McHenry Recreation Area sits on the lower Stanislaus River near Escalon, roughly where McHenry Road meets East River Road. It’s the westernmost park along this stretch of the river, and it’s a genuine working access point—you’ll see float tubes and swimmers taking advantage of the mild summer flows rather than the rafting crowds you’d find upstream.

The river itself is calm and shallow here, ideal for cooling off during hot months, though you should check the flow rates before heading in. The park has multiple parking areas, picnic tables, and restroom facilities spread across a nice setup under willow and cottonwood trees that actually provide real shade—something worth appreciating in the Central Valley.

If you’re camping, the shaded sites make a difference during summer heat. The campground accepts dogs as long as they stay on leash, and the park provides free waste bags at stations in both parking lots, which is convenient. A and B parking areas each have a kiosk where you pay the five dollar day use fee by card. Rangers do patrol, so they’re checking for payment compliance.

Walking with your dog along the nature trails works well here. There are sandy beach areas where you can let them wade into the shallow water, and the milder current means less stress about strong flows pulling them downstream. Weekend summers get genuinely crowded though—families, campers, people floating tubes—so if you want a quieter experience, weekday mornings are much better.

The park operates from 6 a.m. to sunset daily, except November and December when it closes entirely for salmon spawning season. Overnight camping requires reservations, and rangers manage the area actively.