Acorn Campground
2693 S Petersburg Rd, Valley Springs, CA 95252, United States
Overview
Tucked on the shores of New Hogan Lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains foothills, Acorn Campground is a sunny one with a warm, dry climate. To get there, exit Hogan Dam Road from Highway 26, above 30 miles east of Stockton.
The temperatures can rise above 90 degrees in the summer, so bring plenty of sun protection and shade!
Acorn has 128 campsites that can accommodate tents, trailers, RVs, and many of the sites have long, pull-through driveways that are suitable for larger vehicles but they don’t have hookups.
The campground has potable drinking water, accessible flush toilets, and coin-operated showers, and there is a dump station.
New Hogan Lake offers plenty of water activities to stay cool during the summer including swimming, fishing, boating, waterskiing, and sailing.
In the foothills, you may spot rattlesnakes, bobcats, gray foxes, mule deer, coyotes, mountain lions, and turkeys.
Dogs are allowed in the campground on a leash and always attention. At night, they must be kept in a tent or vehicle and a maximum of 2 dogs are allowed. However, pets are not allowed in park buildings, trails, or beaches.
Acorn is open all year round and reservations are available.
Best Campsites at Acorn Campground
Below are Power Camper’s recommended sites if you want to have the best experience at Acorn Campground.
Site #15 to 50
- Lake views
- Near water foundations
- Near showers and restrooms
Sites #1 to 30 and 43
- Unleveled, so vehicles should be leveled equipment
- Quiet and peaceful
Unique Experiences
- Explore the 7-mile-long New Hogan Lake and go waterskiing, jet skiing, sailing, and boating.
- Anglers can try their hand at fishing in the Lake and catching bass, bluegills, catfish, and stripers.
- The nearby beautiful Mokelumne River offers rafting and swimming for you and your family to enjoy.
- Go wildlife watching and look for fox, deer, bobcat, and coyotes. Watch out for rattlesnakes!
- See if you can spot bald eagles returning home for the winter during the cooler months.
- History buffs can visit historically significant sites such as Carson Hill where the largest gold nugger ever was found, or the Black Bart Inn in San Andreas.
- In the cooler months, you can hike the “River of Skulls” trail located just below the dam in the Monte Vista Recreation Area.
- Go on a guided horseback tour on the 8-mile scenic loops that goes along the lake.
Acorn Campground Campground Rules
Pet Friendly
trueMax Length of Stay
14 nightsMax People per Site
8Max Vehicles per Site
2Fires Allowed
trueAcorn Campground Reservation Information
Reservations Allowed?
Reservations Required?
YesReservations for Acorn Campground can be made at www.reservecalifornia.com or by calling 209-772-1343. The fee for Acorn campground is $20 a night and up to 8 people and 2 vehicles are allowed per site. The maximum length of stay is 14 days, and a non-refundable $10 registration fee is charged at the time of reservation booking.
Ensure you have the following information to make a reservation:
- Park selections
- Date you wish to start camping
- Type and size of camping equipment
- Number of people that will occupy the campsite
- Number of nights you wish to camp
- Alternative park and camping date choices
- Your phone number and area code
- Method of payment/Credit card number and expiration date
- Mailing address
Group Camping Reservations
There are no group camping facilities at Acorn Campground but each site allows for up to 8 people, so you can book multiple adjacent sites.
Campsite Reservation Cancellations
If you change your reservation after booking, there’ll be a $10 change fee. You can cancel your reservation at www.reservecalifornia.com or by calling 209-772-1343. A $10 cancellation fee and any reservation fee will be forfeited.
Late cancellation might also apply. If you cancel the day before your scheduled arrival, you’ll be charged your first night’s fee in addition to the abovementioned fees.
Acorn Campground Campground Cost
Standard Campsite
$20Activities
Bike Trails
Canoeing / Kayaking
Scuba Diving
Hiking
Snorkeling
Swimming
Fishing
Boating
Amenities
RV/Trailers
Hookups
Pull Through Spots
Pet Friendly
ADA Sites
Showers
Grills
Boat Ramp
Campground Host
Picnic Tables
Cell Service
Potable Water
Campfire Rings
Recycling
Amphitheater
Directions
FAQs
Nearby Campgrounds to Acorn Campground
Not all campgrounds are created equal, so for your easy comparison, here are some of the other campgrounds in the vicinity.
Observation Point Picnic Shelter Campground
Observation Point isn’t a campground but one large picnic shelter that can accommodate about 75 people for personal gatherings during the day, while Acorn is an actual campground that is significantly larger with 128 sites.
Both sites are located along the shores of New Hogan Lake. Observation Point can accommodate 75 people during the day for $50 while each campsite in Acorn can accommodate 8 people for $20.
However, Observation Point doesn’t allow overnight camping without a special use permit, but Acorn is an actual campground.
Glory Hole Recreation Area Campground
Both campgrounds are of similar size with Gloy Hole having about 140 sites compared to Acorn’s 128.
Both campgrounds have ADA-accessible sites, showers, and a dump station, but no hookups. Glory Hole also has walk-to-only sites that cost $18 which is slightly cheaper than Acorn’s $20.
Glory Hole’s restrooms are known to be spotlessly clean, while Acorn’s restrooms have often been reviewed as “needing some work”.
Indian Grinding Rock Shp Campground
Indian Grinding Rock campground is way smaller with 22 sites compared to Acorn’s 128. However, they are slightly more expensive at $30 than Acorn’s $20 fee.
Both campgrounds have ADA sites. Indian Grinding Rock allows for vehicles up to 27 feet while Acorn doesn’t state a length limit so if you have a larger vehicle, you should call to check.
Columbia Hotels And Cottages Campground
Columbia Hotels and Cottages is not a campground but they have three cottages with one, two, and three bedrooms respectively. Comparatively, Acorn is a legit tent, RV, and trailer campground.
Those with want to skip the tents and camp in luxury can certainly pay Columbia a visit! Each cottage comes fully furnished with kitchens, baths, and yards. Both Columbia and Acorn are open year round, however, Columbia doesn’t allow pets but Acorn does!
Both sites are also in relatively different environments. Columbia is nestled in a historic park with plenty of shops and amenities while Acorn Campground is located on the shores of New Hogan Lake with plenty of water sports.
