Lake Clementine

Upper Lake Clementine - Reservation Required on Weekends 

CLOSED FOR SEASON until April 15 weather permitting. Between April 15th - May 1st, Upper Lake Clementine will be open weekends only. May 1st the unit will open to 7 days a week.

Due to the ongoing, unsafe traffic conditions on Foresthill Road, Upper Lake Clementine will be transitioning to day use vehicle reservations only on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Reservations can be made up to 10 business days in advance and no later than 3:00 P.M. the Friday before the weekend you would like to reserve. Weekdays will be first come, first serve. For reservations click here: LAZ Reservations (lazparking.com). Weekend visitors without a reservation will not be admitted into the park. 

Lower Lake Clementine is for Boat Access Only.

Motorized vessels cannot launch at Upper Lake Clementine.

Dogs are not allowed within the boundaries of Lower Lake Clementine or Upper Lake Clementine.

 

Heather Maky

Lake Clementine Cyanobacteria Alert September 3, 2021

Updated 9/3/2021:
After the recent monitoring results from Upper Lake Clementine, additional samples were collected at 5 locations along the North Fork of the American River within Auburn SRA on August 31st.  Results from the analyzed samples were received on the afternoon of September 3rd. Water samples in at Upper Lake Clementine and in the area of the boat-in campground at Lake Clementine did not detect harmful toxins associated with harmful algal blooms. However, algal mat samples collected in the Mineral Bar Campground area, at Yankee Jims/Shirttail Creek, and just downstream from the Ponderosa Bridge all detected harmful toxins. For more details please refer to the HAB Incident Map.   

Due to the variable nature of harmful toxin levels, we recommend visitors to all sections of the North Fork of the American River (Mineral Bar to Rattlesnake Bar) assume that harmful toxins are present in the river as a result of algal mats. The toxins are especially dangerous to dogs, who are more likely to ingest the toxin-producing algae. Dogs should be kept away from the north fork at all times. We have received reports of dog fatalities likely resulting from cyanobacteria ingestion in 2020 and 2021 in the Oregon Bar area of Auburn SRA.  Swimming in the river or at Lake Clementine should be done with caution to avoid the slower moving side channels where algal mats tend to grow.  We have not received any reports of harmful toxin reactions in people.

Updated 8/25/2021: 

During monitoring for the State Water Boards pre-holiday assessment, an algal mat sample was collected at Upper Lake Clementine on August 16, 2021. On August 24, 2021, State Parks received notice that a high level of anatoxin-a (99.87ug/l) was detected from the algal mat sample.  If this level were detected in the water column (planktonic) rather than directly from the algal mat (benthic), the level would result in a danger advisory which would recommend no human contact with the water.  Because the sample was taken from a cyanobacteria producing algal mat, the concentration of anatoxin is likely to overrepresent the actual level of anatoxin in the water column. We are working with the Central Valley Water Resources Board and have posted signs throughout the Lake Clementine area advising that toxic algal mats are present in the water body.  We plan to conduct additional sampling in other areas along the North Fork.  Cyanobacteria anatoxins can cause illness in people and can be fatal to dogs.  Human and animal contact with suspected algal mats should always be avoided.  More information about toxic algal mats and HAB incident reports can be found here: My Water Quality: California Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).

Upper Lake Clementine

CLOSED FOR SEASON until April 15 weather permitting. Between April 15th - May 1st, Upper Lake Clementine will be open weekends only. May 1st the unit will open to 7 days a week.

Upper Lake Clementine is for Day Use only, motorized vessels are not permitted. Operating hours are 8:00am to 6:30pm. The parking lot is limited to 150 vehicles, 
Weekend reservations are required for each day use vehicle. Reservations can be made up to 10 business days in advance and no later than 3:00 P.M. the Friday before the weekend you would like to reserve. Weekdays will be first come, first served. To make a reservation, click: LAZ Reservations (lazparking.com). Weekend visitors without a reservation will not be admitted into the park. A $10.00 parking fee per vehicle applies. Dogs, glass containers, and alcohol are not permitted. Seasonal barbeque restrictions may apply.

Seasonal Access Calendar:
April 15 to April 30: Open weekends only.
May 1 to September 30: Open 7 days a week.
October 1 to October 14: Open weekends only.
October 15 to April 14: Closed for Winter season.

Directions:
From Interstate-80 take the Foresthill exit. Continue on Foresthill Road 5.5 miles, turn left onto Upper Lake Clementine Road, take the dirt access road 2 miles down the canyon, high clearance vehicles are recommended. 

Lower Lake Clementine

Golden Mussel Prevention Program
Mandatory Decontamination, Quarantine and Inspection

Effective April 14, 2025, Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine will be closed to all trailered or motorized vessels. All boats wishing to launch into Folsom Lake or Lake Clementine are required to go through a mandatory 30-day quarantine or decontamination at an approved site.

After May 14, 2025 all trailered or motorized vessels entering Folsom Lake or Lake Clementine will be required to have a quarantine, and/or decontamination seal intact and verified prior to entering the water. For more information, please proceed to 

Boat-In Camping

15 boat-in-only campsites are available through www.reservecalifornia.com the statewide reservation system.

Lake Clementine CampsiteLimit of 8 people per campsite.
Maximum length of stay is 7 days.
Camping fee is $38.00 per night, $10.00 for each extra vehicle.
Day Use fee is $10.00 per day for all day use vehicles.
Motorized boat launch fee is $10.00 and payable at the entrance station.
Limited vehicle parking.
Picnic tables, chemical toilets, and fire rings.
Only 25 boat trailers are permitted.
Max. vehicle and trailer length is 50 feet.
No dogs are permitted in the campground or on the lake.
Lake Clementine has a wide variety of fish including: brown trout,  large and small mouth bass, carp, and catfish.

Campground Calendar:
May 1 to May 14: campground has 4 sites, available first come first serve.
May 15 to September 15: campground has 15 sites, reservations required through ReserveCalifornia.com.
September 16 to September 30: campground is reduced to 4 sites, available first come first serve.
October 1 to April 30: campground closed for the winter. 

Click here for a campground map.

Safety Rules

Your cooperation is appreciated in observing the following rules:

  • Water-ski and boating in a counter clockwise direction only.
  • Maximum speed on the lake is 40 MPH.
  • Maximum speed within buoyed areas is 5 MPH.
  • No wake allowed at the ramp, marina, and camping areas.
  • Swimming and water-skiing is prohibited in Marina Area.
  • Beach starts are prohibited.
  • Personal flotation devices, fire extinguishers and other normal required safety equipment must be onboard.
  • No Wake Surfing.
  • No parasailing.
  • No power boats upstream of regulatory buoy stating "No Power Boats".
  • No towed inflatables allowed in the ski zone.  Towed inflatables may be used in the campground as swim platforms only.
  • Dogs are not permitted within the boundaries of Lower Lake Clementine.
  • No garbage removal provided; pack it in, pack it out!