Steve's Mountain Bike Page
Turlock, California

New Melones (GH) Recreation Area

August 12, 2000

The New Melones (GH) Recreation Area is located on the north side of New Melones Lake, formed by a dam on the Stanislaus River. The area has several excellent single track trails ranging from easy to difficult. Many of them are very narrow, no wider than from pedal to pedal, and along some very steep cliffs and  hillsides. I did the Carson Creek trail (plus short peninsula loop), Tower Climb (uphill), Frontier Trail, and Angels Creek Trail. I got lost and did some of the Angels Creek Trail twice. My thermometer said it was 120 degrees by the time I finished. Fortunately this was my first time out with a CamelBak HAWG hydration pack. It definitely made a difference and I hardly noticed I was wearing it. Pay heed to what Roger (below) says about the switchbacks on the Tower Climb. Going up a steep hill while simultaneously making a hairpin turn is out of my league. I walked all of them. For an expert opinion on the trails and more details see Roger's Favorite Singletrack Mountain Bike Rides. There is no topo map since the lake was created after the USGS survey. Since this was a solo trip there are no people pictures.

Click on an image to enlarge it

Lower Trailhead	Carson Creek trail	Carson Creek trail	Carson Creek trail	Carson Creek trail
Vulture, Carson Creek trail	Carson Creek trail in distance	Zoom of previous	Angels Creek trail	Angels Creek trail
Angels Creek trail	"The Beast"	South end of lake	Bridge over south lake	Map

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