Upper Lake Clementine
Upper Lake Clementine - Reservations required on weekends during peak season from May 1 to September 30.
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 7 days a week during peak season. Reservations are required on Weekends and highly recommended on Weekdays. Weekdays still allow first come, first served, but are limited to the number of remaining parking spots and can be turned away. Weekend visitors without a reservation will not be admitted into the park. Park visitors with a reservation are guaranteed a parking spot and may arrive at any time in the day. For reservations click here: LAZ Reservations (lazparking.com).
If you attempt to make a reservation and receive the following notification, the date requested is sold out:
Online reservations are not available at this location for the date and time you selected. Please try searching for another date and time.
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, reservations are available 7 days a week and required on weekends for each day use vehicle. Reservations can be made up to 10 days in advance, and must be made 2 days prior, no reservations are allowed day of. Dogs, glass containers, and alcohol are not permitted. Seasonal barbeque restrictions may apply. A $10.00 parking fee per vehicle applies.
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
Lake Clementine Boat Launch
As required by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to help prevent the spread of the highly invasive golden mussel (limnoperna fortunei), effective April 14, 2025, all trailered or motorized vessel owners wishing to launch at Folsom Lake or Lake Clementine will be subject to an inspection and a quarantine for Aquatic Invasive Species. 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.
Lake Clementine will be closed to power boating during the winter season (October 15th – April 14th). This closure is to protect our watershed from the spread of invasive species while working within our current resources and staffing abilities. Hand-launched, non-motorized watercraft, such as kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, outrigger canoes, rowing shells and row boats are authorized to launch. Hand-launched, electric trolling motors, such as fishing kayaks and eFoils are authorized to launch.
Boat-In Camping
15 boat-in-only campsites are available through www.reservecalifornia.com the statewide reservation system.
Limit 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!
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).