Army Corps of Engineers · Stanislaus River Parks · Oakdale, CA

Horseshoe Road Recreation Area

Horseshoe Road Campground is part of the park system scattered along the lower Stanislaus River within the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The environmental campground boasts quiet, peaceful tent sites situated next to the river’s edge. The scenic recreation areas and river access points are popular for activities such as rafting, picnicking, hiking and much more. Stanislaus River Parks is often referred to as the “string of pearls” since they serve as charming, quiet oasis running through a number of small towns and cities.

More like this: reservable in California · tent only in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Stanislaus River at Horseshoe RoadHorseshoe Road Recreation AreaBald Eagle views from Horseshoe pondOsprey eating its catch of the day
Photos courtesy of H. Coleman, Park Ranger, F. Bowers, Park Ranger · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Tent-only14
Group tent areas1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

15 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
01Tent onlyRiverfront6 / 2NoBasic
02Tent onlyRiverfront6 / 2NoBasic
03Tent onlyRiverfront6 / 2NoBasic
04Tent onlyRiverfront6 / 2NoBasic
05Tent onlyRiverfront6 / 2NoBasic
06Tent onlyRiverfront6 / 2NoBasic
07Tent onlyRiverfront6 / 2NoBasic
08Tent onlyRiverfront6 / 2NoBasic
09Tent onlyRiverfront6 / 2NoBasic
10Tent onlyRiverfront6 / 2NoBasic

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

The site records list no campfires. The campground description says each site has a fire ring.

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
FeesIndividual Sites: $20. Group Site: $50

Horseshoe Road Recreation Area Campground is one of three reservable campgrounds in Stanislaus River Parks’ system. Its primitive amenities include vault toilets. Each campsite contains a picnic table, fire ring, and a lantern holder. Campers park their vehicles in the front lot and walk approximately three quarters (3/4) mile to their campsites.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Horseshoe Road Recreation Area40°50°60°70°80°January: 2.57 inches of precipitationFebruary: 2.22 inches of precipitationMarch: 1.78 inches of precipitationApril: 1.00 inches of precipitationMay: 0.65 inches of precipitationJune: 0.15 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.00 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.01 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.06 inches of precipitationOctober: 0.55 inches of precipitationNovember: 1.07 inches of precipitationDecember: 2.21 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 47.5°F averageFebruary: 52.0°F averageMarch: 56.7°F averageApril: 61.1°F averageMay: 67.8°F averageJune: 74.5°F averageJuly: 78.8°F averageAugust: 77.8°F averageSeptember: 73.9°F averageOctober: 65.2°F averageNovember: 54.5°F averageDecember: 47.4°F average0 in1 in2 in3 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Modesto City Co AP, 12 miles from the recreation area point at 73 feet, station USW00023258 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 12 inches a year.

Getting there

From Oakdale, California, take CA-108/CA-120 East. In 3.7 miles, Turn left on Orange Blossom Road and continue for approximately 4.4 miles, then turn right into Horseshoe Road Recreation Area. Proceed past the park entrance and paved parking lot until you reach the gravel parking lot with the vault toilet.

Nearest townOakdale, California
AreaRecreation.gov lists no exact point for this campground. The recreation area is at 37.78° N, 120.84° W. Call the office before you drive.

Explore

Video

Horseshoe Lakes RV Resort, Clinton IN

Natural features

The campground scenery is a pleasant mix of Fremont cottonwoods, Valley oaks and the occasional Elderberry bush, offering excellent shade with dispersed rays of sunshine. Nearby, grasses, shrubs and seasonal wildflowers fill the open spaces. Wildlife is also plentiful in the park with mule deer, acorn woodpeckers, scrub jays, foxes and squirrels among lots of other fauna.

Recreation

The campground offers an excellent base camp for exciting recreation opportunities. The park boasts walking and hiking trails, picnic areas and river access points for fishing and boating.

Nearby

Within a short 10 min drive, campers can explore the historic town of Knights Ferry, rich with history of the gold rush era. Within the historic district, lies Knights Ferry Recreation Area, home to the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi River and a National Historic Landmark dedicated in 2014. The park boasts walking and hiking trails, picnic areas and river access points. Visitors can learn about the area when they visit the Knights Ferry Visitors Center, which contains a small museum highlighting local, natural, and cultural resources. Visitors have a unique opportunity to make reservations with local rafting companies to journey down the Stanislaus River. During the summer months, rafters can enjoy guided and self-guided floats down the lower Stanislaus River. For thrill seekers, the fall season brings perfect flows for advanced white water in the Goodwin Canyon. Fall also brings thousands of Chinook salmon returning to the Stanislaus River to spawn, completing and beginning their lifecycles. Onlookers, can view the spawning salmon from several river access points along the river.

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Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Horseshoe Road Recreation Area?

Sites at Horseshoe Road Recreation Area are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Horseshoe Road Recreation Area?

Individual Sites: $20. Group Site: $50

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Horseshoe Road Recreation Area?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Horseshoe Road Recreation Area have?

15 sites, including 14 tent-only sites and 1 group tent area.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Horseshoe Road Recreation Area?

Horseshoe Road Recreation Area is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Horseshoe Road Recreation Area?

Yes, pets are allowed at Horseshoe Road Recreation Area. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Horseshoe Road Recreation Area?

The campground offers an excellent base camp for exciting recreation opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Horseshoe Road Recreation Area?

Oakdale, California. Within a short 10 min drive, campers can explore the historic town of Knights Ferry, rich with history of the gold rush era.

Source: Getting there