A beautiful artificial lake spanning 4,400 acres, with scenic and serene surroundings and a host of natural attractions, New Hogan Lake is a gem and a wonderful destination for all campers and outdoor enthusiasts. Situated in the brush and oak-covered foothills of the Sierra Nevada in Calaveras County, California, about 30 miles east of Stockton, the resort offers some of the best displays of California's unique natural life.
The lake was formed as a result of the New Hogan Dam which was established in 1963 in response to flooding which affected the people of Stockton and is managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The lake was first filled in 1965 and has since offered flood protection, electricity, drinking water as well as serving irrigation and recreational purposes.
The lake is known for its host of attractions and activities, which draw thousands of visitors annually. The resort also has a spectacular collection of animal and plant life on display ranging from its hundreds of fish species, to upland birds, mammals, and its unique species of wildflowers and herbs. The region's ecology remains one of its best features, with the resort being a hotspot for California birders and wildlife enthusiasts. The resort also has comfortable camping facilities ensuring visitors have a premium experience, making the lake a perfect stop on your next RV road trip to California.
The lake can be easily accessed by vehicle and foot. From south Stockton CA, take CA Hwy 26 for about 30 miles before turning into Hogan Dam Road where the park entrance is located. From north Stockton, the park can be reached off Hwy 12 left of the Chevron Station. Roads are smooth and vehicle-friendly and signposts around the park give you necessary directions.
Acorn Campground is one of the few campgrounds open to visitors of the lake. The pet-friendly ground has 128 campsites with the oak trees giving the campground nice shade during the day. The campground is open year-round, with a maximum of 8 people allowed per site. There are no water, electricity, or sewer hookups.
Amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, and grills. There are restrooms with coin-operated showers and flush toilets. There is also a dump station and water pumps. Camron Trail runs by the ground, with an amphitheater and a boat launch also nearby. Reservations can be made up to six months before arrival, with some first-come, first-served sites also available.
Coyote Point is a single site campground able to accommodate up to 50 people and 18 RVs. The campground is pet-friendly and is perfect for a large family vacation or a camping party for a large group. The site is open between April and October annually. There are no sewer, electric, or water hookups.
Amenities at the ground include a picnic shelter with three tables, one large grill, and six fire rings. Vault toilets are available at this ground, with shower facilities and a dump station available at the nearby Oak Knoll Campground. Fiddleneck Recreation Area and Wrinkle Cove Day Use Area are both nearby, as well as a boat launch and some mountain biking routes. Reservations can be made from the park website or in person.
Oak Knoll is located just northeast of the Acorn campground. The site is located on the hillside and is the most spacious campground with plenty of room at campsites. There are 49 campsites in total with the ground open between April and September. Oak Knoll is a little more primitive than Acorn Campground, and there are no hookups available.
Up to eight people and two vehicles are permitted on campsites. Amenities include picnic tables, fire pits, and lantern hooks. Vault toilets are available, as well as tap water, a dump station, and coin-operated showers, which are shared with campers from Coyote Point Campground. Camron Trail runs by the campground, with a boat launch and lake access close by. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance.
Visitors often use the wide lake area at New Hogan Lake for all sorts of water sports. Boating is one of the lake's most popular activities, with water skiing and kayaking also typical.
There are four public boat ramps at the north shore of the lake, giving visitors access to miles of warm lake water. There is also a marina at Riverpoint Landing in case the lake is crowded or the current is unfavorable. Life jackets are available and can be borrowed for free at Fiddleneck Recreation Area kiosk as well as the Wrinkle Cove Day Use Area. Boating is allowed 24 hours a day at the lake.
The lake has a vibrant sport fish population. Anglers at New Hogan Lake can fish for stripers, which are abundant. Catfish, crappie, bluegill, and largemouth are also popular catches at the lake. Trout are not common here, but are still caught on rare occasions. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are also occasionally caught by anglers.
Stripers and catfish are most common at the Fiddleneck Day-use area, but most species are evenly spread across the lake. Fishing at the resort is subject to California fishing laws, and anglers should be well aware of the regulations before trolling for fish at the lake.
Bring your hiking boots to New Hogan Lake to experience the beauty of the lake's natural life. The region has numerous hiking trails offering visitors unique views of the resort and its attractions. The River of Skulls Trail, located at the Monte Vista Recreation Area, is the most used trail at the park, giving hikers a scenic lake view.
The 8.6-mile Coyote Point Trail offers some rocky roads with great birding opportunities. 4.4 mile Camron Trail is an easy hike, giving easy access to the Wrinkle Cove area, Fiddleneck area, Acorn Campground, and Oak Knoll Campground, with the trail ending when it overlaps Coyote Point Trail.
This boat-in campground sits on the south shore of New Hogan Lake. The ground provides 30 campsites accessible only by boat. Campers at the ground have a special view of the lake, with the ground open from April through to September. Due to the site's nature, campers are to pay extra attention to regulations and campground conduct.
Camping is restricted to the portion of the peninsula north of a firebreak, and fires are only allowed within fire rings. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, vault toilets, and garbage dumpsters. There are no showers or dump stations, and drinking water is also unavailable. Boat-in campers can register for camping eligibility at the Fiddleneck Recreation Area kiosk. Acorn Campground kiosk also registers for visitors closer to that part of the park.
New Hogan Lake is a display of nature in all its beauty. Visitors to the resort should ensure they bring their phones and cameras with them wherever they go to capture some of California's most unique ecosystems and some of the plants and animals that make up the region's ecology.
Take a stroll or horse ride through the park at dusk and capture the amazing scenery. Take pictures of the beautiful California sunset and the wildlife preparing for dark, as well as the scenic views of the lake, which can be seen from the trails.
The wildlife residing around New Hogan Lake is an important contributor to the region's booming ecosystem. The south shore area of the lake has been designated as a wildlife viewing area and visitors to the resort can spot these animals in their natural habitat, from small mammals like raccoons and rabbits to reptiles like snakes and turtles.
Larger mammals like white-tailed deer and bobcats can also be spotted on the grasslands. A few fox species reside in the region as well, with mountain lions and coyotes also regularly spotted by early morning hikers at the lake.
California has several migration corridors, with thousands of bird species native to the state. Over a hundred of these can be found at New Hogan Lake, which has an abundant bird population. Upland birds like wild turkeys and fowl are often spotted and are available to hunt in certain areas subject to hunting regulations.
Sightings of hawks, bald eagles, pelicans, and woodpeckers are frequent at the lake. Swallows, owl, quails, and blue herons are also popular sightings. Other species for viewing include vultures, ospreys, geese, and various species of songbirds.
