About Glory Hole Recreation Area
Number of accommodations: 135
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
RV Utilities and Hookups
- Dump station on site
Water Access
- Lake Access
- Marina
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Rates, Sites & Availability
135 Sites Available
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Site Details
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135 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (431)
What Guests Are Saying
Glory Hole Recreation Area is highly praised for its peaceful, clean environment, with spacious campsites and well-maintained bathrooms, including free showers. Many visitors enjoyed the beautiful scenery and wildlife, along with excellent hiking opportunities nearby. While some noted issues like long grass and noise disturbances, overall, the campground is considered a great place to relax and camp, with friendly rangers and convenient amenities.
What Guests Are Saying
Glory Hole Recreation Area is highly praised for its peaceful, clean environment, with spacious campsites and well-maintained bathrooms, including free showers. Many visitors enjoyed the beautiful scenery and wildlife, along with excellent hiking opportunities nearby. While some noted issues like long grass and noise disturbances, overall, the campground is considered a great place to relax and camp, with friendly rangers and convenient amenities.
Review Summary
Mitch W
VerifiedNovember 20, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 098, Loop: Big Oak 90-112
We come here frequently in the cooler months. We prefer the Ironhorse Campground due to better views of the water. We were in Big Oak due to Ironhorse being on a rotational closing. Lots of wildlife. Bathrooms and showers were working. Good fishing if you have a boat. Very hot in the summer. Angel Camp nearby for supplies. Good day trips up in the Sierra. We had one day of good rain and wind. Be prepared for wind off the lake at many times of the year. Not blowing all day but present if you overlook the lake. Be prepared to drop your E-Z UPs. The wind will shred them.
Rick W
VerifiedNovember 20, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 106, Loop: Big Oak 90-112
Alway enjoy GloryHole Camping!
Michael S
VerifiedNovember 17, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 132, Loop: Big Oak 113-132
Fall is wonderful at New Melones. We had wonderful weather. The campground has large, fairly level sites with great views. It was quiet and beautiful.
Mary p
VerifiedNovember 7, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 111, Loop: Big Oak 90-112
Clean, quiet, affordable. Beautiful and relaxing.
Michael T
VerifiedNovember 7, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 006, Loop: Ironhorse 1-7, 23-44, 60-69
Friendly and helpful staff
Emerald M
VerifiedNovember 5, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 068, Loop: Ironhorse 1-7, 23-44, 60-69
Overall, it was a good experience at New Melones Lake and I plan on coming back. I stopped here after hiking in Yosemite earlier in the day. Sites are close but I still felt like I had the privacy I needed given that my siteβs table and pit sit lower than the driveway. I liked having my chair perched on the driveway because it overlooked the lake a bit more. Bathrooms were clean and easily accessible. Ranger at the entrance was really helpful guiding me to my site since it was my first time visiting. Highlights were the beautiful sunset, clear sky so it was perfect for stargazing, and woodpeckers filled the trees around me. Guests were quiet, respectful, and friendly but maybe I got lucky.
Troy S
VerifiedNovember 4, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 014, Loop: Ironhorse 8-22, 70-79
Campsites were clean restrooms were clean and friendly staff. fishing was great. Great experience
Shari S
VerifiedOctober 19, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 132, Loop: Big Oak 113-132
Campground is very close to the lake. Bathroom is clean & well maintained. Sites have a good distance between them for privacy. Great for birding year round
Marcus C
VerifiedOctober 9, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 026, Loop: Ironhorse 1-7, 23-44, 60-69
Wow. What a site. We have been travelling around California in a camper van, from the UK. We had never been to a recreational area like Glory Hole. It is huge and beautiful. When we were there in early Oct we were literally the only ones on the site. If you want beautiful setting and very quiet, then this is your place.
Lynne E
VerifiedOctober 2, 2024 β’ Stayed at: 098, Loop: Big Oak 90-112
We love location and donβt mind boondocking for a few days β¦ if the fishing π£ is good π
Location Glory Hole Recreation Area
Address:
Glory Hole Recreation Area, 6503 Whittle Ranch Road
Angels Camp, CA, 95222
United States
From Sacramento take 99 S, 88 W and 12 E to San Andreas. Take 49 S for approximately 15 miles. Turn right onto Whittle Ranch Road and follow the road 2 miles to the recreation area.
From Central California and the Bay Area take 80 E, 580 E then 205 E to 120 E in Manteca. Take the exit for 120 E/99 N. Continue on 120 E, then take 108 E to 49N. Turn left onto Whittle Ranch Road and follow the road 2 miles to the recreation area.
Glory Hole Recreation Area is accessible via State Route 49, which is approximately 10 miles away, providing connection to U.S. Route 50 and other regional roads.
Latitude & Longitude: 38.0075 / -120.54
Elevation: 351 feet
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
3PM
Check out time
2PM
General
- PLEASE HEAD STRAIGHT TO YOUR CAMPSITE UPON ARRIVALThere will be a reservation tag and 1 or 2 vehicle tags clipped to your campsite's post. Please leave the reservation tag on the post and place the vehicle tag(s) inside your vehicle(s) with dates visible. Contact a Park Ranger if you have any questions.
- At New Melones Lake there is a 14-day camping limit within a 30-day period.
- The recreation area entrance gate closes at 9:00pm. Vehicle entry after the gate is closed is prohibited. Exit at any time.
- During quiet hours, loud noise is prohibited. Excessive noise (audible beyond 50ft) at any time is prohibited.
- Camping fees include boat launch and day-use fees. Two vehicles are permitted in standard campsites. One vehicle is permitted in walk-to sites. All vehicles must display a campground vehicle tag or an overflow vehicle parking receipt.Vehicles must remain on paved roads and parking spots. Off-roading is prohibited.
- Campfires are only allowed in fire rings or grills in designated areas. Campfires must be attended at all times and extinguished completely before leaving.Campers may collect only dead and down wood for campfires. Chainsaw use is not allowed on property.During National Weather Service "Red Flag Warning" days and facility fire bans, wood and charcoal fires will not be permitted.
- All pets must be on a maximum six-foot (1.8 m) leash at all times. Leaving your pets unattended is not permitted.
- The dump station is out of order at this time.
- While recreating at New Melones Reservoir: CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY boats and any other recreational equipment that comes in contact with water. Never dump unwanted bait, worms, fish parts or other organisms into the water. For more information visit https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/ STOP THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES. REMOVE plants, seeds, animals and mud from boots, gear, pets, and vehicles. CLEAN your gear before entering and leaving the recreation site. STAY on designated roads and trails and use local firewood. For more information visit https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/
- If New Melones Lake elevation is below 870', boat ramps are not available. "Water front" campsites may also not be available. Park maps depict an elevation around 1050 feet. Current lake elevation: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/dynamicapp/QueryMM?Stations=NML&SensorNums=6&End=2021-07-19&span=1+month
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Last updated: June 5, 2026
