New Melones 4/20-22, 2017
Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 6:22 pm
I have the route from Sacramento to Yosemite Valley via Hwy 49 memorized! Having coasted down Carson Hill and crossed the bridge over New Melones, I have never stopped. I did a bit of research on the internet and decided to spend a few days with a “trailer” trip. We were trying to figure out near-to-town places where we could take the grandkids camping and since they all love bicycling, New Melones seemed a good shot as it is loaded with short mountain bike/hiking trails. Be warned, this is not a mid-summer destination (without a boat) due to the heat, but a great place for the cooler shoulder seasons.
We reserved a campsite at Glory Hole (north of the bridge) and were pleasantly surprised that this campground accepted senior passes and exceeded our expectations. It was nearly empty, clean, a great camp host, the grass lush green and the reservoir a sparkling 81% full and rising one foot per day! And only an hour and half drive from home! Weather was perfect- about 70 degrees. After setting up we walked around the campground. Hubby drove me to the trailhead for the Carson Creek and Tower Climb trails. I spotted huge fish roaming up and down the shoreline. The camp host said that the Chinook Salmon were spawning and not biting; I think that is what I saw. I reached the road and called Hubby who picked me up. In the evening I walked the dog and checked out more campsites. The two north loops were closed for Herron nesting. I walked along the road and saw plenty of Herron. The walk-in sites at the north end of the loops were particularly beautiful.
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Campsite at Glory Hole
Next day we hiked the Buck Brush Loop, dropping 40 feet to the waterline and fished the shoreline on the way back. We heard loud thrashing in the water which turned out to be huge fish. We spotted more and more. Unfortunately, I stupidly forgot to pack my fishing gear and license, so could not fish. All Hubby caught was one small bass, nevertheless, a nice lunch.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... _small.jpg[/rimg]
Fishing on the Buck Brush loop trail
After lunch we decided to drive up Hwy 4 to see where how far it is plowed. It was supposed to be open to Lake Alpine, but the last 2 miles were closed. I took the dog and walked down the road. A crew was clearing out the drive to some large building and blocked the road. I turned around and did not get to see Lake Alpine. The road-cuts through the snow were from 10-12 feet high. We then drove up to Bear Valley Ski Resort, which was still operating. From the parking lot you can look north to Molkulmne Peak and see the snowline. As we drove back down the road, the snow became patchy at about 6,000 5,000 feet.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... _small.jpg[/rimg]
Hwy 4 a mile west of Lake Alpine
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... _small.jpg[/rimg]
Mokulmne Peak from Bear Valley Ski Resort
Next morning we drove over to Tuttletown, the other large campground area on the south side of the bridge. This area has more trails bit we thought the campgrounds at Glory Hole were nicer, as well as less crowded. We hiked the Herron Point loop trail which had more trees and shade than the trails at Glory Hole. Both Glory Hole and Tuttletown have large marinas and boat ramps. Boating seems the best way to really see the reservoir with its complex arms and little coves. However, all the fishermen in boats were fishing the shoreline. We found that fishing from the shore was not that bad, just had to drop down 40 feet in tall grass on steep slopes. We left at after lunch and drove home.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... _small.jpg[/rimg]
Herron Point Trail at Tuttletown
We reserved a campsite at Glory Hole (north of the bridge) and were pleasantly surprised that this campground accepted senior passes and exceeded our expectations. It was nearly empty, clean, a great camp host, the grass lush green and the reservoir a sparkling 81% full and rising one foot per day! And only an hour and half drive from home! Weather was perfect- about 70 degrees. After setting up we walked around the campground. Hubby drove me to the trailhead for the Carson Creek and Tower Climb trails. I spotted huge fish roaming up and down the shoreline. The camp host said that the Chinook Salmon were spawning and not biting; I think that is what I saw. I reached the road and called Hubby who picked me up. In the evening I walked the dog and checked out more campsites. The two north loops were closed for Herron nesting. I walked along the road and saw plenty of Herron. The walk-in sites at the north end of the loops were particularly beautiful.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... _small.jpg[/rimg]
Campsite at Glory Hole
Next day we hiked the Buck Brush Loop, dropping 40 feet to the waterline and fished the shoreline on the way back. We heard loud thrashing in the water which turned out to be huge fish. We spotted more and more. Unfortunately, I stupidly forgot to pack my fishing gear and license, so could not fish. All Hubby caught was one small bass, nevertheless, a nice lunch.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... _small.jpg[/rimg]
Fishing on the Buck Brush loop trail
After lunch we decided to drive up Hwy 4 to see where how far it is plowed. It was supposed to be open to Lake Alpine, but the last 2 miles were closed. I took the dog and walked down the road. A crew was clearing out the drive to some large building and blocked the road. I turned around and did not get to see Lake Alpine. The road-cuts through the snow were from 10-12 feet high. We then drove up to Bear Valley Ski Resort, which was still operating. From the parking lot you can look north to Molkulmne Peak and see the snowline. As we drove back down the road, the snow became patchy at about 6,000 5,000 feet.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... _small.jpg[/rimg]
Hwy 4 a mile west of Lake Alpine
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... _small.jpg[/rimg]
Mokulmne Peak from Bear Valley Ski Resort
Next morning we drove over to Tuttletown, the other large campground area on the south side of the bridge. This area has more trails bit we thought the campgrounds at Glory Hole were nicer, as well as less crowded. We hiked the Herron Point loop trail which had more trees and shade than the trails at Glory Hole. Both Glory Hole and Tuttletown have large marinas and boat ramps. Boating seems the best way to really see the reservoir with its complex arms and little coves. However, all the fishermen in boats were fishing the shoreline. We found that fishing from the shore was not that bad, just had to drop down 40 feet in tall grass on steep slopes. We left at after lunch and drove home.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... _small.jpg[/rimg]
Herron Point Trail at Tuttletown