARK/7275 ($7.50 reservation fee); $14-$16 per night, $1 pet fee.

Contact: Phone the park at 1-209-874-2008, 1-209-874-2056, or 1-209-826-1195, or fax 1-209-874-2611.

Turlock Lake SRA
22600 Lake Road
La Grange CA 95329

Operating hours, seasons: Open all year round; 8:00 am to sunset.

Directions: From Modesto, go east on Highway 132 for 14 miles to Waterford. Turn right (south) on Hickman Road and drive one mile. Turn left (east) on Lake Road and drive 10 miles to the park.

Weather, clothing: Summers are hot and dry, and winters are cool, sometimes rainy winters. During the summer, day time temperatures can top 100 degrees although mid-90's is typical. Summer nights are generally in the high 60s to 70s.

Trip notes: Nestled in the rolling foothills of eastern Stanislaus County, Turlock Lake State Recreation Area is an ideal place for day- or week-long outings. Open all year and featuring camping, picnicking, fishing, swimming, and clean country air, the area offers visitors an opportunity see the wonderful variety of native plant life that once flourished alongside the rivers of the San Joaquin Valley. The mark of man can be seen dredger tailings and agricultural developments that date from the turn of century. Turlock Lake heats up like a big bathtub in the summer, just right for boating and all water sports. It covers 3,500 acres with 26 miles of shoreline. A boat ramp and small marina are available near the camp, making it ideal for boaters/campers. Bass fishing is fair in the summer. In the late winter and spring, the surprise here is that the water is quite cold, being fed by snowmelt from the Tuolumne River, providing a once-a-year chance for trout fishing. By early summer, forget trout and think bass. If they don't bite, just give up and literally jump in the lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where to go Camping

-T-3-

Miwok Lodge 439