Army Corps of Engineers · New Hogan Lake · Valley Springs, CA

Acorn Campground

Acorn Campground is a sunny campground in the brush-covered hills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The area is generally characterized by a warm, dry climate with summer temperatures regularly soaring above 90 degrees. With sites just a short walk from the shores of the popular New Hogan Lake, visitors will have no problem finding relief in the comfortable clear waters.

More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Acorn Campground has some of the best views of the lake around the project.Acorn Campground CampsiteAcorn Campground camp siteAcorn Campground Site 73 camp
Photos courtesy of USACE, USDA · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups126
Host/management2
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

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 36 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

126 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
001A-WESAPull-through40PavedPartial8 / 2Yes
002A-WESAPull-through40PavedPartial8 / 2Yes
003A-WESABack-in40PavedPartial8 / 2Yes
004A-WESABack-in40PavedPartial8 / 2Yes
005A-WESABack-in40PavedPartial8 / 2Yes
006A-WESAPull-through40PavedPartial8 / 2Yes
007A-WESABack-in40PavedPartial8 / 2Yes
008A-WESABack-in40PavedPartial8 / 2Yes
009A-WESABack-in40PavedPartial8 / 2Yes
010A-WESAPull-through40PavedPartial8 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length20 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySites 019, 020, 122 are listed accessible

Acorn Campground offers 128 spacious campsites with modern amenities such showers and accessible flush toilets, as well as drinking water, an important part of staying hydrated in the summer sun.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Acorn Campground40°50°60°70°80°January: 3.99 inches of precipitationFebruary: 3.84 inches of precipitationMarch: 3.63 inches of precipitationApril: 2.15 inches of precipitationMay: 1.28 inches of precipitationJune: 0.33 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.00 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.03 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.17 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.13 inches of precipitationNovember: 2.16 inches of precipitationDecember: 4.15 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 47.6°F averageFebruary: 51.0°F averageMarch: 54.6°F averageApril: 58.5°F averageMay: 65.6°F averageJune: 73.4°F averageJuly: 78.8°F averageAugust: 78.3°F averageSeptember: 74.5°F averageOctober: 65.9°F averageNovember: 54.9°F averageDecember: 47.5°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Camp Pardee, 6 miles from the campground at 658 feet, station USC00041428 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 23 inches a year.

Getting there

From Stockton California, take Highway 26 east for 30 miles. Turn right on Hogan Dam Road and continue for a mile, then follow signs to the campground. Park Headquarters: 2713 Hogan Dam Road Valley Springs, CA 95252 Acorn Campground: 3027 South Petersburg Road Valley Springs, CA 95252

Nearest townValley Springs, California
Coordinates38.1763° N, 120.7997° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗0.2 mi
Outdoor gearSierra Nevada Adventure Co. ↗18.4 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗33.6 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

3 Days at Acorn Campground | Lakeside Vibes, Perfect Weather, & Dogs!

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The 4,400 surface-acre lake was created in 1964 with the completion of New Hogan Dam. When full, the lake has 50 miles of shoreline and extends nearly eight miles upstream to the confluence of the north and south forks of the Calaveras River. The dam was built to provide flood protection to the city of Stockton and water for irrigation, drinking and hydroelectric power, and it now offers recreation opportunities for thousands of visitors each year. The New Hogan area supports a wide variety of wildlife. The foothills location is home to grey fox, mule deer, coyote, turkey, mountain lion, bobcat and rattlesnakes. New Hogan is also a wintering home for bald eagles. The south shore of the lake has been designated as a wildlife viewing area.

Recreation

Boating is a popular pastime, with boat ramps conveniently located around the lake. The large surface area allows for plenty of water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing and more. Year-round fishing for stripers, bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish is perfect for experts and beginners alike. Some of the largest fish are found in less than 25 feet of water. The "River of Skulls" hiking trail is located below the dam at the Monte Vista Recreation Area. There is also a staging area for an eight mile equestrian trail on a scenic loop that winds along the lake and through the foothill chaparral. Trail guides are available at the park office. Bicycle trails suitable for the beginner as well as the advanced rider are found on the west side of the lake and next to the group camping area. An easy 3-mile trail connects the park office with Acorn Campground. Hunting with bow or shotgun during the open season is permitted in certain areas of the lake. Upland game such as turkey, quail and dove is available and waterfowl includes a variety of duck and geese.

Nearby

A number of historic sites are located nearby, including Carson Hill, the discovery site of the largest gold nugget ever found, and The Black Bart Inn, located in San Andreas, where the famous outlaw Black Bart was captured. Groceries, gas, camping supplies and more can be found in the nearby town of Valley Springs, California.

Guidebooks for California

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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Acorn Campground?

Sites at Acorn Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Acorn Campground?

Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Acorn Campground have?

128 sites, including 126 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Acorn Campground?

The longest site here provides 20 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Acorn Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Acorn Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Acorn Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Acorn Campground?

Sites 019, 020, and 122 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Acorn Campground?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Acorn Campground?

Boating is a popular pastime, with boat ramps conveniently located around the lake. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Acorn Campground?

Valley Springs, California. A number of historic sites are located nearby, including Carson Hill, the discovery site of the largest gold nugget ever found, and The Black Bart Inn, located in San Andreas, where the famous outlaw Black Bart was captured.

Source: Getting there

What if Acorn Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Oak Knoll Campground (0.5 mi), Deer Flat Boat In Campground (1.7 mi), and Coyote Point (13.5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby