Pardee Lake Recreation

We camped here for a week in early March, and had almost the entire campground to ourselves. There are actually two separate campgrounds at Pardee Recreation Area. The one near the Marina (Lake View Campground) was very busy, and quite full; having both an RV Park section and a campsite section. They have seasonal rates in the RV Park section for long-term rentals, with hook ups included. A few sites in the campsite section had hookups, but most sites did not. The Marina has a store, and boat rentals, too. We stayed in the Oaks Campground, which has green manicured lawns and beautiful oak trees everywhere. There are no hookups, but the are some very large sites with a table and fire ring. The staff need to do some tree trimming, though. We have a tall RV, and some sites have low hanging branches, so beware.Our stay was very peaceful and relaxed. Husband fished every day (no luck, unfortunately, but he had fun). No one seemed to be catching much despite the recent fish plants; some were saying the water was still too cold.Our site was $25.00 per night, with a $10.50 reservation fee, which seems reasonable; but then there are all the other fees. $5.00 a day for the kayak, and $7.50 a day to fish. Also, $5.00 per dog per day. So there are a lot of little fees that add up very quickly. The fishing fee, though, goes 100% to stock the lake.This is a very beautiful area, and there is a lovely trail that goes along the shoreline. I don't think I would stay here during the summer, however, just because of the heat. IMPORTANT TO KNOW: no bodily contact allowed with the lake. (There are two swimming pools that open during summer.)

Beautiful recreation area! Friendly staff - especially John - JT Definitely worth stopping, fishing having a picnic at this location

I had occasion to visit the recreation area this morning, in order to obtain a hiking permit. The young lady working at the booth was extremely helpful in helping me get my hiking permit. Fisherman come very early to this location. The employee stated that the fishermen are coming in at 5 am!She also explained where the restrooms were located.If you're not familiar with Pardee lake, you are in for a real treat. This is one of the most beautiful lakes in California. The lake is also the water supply for much of the East Bay.Besides the Pardee Recreation Area, there is a set of trails called the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail. That's the trail for which you will need a hiking permit.

This place is perfect for fishing . The sites are a really nice size. The lady's at the front really nice. There is a two pools for water fun with an enormous tree that is go gorgeous and shade giving. I would definitely come again. Bathroom are nice and plenty around l. Showers 8am-10pm 3 stalls .. laundry area. Super nice. We just so happen to go when they have a little hosted tiernamente.. party of 6 and we they loved it . Also there is a Cafe so if you don't feel like cooking it's perfect. No swimming in the Lake. Only in the pool.

Review Title: What a HUGE, colossal RACKET this place is running.Gosh, where do I begin with this review.. Our group of ten reserved two camping sites in the Oaks area from Weds-Sunday. Cost up front for the reservation: 260$. Two days later, Friday morning, 2 more cars joined, taking the total amount of cars from 2 to 5. Friday night comes around, and one more car joins, and is also charged as well, plus for their dog, when we weren't charged for our dogs, merely the two adults in the car and the nights we were staying. Now, each site has two cars per, in the cost for renting each site. SO, when all three cars were charged 20$ each to park, and our two female friends were also charged for things we all were not charged for, something was fishy. I'm hedging my bets on this place being run by closed-minded folk, honestly..Since we are in for ... 320$ now?, I'm looking around for something that makes this spot worth that amount of dough, since we can't swim there at all (it's a week before the pool opens... btw, that pool should be heated and available year round for these prices...) -- steaming hot biffy toilets without a sink to wash your hands in (again, the Ritz-Carlton prices we paid, plus the fact that it's a reservoir campground, you'd think a sink would be included... nope) so -- no swimming, and the shade is just non existent, so if if you don't have an Easy-Up, it is going to be torture.)Let's get to last night: 10:40PM, we are all winding down because we have had it and want to leave early) a huge diesel truck rolls in, high-beams on, through camp.. which is whatever, the site is literally right next to the road (yucky unto itself), and slows down real creepy-like. Then, this monster truck rolls around the loop and drives down the hill looking at the sites, the the beams aimed right at our faces, for at least 5 minutes while they were being schmucks. This group of campers finally settled on a spot directly across from us, and proceeded to "WOOOO!" and cackle into the night while playing loud music. Like, I got maybe 2 hours of sleep due to these jackasses, who are probably still camped out there now..I could tell they'd recently mowed, and we saw the guy pumping the biffy in 100 degree heat. That is really about it for the "positives" of this place. In summary: These guys inaccurately charge customers, it's possible the persons at the window pockets the cash maybe?; the sites were WAAAY too expensive; the grounds offer too little; no actual security to keep people from coming into the campground at 10:40pm, possible anti-gay (no purple roof here!) and no noise control, at all. Hell, even the ground was painful, I'm used to the freezing hard ground of the Sierras, this was just full of deep gopher holes everywhere that claimed my ankle a few times. Haven't done the RV camping, won't. Will not be coming back, this was probably the worst camping trip I've ever been on.We caught one fish. That was the only good thing.

Great day this April 7th 2019 on the Lake,me and my son rented the 16 foot boat for the day.Our favorite spot on the lake is at the Mokelumne river Inlet.Sun was shinning and wind was calm today,just perfect.Hills were green and what a delight to see.We have rented the 16 foot boat for the 3rd time this Season and it is near brand new and is very nice for 130.00 weekend day 7am-4pm Had and issue to return at 4 pm as we were delayed near the Inlet of the Lake bye a LOG Jamb...we had to turn off the out board and push through the log jamb with the provided 1 Oar.Thus taking away from our return time to the boat dock...to my surprise after telling the young counter man what happened,he still charged us 1.00 dollar a Minute for arriving to the store at 4:30pm Instead of 4:00pm...he was all Smiles and said Have A Nice Day Fellas!!!

Have to agree with Alexandra on this. No end to the fees you will encounter here. Camp site? Charge (expected, of course). Each car? Charge. Each dog? Charge. Kayaks? Have to use ours, charge. We left a day early. Place is beautiful, but hotter than heck, and all the upcharges made us want to find somewhere welcoming and nice. Just...say...no.

We were lied to and told the water level was 90% when it was not even 30% full. They stocked thousands and thousands of pounds of fish and they just dont bite since so many people go there and over pressure the areas. They also open at 7 am and didnt update their hours or nothing i had to wait there since 5 am for them to open. Dead fish surfacing from poor fish loading practices. This place sucks. Awful customer service people here always have a attitude. Game warden consantly checking for the almost none existing "Limit" that you "caught". This place sucks. Go give your money elsewhere.

Even though they have numerous rank ass porta-potties floating literally floating in the middle of the water, wildlife like deer and geese pissing and shitting in the water, and outboard motors leaking oil and other contaminants into the water HUMANS AND DOGS CAN NOT SWIM IN THIS LAKE AT ALL! this results from some stupid ass law that was made in the 1950s.The staff is nice, they claim that there are "fish as big as a person" in this lake. however we didn't so much as observe perch or bait fish here. this is HIGHLY unusual. FISHING WAS HORRIBLE. 3 experienced fishermen caught nothing in 10 hours. Boat rental was $175 for one day! wtf?the day we went we were at least relieved that there were two swimming pools to cool in the 110 degree heat, when we got to the pools they were filthy and only 3 feet deep, the water was probably 80 degrees.this lake is horrible and should be shut to the public if they are so concerned about protecting the east bay whatever water supply. maybe they should get their own fucking water and let the people that live in calaveras county enjoy OUR water.DO NOT VISIT HERE - unless you hate water don't fish and like being sun burnt and on the verge of heat stroke.I would give this place zero stars but the old people staff members were nice but not very knowledgeable about the lake or it's history for the most part.

After being evacuated from pollock pines due to the caldor fire, my family and I had nowhere to go. With a tent trailer, what we hoped was enough, my daughter, and my dog my bf and I got out. We called lake Pardee just hoping for a spot out of the smoke and willing to pay. They set us up for free with full hook ups and nothing but absolute kindness, compassion and understanding. The little store at the marina is stocked with a little bit of everything for everyone in need. Plus boat rentals! The gentleman behind the counter was welcoming and nice to talk to. We were super stoked to find that while there's no swimming in the lake, they have two pools that you CAN swim in as well as showers! During one of the most scariest times in my adult life, the people here at lake Pardee helped give my family a place where we're safe and have more than we could have hoped for.