New Melones Lake spreads across 12,500 acres with 100 miles of shoreline, sitting between the old Gold Country towns of Sonora and Angels Camp along Highway 49. The reservoir itself is massive—2.4 million acre feet of water created by New Melones Dam on the Stanislaus River—but what matters for a dog trip is that it’s genuinely dog-friendly across both recreation areas.

The Gloryhole Recreation Area on one side has two campgrounds (Big Oak and Ironhorse) with 144 total campsites, plus 30 miles of hiking and biking trails that work well for dogs. Three day-use areas let you explore without camping, and there’s a swim beach where you can cool off after a hike. Two boat launch ramps are available if you’re bringing your own watercraft. The landscape here is Foothill Oak Woodlands at about 1,100 feet elevation—not high mountains, but enough shade and variation to keep things interesting.

Tuttletown Recreation Area across the lake has more options: three campgrounds (Acorn, Chamise, and Manzanita) with 161 campsites between them. There are two day-use areas, a boat launch, an RV dump station, and a fish cleaning station if you catch anything. Summer temperatures range from 85 to 100 degrees, so mornings and evenings are better for hiking with your dog. Winters are mild, dropping to the 32 to 60-degree range.

Dogs are allowed at both recreation areas and can join you on trails, at campsites, and at day-use spots. They do need to stay on a leash at all times, so plan your hiking accordingly. The 30 miles of trails at Gloryhole give you plenty of options for different energy levels, and the mix of open areas and oak-shaded paths means you’ve got some relief from the summer heat.