Camanche Lake, a popular recreation destination with 56 miles of shoreline, sits behind Camanche Dam, built to impound and prevent catastrophic flooding of the Mokelumne River.
The Lake is owned and operated by the East Bay Municipal Utilities District, with camping and boating operations leased to the private California Parks Company.
Development around the lake includes campgrounds, marinas, trails, seasonal snack bar and coffee shop, and a motel and cottages with some pet-friendly units.
Dogs are allowed in campgrounds and around the lake but not on trails, which are reserved for human hikers and equestrians only.
Campground facilities include tent sites, primitive sites, boat-in sites and several types of RV sites on both the north and south shores. There are several points of entry to the lake, and almost the entire shore is sandy and good for swimming.
Admission charges vary depending on vehicle type and season, but there is a $5 charge for dogs year-round.
