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
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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
Edmund A
VerifiedJune 7, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 144, Loop: Big Oak 133-144
To Many people allowed in campsites, Generators running all day instead of 3 hours a day. Patrol units did not shut down loud units.
DUMP STATION OUT OF SERVICE STILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FIND THE PAPERWORK AND GET IT SIGNED!,
Units need more weed eating. What happened to the contract with CDCR to come in and clean up around the campsites, the big mowers just dont get close enough.
We have been camping here for a long time and it gets worse every year. Put someone at the Gate Shack, Close the Gates at 9 pm.
If Your (Park Rangers) have no Authority then increase the pay to the Calaveras Sheriffs Department and get additional patrols.
Abdul J
VerifiedJune 5, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 026, Loop: Ironhorse 1-7, 23-44, 60-69
Nice campsite. No official trail to the lake from the campsite.
Edgar M
VerifiedMay 31, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 016, Loop: Ironhorse 8-22, 70-79
We made our reservion but decided to go a day early so I checked the website to see if I could just get a spot when we showed up. Your site said that we could pick out a spot and then go pay for it with in 30 mins. We get there and there was a sign that said reservations only. We then spent an hour on the phone reserving a spot for one night. There is even signs in the campground stating to pick your spot out then go pay with in 30mins. Very confusing.
Diane E
VerifiedMay 29, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 051, Loop: Ironhorse 45-59, 80-89
This place was really beautiful but it was noisy from all the over populated spots. The dump station did not work because the boats were busy using it. I paid $19 or $11 + $8 admin fee for one night use. I left early!. That is too expensive to have to pay additional for a dump station. Very beautiful campground.
Wesley A
VerifiedMay 27, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 113, Loop: Big Oak 113-132
WOOOOOOOOOO
Masako M
VerifiedMay 21, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 004, Loop: Ironhorse 1-7, 23-44, 60-69
Quiet hour rules are not clearly stated or enforced. Our neighbor campers were listening music, singing karaoke after midnight, and arguing very loudly after 10pm.
A lot of water faucets were not working.
Brenda B
VerifiedMay 18, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 055, Loop: Ironhorse 45-59, 80-89
I had a great site with a gorgeous view and perfect temperature. Robert was the on-duty ranger. He was friendly and helpful. Give him a raise! I had a great time and am looking forward to my next trip there!
Ken D
VerifiedMay 15, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 015, Loop: Ironhorse 8-22, 70-79
The dump station has been out of order for the last ten years or so. This is an important amenity the Bureau of Reclamation refuses to fix. The Bureau's solution is to tell campers to drive to Tuttletown on the other side of the lake and use that dump station. That's a one-way trip of 12 miles plus a $8 dump fee. This oversight leads to illegal dumping.
Bass tournaments are a common event and they overwhelm the launch ramp and parking lots at Glory Hole Point. This could be remedied if Bureau of Reclamation would open the Angels launch ramp which is a short distance away.
Bradley B
VerifiedMay 7, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 058, Loop: Ironhorse 45-59, 80-89
Maps of camp ground very miss leading β¦. Itβs a hike from the camp site to enjoy the lake in any way β¦. Campsites have ZERO shade
Mitch W
VerifiedMay 6, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 119, Loop: Big Oak 113-132
We always enjoy New Melones and the water is coming up which is fantastic. Nice, warm week while we were there camped at Big Oak. Good hiking trails. Restrooms and showers worked for us but there was one RR unit out with quite a few people camped nearby. Lots of wildlife viewing including Bald Eagles. My only complaint about New Melones is that for a huge Bureau of Reclamation site that manages the reservoir well, there have been many water problems to the restrooms etc. And, this past visit, not all water spigots were operating.
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
