Glory Hole Recreation Area

Peaceful and beautiful.

Very clean and comfortable sites.

The view is amazing and the restroom is in good condition

I had a fantastic experience camping at the Glory Hole Recreation Area, specifically at the walk-in sites at the end of Iron Horse. These sites are on a peninsula, offering incredible 360-degree views of Lake Melones, which makes for breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. The sites are spacious, and depending on where you land in the loop, you'll enjoy a nice level of privacy. We DID go in February, so not sure how things change when it's peak season.

The amenities were basic but convenient. The bathrooms were close by, and there was a water spigot right at the start of the walk-in sites, which was super helpful.

One of the best parts of our trip was that the campground is pet-friendly. It was our first time camping with our dogs, and the peaceful atmosphere made it perfect for them. We were able to tie them to a couple of trees using long leads, and they had a blast running around the grassy areas and lounging with us at the campsite. It really made the experience feel more special, and they loved it!

The peacefulness of the area really added to the experience, and I can definitely see myself returning in the future. It would be even more fun to bring along a couple of other families to stay in the walk-in sites together. Highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for a serene camping experience with gorgeous lake views, and especially if you're camping with pets!

I saw a review from this past summer that the dump station was closed, but didn't know it was permanent. We found it but the gates are locked and there is brown tape over the sign, so the closure appears to be permanent. We were going to use it but wasn't an emergency, so we'll do it at the next CG. A common complaint of all campgrounds is a lack of signage and this place is no different. Driving thru the campgrounds there are few signs saying which way to go for your site. And though RV Life shows only the Big Oak Campground, we are actually in the Iron Horse campground across the road. The exit has two massive speed bumps but NO signs warning you about them nor are they painted yellow. The entrance booth is no longer staffed and is covered in unprofessional paper signs that have been taped up. What signs they do have are faded and unreadable. Our site (031) was a pull-thru and was level. The pad was very narrow and has Manzanita on the left and a little hill going up to the table on the right. I had to trim some branches. But we got tons of solar and excellent satellite reception. The place was a ghost town, probably only 20% occupied. No camp host in Iron Horse. Bathrooms smell clean, but the spider webs tell a different story. EV charging station out of order. Marina store closed until May. All the loops are on hill tops and most are unlevel. Tables and fire rings are either below or above your site about 5 to 8 feet with no steps. Place is very unsafe, no police presence or enforcement rangers. Of the two park staff I did see, one had a mouth full of chewing tobacco and could not speak when we tried to talk to him. This is the main reason for my 1 star rating. And their phone number has changed. They said their landline was cut and now they just have a cell phone, but didn't tell anyone.

Stayed for 1 week (bass fishing). Very nice, not too much traffic since it was during winter. Caught a bunch of bass 30 to 40 feet deep. Planning on returning very soon.

The neighbors were tweakers. Yelling and cussing at their dog. Not the BORs fault. Just wasn't a good time. Ended up leaving my site a day early.

Another great trip! We went last year for New Years Eve and Day and we loved how quiet it was. It was nice to escape the firework noise of our town. Also helps the fur babies not freak out. We were sad to see we were unable to reserve that night this year. I’m wondering if the group that was East of us ruined it by setting off fireworks since they are illegal there (we were glad there wasn’t a lot though). We liked seeing the presence of several park rangers this trip. We noticed there seems to be the same people living in the campground as last year (maybe they come this time of year). We were sad to hear the lake was closed to boats, due to the invasive mussel, but glad we had done research before bringing our boat again. We saw lots of unfortunate other boaters come in and fish from land or come in and turn right around. Hopefully it opens back up soon. The restrooms were clean and nice hot showers. We will definitely be back again. Hopefully next time with the boat!

We went close to thanksgiving, Very clean bathrooms, toilet paper, hot water for shower, the campground was clean it was a pretty nice campground I would recommend this place!

The dump station was not working and no alternate was provided. 🥴