TWO UNIQUELY DIFFERENT DAY USE AREAS
Lower Lake Clementine Information
My first stop was Upper Clementine Lake. I asked the ranger what I would find here and she told me it was strictly a boat launch area for day use or boat-in camping. I took my inflateble raft down to the boat dock were I saw a few other people with kayaks, paddle boards and motorized boats. Most looked as though they were headed to campsites further up the lake.
Upper Lake Clementine Information
After spending some time at Lower Clementine Lake, I decided to see what Upper Clementine Lake had to offer. It too had a challenging dirt road down to the water. The road was wide, but it was all soft powdery dirt with ruts, rocks and bumps. The van did fine, but I took it slow.
At the bottom is a huge area for parking. They say it can accommodate 170 vehicles! There are no reservations so it is first come first serve. The entire parking area, down to and including the water area, is covered in round smooth river rocks of various sizes. No soft sandy beach here. They call it a lake, but it is more like a very slow moving river. There are deep areas to swim in and very shallow areas that just came up to my ankles.
There is a life guard station, and with all the room for parking, I imagine this place is packed on warm summer days. I got there late so I was only able to enjoy the area for an hour. Thirty minutes before the park closed, the ranger came down and notified everybody that the park was closing soon. He waited until everybody was on there way up the road.
On the way out I lost traction in a couple of areas, but the van pulled through and made it out without any real issues. Keep your windows up and don’t follow too close behind the car in front of you.
Upper Lake Clementine is for day use only, motorized vessels are not permitted. Dogs, glass containers, and alcohol are not permitted. Seasonal barbecue restrictions may apply.
- April 15 to September 30: Open seven days a week.
- October 1 to October 14: Open weekends only.
- October 15 to April 14: Closed for Winter season.
Specific to Lower Clementine Lake
- 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.
Amenities
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- Operating hours are 8:00am to 6:30pm.
- Vault toilets at Lower Clementine Lake.
- Chemical toilets at Upper Clementine Lake and at boat-in camping sites.
- Dogs are not allowed in the Lake Clementine area.
Fees
- Upper and Lower day use $10.
- Motorized boat launch at Lower Lake $10.
- Boat access camping is $38 per night.
Nearby Camping
- Ruck a Chucky Campground.
- Very limited information on other campgrounds in the area.
Local Things To See And Do
- Old Town Auburn.
- Ruck a Chucky day use camping area.
Cell Signal
- Lower Lake T-Mobile – 2 bars.
- Upper Lake T-Mobile 0-1 bars.
Location
Upper Lake Clementine 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 is located off the Auburn-Foresthill Road, approximately two miles from Auburn. From I-80 in Auburn, exit at Foresthill, drive 2.5 miles on Foresthill Road, turn left onto Lake Clementine Road, and then follow Lake Clementine Road 2 miles down to the entrance station. Lake Clementine Road is narrow, and you may encounter vehicles towing boats on trailers, and bicyclists on the road. Please use caution and observe the 15 mph speed limit.
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