New Melones Lake Visitors Center & Museum

12,500 acre lake — camping, great fishing, boating, hiking,picnicking and day use. Visitors Center/Museum — year-round interpretive program, located on Highway 49, 8 miles north of Sonora. Museum open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Closed Monday and Tuesday,Labor Day through Memorial Weekend.

"On weekends call (209) 536-9543."

Reclamation Announces a Change of Use for the Mark Twain Recreation Area Lake Access at New Melones Lake

The Bureau of Reclamation announces that New Melones Lake will change the public use of the Mark Twain Recreation Area Lake Access, located near the Park Administration Office and Visitor Center, beginning Tuesday, April 1, 2008. The public use will change from launching trailered boats of any size to launching small boats by hand only.

Boats will be limited to canoes, kayaks, rowboats, skiffs, or small boats with up to a 10-horsepower motor that can be hand-carried. With this change in use, public vehicles, including motorcycles, will no longer be permitted to drive to the water’s edge to launch boats. Vehicle access will only be allowed up to 100-200 feet from the lake at varying water levels. Other authorized recreation activities will not be affected.

This change in use will serve to enhance public safety and water quality, while providing for recreation and protection of cultural and natural resources in this area.