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
Caitlin K
VerifiedJune 6, 2021 • Stayed at: 079, Loop: Ironhorse 8-22, 70-79
Our campsite was nice: it was secluded, shady, and had a nice view of the lake. The campground itself is disappointing. Toilets weren’t flushing, water spigots weren’t working, and there was no camp host.
Daraius S
VerifiedJune 1, 2021 • Stayed at: 113, Loop: Big Oak 113-132
When we booked the sites there was a note that bathrooms near another site were closed.
So we picked sites near the open bathrooms, only to find out that those bathrooms were also closed.
There was a porta potty instead for 25 campsites.... and the one porta potty was close to full at the start of the weekend.
New Melones used to be a great camping venue in the past... it has gone down hill...... BLM needs to make it good again.... until then go somewhere else.
Jitendra B V
VerifiedMay 29, 2021 • Stayed at: 025, Loop: Ironhorse 1-7, 23-44, 60-69
Very good location and awesome view. Area was green in April and it was little windy there. This was a very nice campground and I would like to go there again.
LEE F
VerifiedMay 26, 2021 • Stayed at: 106, Loop: Big Oak 90-112
We camped at Big Oak Campground for two weeks. It was not a pleasant experience. During our stay the bathrooms were totally closed down on several occasions for a few days. It was an April/May stay and the weeds around the campsites were tall, dry and not cut down. I was concerned that smokers or campfires would set the park ablaze. Not cutting the grass earlier in the year especially in this very dry year in California was totally unacceptable . Finally, the maintenance crews did not lower the docks as the water levels changed and got lower. By the last week , half of the dock was out of the water. I would like to commend the bathroom cleaning contractors. When! the bathrooms were open ..... they kept them very clean and stocked. I do wish the Park service could add soap to the bathrooms, especially this year!
William G
VerifiedMay 24, 2021 • Stayed at: 036, Loop: Ironhorse 1-7, 23-44, 60-69
Everything good
Benjamin G
VerifiedMay 22, 2021 • Stayed at: 076, Loop: Ironhorse 8-22, 70-79
Great
Juan G
VerifiedMay 20, 2021 • Stayed at: 101, Loop: Big Oak 90-112
Very spacious and leveled site, lots of space between sites and the views are amazing . Park is well maintained, bathrooms are clean and roads are freshly paved. Dump station is very convenient and spacious which is a great plus when dry camping.
Andy D
VerifiedMay 17, 2021 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: Ironhorse 8-22, 70-79
Campsites are very sloped. Not a lot of leveled area for tent. A lot of dried grass about 1-2 feet high. No lake access except driving to the marina/boat launch area. Lots and lots of pincher bugs.
Plus: no mosquitoes, decently clean bathrooms (lots of pincher bugs), breezy to windy condition (May 14-16, 2021)
Andy D
VerifiedMay 17, 2021 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: Ironhorse 8-22, 70-79
Campsites are very sloped. Not a lot of leveled area for tent. A lot of dried grass about 1-2 feet high. No lake access except driving to the marina/boat launch area. Lots and lots of pincher bugs.
Plus: no mosquitoes, decently clean bathrooms (lots of pincher bugs), breezy to windy condition (May 14-16, 2021)
Son P
VerifiedMay 16, 2021 • Stayed at: 092, Loop: Big Oak 90-112
Best camping trip ever!
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
Nearby Campgrounds
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Last updated: June 4, 2026
