A New Adventure At New Melones Lake (Part 1)

With winter ending rather abruptly in Central California and snowshoeing adventures at an end, I've been craving the tranquility of camping. Not to mention some hiking on good ole' dirt and rock. (Also, um, I have a "winter body" and I need to whip myself back into hiking shape!)

So when K suggested New Melones Lake, I jumped on the idea after about 5 seconds of research.

New Melones Lake is nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills at about 1100ft, between the historic Gold Rush towns of Sonora and Angels Camp. I have probably driven past the Highway 49 junction to this area a dozen times on my way up to Yosemite, Pinecrest Lake, or Brightman Flat. Checking out this area was long overdue!

I clocked the drive at a scant 1 hour and 20 minutes, and mentally kicked myself for not exploring such a beautiful, nearby gem sooner. But now isn't the time for regret; rather it's an opportunity to reframe it into being another advantage of living where I live.

And with that little intro, it's time to share all the awesomeness I've seen of New Melones Lake, my campsite, and the hiking that's here.

The Camping Experience

The amount of effort it takes to make camp is directly proportional to the awe factor you'll receive while staying there. If you appreciate solitude, hiking a few miles out of Yosemite Valley and into the wilderness obviously yields the better result. In my experience, it's the same with walk-in or "hike-in" sites at developed campgrounds. I didn't have to reserve the furthest one from the parking lot, but I'm ecstatic that I did.

My site faces northwest, with a 180-degree panoramic view of New Melones Lake. Or at least a small portion of it; the lake has more than 100 miles of shoreline! I'm surrounded by oak trees and foothills with tall green grass and wildflowers like Fiddlenecks and Common Storks-bill.

And the soundscape of nature is incredible out here! I've heard cattle and cowbells in the distance, and the piercing cries of coyotes signaling sunrise and sunset. I've been serenaded by the calls of the Osprey and Oak Titmouse, the songs of the Bewick's Wren and Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, the gobbling of wild turkeys (some even strolled into camp), the honking of Canadian geese, and the mellow hooting of the Great Horned Owl.

(As I was writing this paragraph, a beautiful Anna's Hummingbird hovered 2 feet from my face and looked at me for a few seconds before flying away, which was a magical moment.)

Notably: despite it being a weekend of pleasant 70°F (21°C) with bluebird skies, and this lake being a popular destination for boating and fishing, the amount of human noise pollution is practically non-existent.

Perfect.

The Hiking Experience

Piggy-backing on that last fact about the lake's most popular uses, the Ranger I chatted with confirmed that most people don't come for the hiking. Admittedly, my own expectations weren't high. But he joyously emphasized how underrated the hiking trails are.

He was right, because of course he was. When a park ranger tells you what's awesome in the office they work in every day, you listen. (Side note: he repeatedly thanked me for coming with a big smile on his face, which stood out. The man genuinely seems to love his job.)

I decided to begin my first hike here at the trailhead right near camp, and then combine several shorter routes into a custom 7-mile semi-loop. If you're curious, I strung together portions of the Gold Rush trail, Frontier trail, Carson's Creek trail, and Tower Climb trail to form the hike above. With some light meandering off-trail, of course!

"Serene" is the most fitting word for this hike. Until the switchbacks of the "Tower Climb" portion, it was gentle grades up and down, mostly lakeside, with nothing but the honking of Canadian geese, occasional cheep of the Oak Titmouse, and waves softly lapping at the shore to keep me company.

Again, perfect.

I felt fortunate to stumble upon a patch of California Poppies about 3 miles in; the only place I noticed them on the entire hike. Spring has sprung! A bit early, but bring it on!

Later I enjoyed lunch next to an unusually bottom-heavy oak, and couldn't stop admiring the depth of color in this spot. It was intoxicating. I'm clearly a sucker for contrast, which is why I also loved the nearby cluster of volcanic or basalt rock with various orange, black, grey, and mint green lichens causing them to burst with character. So awesome!

As always, nature continues to teach me lessons, like always paying attention to the nuances. Looking down and around you (at the small wildflowers, the butterflies, bees, grasshoppers, the branches teeming with bird activity) instead of merely chasing the views. A hike doesn't need dramatic mountain peaks and jaw-dropping landscapes to be special.

And this one felt special. Calming. Peaceful. Exactly what I needed to kick off a new year of hiking. The Sierra Nevada foothills certainly have their own unique charm!

I'll catch you in a couple days to share the next two hikes I enjoyed here at New Melones Lake. Maybe I'll have some new additions to my Merlin Birds Life List. Here's all the new ones I've found here so far:

Thanks for reading this, and if you enjoy the photos and the stories here, share them with a friend who loves nature.