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New Hogan Lake - COE/Oak Knoll
Overview
Overview
New Hogan Lake, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, offers a serene outdoor retreat in the rolling foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Oak Knoll campground provides a classic, rustic camping experience that emphasizes natural beauty over modern frills. This site is perfect for travelers who want to unplug, enjoy the quiet rhythm of the lake, and appreciate the expansive reservoir views that make this destination a peaceful escape from busy highway travel.
Location & Surroundings
Situated near the town of Valley Springs, CA, this park is tucked away in Calaveras County. The landscape is characterized by open grasslands and scenic oak woodlands, providing a quintessentially Californian rural atmosphere. Visitors will find that the park is well-removed from urban noise, offering a secluded environment where wildlife sightings and sunset vistas are common occurrences. The surrounding terrain is rolling, making for a beautiful drive as you approach the lake entrance.
Amenities & Park Features
Oak Knoll is designed to support comfortable camping within a natural setting. The park offers spacious sites that can accommodate a variety of RV sizes, though guests should check specific site lengths before arriving. Key facilities include flush toilets and showers, which add a level of convenience to the outdoor experience. While the park maintains a rustic profile, the presence of well-maintained picnic areas and fire rings allows for a traditional and enjoyable campfire atmosphere under the stars.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
New Hogan Lake itself is the primary draw, featuring vast waters perfect for boating, fishing, and swimming. Anglers often flock here for the thriving striped bass and catfish populations. Beyond the water, the area offers excellent opportunities for hiking and mountain biking along the shoreline trails. History enthusiasts may enjoy a short drive to the Gold Country towns nearby, where local museums and quaint downtown areas offer a glimpse into the region’s rich, historic past.
Who This Park Is Best For
This destination is ideal for those who prefer nature-focused camping over high-end resort amenities. It is a fantastic fit for anglers, boaters, and families who enjoy simple, active days in the sun. If your goal is to trade Wi-Fi and concrete pads for starry nights and quiet mornings by the water, the Oak Knoll campground at New Hogan Lake provides a reliable and beautiful home base for your next California road trip.
Features & Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- Hunting Nearby (within 20 miles)
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
Reviews
Maya Hawj
CG doesn’t open up til about May . Reservations can be booked online at recreation.gov. Some sites does offer shade others do not . There are bathrooms and showers . It’s hot in the summer so ideally spring is a good time when everything is green.
F B
Not like it used to be. Once the sun sets random outside vehicles pull up to use the shower facilities, this goes on all night. Caught 1 guy rummaging through items we left on our table at mid night. Got up, shined the light, dog barked at him, he fled, got in a car parked near the showers and he left right away. Was hard to sleep after that. Had a couple pull up and go in the shower together...just saying incase you have kids maybe not the coolest thing to walk into. Durring daylight hrs camp host/ranger are on top of it they pull up and put a parking tag on your vehicle within minutes of you arriving...but after sunset host / ranger have no clue whats going on at the park with the transients at night, staff didnt pass by once. I hope they fix this, i did report it but in CA who knows maybe its supposed to be a homeless camp and im the only one that didnt know.
Amber McConnell
Was last there in Feb of 2024. Only 1 bathroom had barely working shower.(Bathrooms have been updated since we were there.) Park was basically empty for the 2 weeks we stayed. Had neighbor on last night we were there. We ran a predator ultra quiet generator. 56 decibels. Shut it off a couple minutes after 10. Husband walked with me to bathrooms and the neighbors went out of their way to watch us go and come back from the bathroom. We brushed it off to curiosity. We went to bed and I woke up once and had to pee and when I opened the door of our trailer, I heard quick scuffling. Half asleep, I thought it was the deer that are in the park. Got up around 7 am and husband went out to start the generator. Someone had cut the pull start cord right below the handle. The neighbors were already up and sitting at the picnic bench drinking coffee and staring right at my husband. They greeted him with, "good morning" and "Cheshire cat" smiles. He said they stopped smiling when he started the generator with the push button start. This is nothing against the park. It's just a warning to people. We did not break any rules and for whatever reason, we were attacked. The generator was only 3 weeks old too. Still have it. Still runs perfect. Replaced the pull cord
Lazyness300
Spot 13 awesome experience. Tons of fun. Super hot but you have a lake right there that's the perfect temperature to go for a swim, go fishing or even hop on a boat and a ride. They have vault toilets they get pretty hot during the day. We had a picnic table, grill, fire pit with a grill and a canopy for the picnic table.
Tria Behler
This was our firsts camping trip to Oak Knoll. It was a nice campground, some garbage left from the people before but overall very nice. The bathrooms are disgusting… but we did learn there are showers and bathrooms in some locations. The Rangers were super nice and they came by to see if we had any issues with noise. Overall it was a great experience and we will be back! Be warned though the bill frogs are annoying 😆 Oh and the water was lovely!!!