- Lake McClure is near Yosemite National Park and offers many family outdoor activities
- Only about 40 miles east of Modesto
- Fish for some king salmon, bluegill, or black bass
- When the summer temperatures get hot, take a swim in the lake
- There’s great RV and tent camping around Lake McClure
Overview
Lake McClure California is the ideal place to visit when coming to Yosemite National Park. For outdoor recreation, it’s the best, with swimming, boating, water skiing and eighty miles of shoreline to enjoy. The Lake McClure Recreation Area and the Bagby Recreation Area are nestled within the Sierra Nevada foothills and give you an escape from the workaday world in the best possible sense.
Location & Information
Lake McClure, California is approximately 40 miles east of Modesto. Take Highway 132 east for 8 miles past Coulterville.
Lake McClure is open year-round.
Contact information:
Merced Irrigation District Parks Department
9090 Lake McClure Road
Snelling, CA 95369
209-354-2961
For campground information call 855-800-CAMP(2267).
Activities
- Fishing
Lake McClure is known for some of the best fishing in California. You’ll find all kinds of trout here as well as king salmon, bluegill, catfish, black bass and shad. It's sister lake, Lake McSwain, just down Lake McClure Road, is known for great trout fishing. - Swimming
With a relatively low elevation and warm average temperatures, the lake boasts great swimming conditions. And when summer temperatures reach the 90s or even into the low 100s, taking a dip in Lake McClure is a refreshing part of your day. - Boating
Lake McClure offers pleasurable boating, with convenient marinas, concrete boat ramps and boating floats. You’ll find comfort stations, fish cleaning facilities and plenty of parking. You can rent ski boats, buy bait and tackle, get ice and groceries when needed. Then get out there in the sun and enjoy the water. - Camping
Find great camping accommodations around Lake McClure and nearby Lake McSwain, with lovely woodland settings. Bring your RV or do tent camping. There are hot showers, laundry facilities, free dump stations and large group sites. Sandy beaches provide some excellent swimming spots.
Fun Facts
New Exchequer Dam on the Merced River creates Lake McClure with its rock-fill and reinforced concrete face. The dam was completed in 1967 and supplies water for irrigation throughout northern Merced County with a 750-mile network of canals.
