Clementine Lake
This beauty sits in a narrow, rugged canyon deep within the North Fork American River in the heart of the Auburn State Recreation Area. Located only a few miles upriver of downtown Auburn, California, the lake can be driven to easily by a paved road dropping down from the Foresthill Divide Road east of Auburn. Water stays full at dam level where the outlet is over the top. The view of the man-made falls as the river drops down the 155-feet face of the concrete dam is especially awesome and photogenic each spring.
Water stays full at dam level...
...upper end of the reservoir can be reached...
DESCRIPTION:
14,700 AF, 280 acres, elevation 718’.
A full marina sits at the end of the Lake Clementine Access Road. Paved parking is provided but is limited so only 25 boats are permitted to be launched at any given time. Boats and trailers must be parked only in designated areas. The road is narrow and steep-enough with a dandy drop-off with no railings that towing a boat down takes care and for some, nerves.
A gravel road, open only for the late spring through summer season, provides access to the upper end of the lake where the river dumps into the reservoir at the Upper Lake Clementine Day Use Area. No powerboating, but paddle boats can be car-top launched here. Picnic area but no alcohol, dogs, glass containers or camping. Hours 8:00 A.M.-9:00 P.M.
Boating: All craft allowed with speed limits of 40 mph during the day and 5-mph at night. Boat ramp and marina are near the dam. Water skiing and boating allowed only in counterclockwise direction. No powerchuting. Restrictions: no powerboats upstream of last boat-in camp at Upper Campground; no-wake zones at ramp, marina, and camping areas.
Flatwater Paddling: see Activities below.
Fishing: Some rainbow and brown trout activity, but mostly warm-water species of large and small mouth bass plus catfish and lots of trash fish. Certainly, the lake is not noted for its good fishing.
Camping: 15 boat-in only camping spots with pit toilets but no piped drinking water or developments. Summers, May 15-September 15, reservations required; these are available through the state-wide reservation system (800-444-7275). One boat trailer parking place will be held for each reserved campsite. Before the beginning of the season, May 1-May 14 and again at the end of the season September 15-Oct 1, no reservations are required. Pack it in and pack it out. No camping in winter season Oct 1-April 30.
Limit of 8 people per campsite and maximum stay of 7 continuous days. Fees in 2009 were: $25. Plus reservation fees and a boat launch fee of $5.00. No dogs permitted and "amplified music may not be played at a volume likely to disturb others."
DIRECTIONS:
To Clementine Lake
East of Auburn about 3.4 miles on the Foresthill Highway, take the Clementine Lake Road north (left) as the narrow, blacktopped road drops down about 2.0 miles to the dam area, boat launch and marina.
The upper end of the reservoir can be reached by following the Foresthill Highway east from Auburn for 5.0 miles. Turn left at the sign to the Upper Lake Clementine Day Use Area. The road turns to gravel after leaving the highway and is somewhat narrow and rough at times. It's gated closed each winter.
ACTIVITIES:
Boating - Motorized (Rating: Best)
All craft are allowed with speed limits of 40 mph during the day and 5-mph at night. The boat ramp and marina are near the dam.
Water skiing and boating allowed only in counterclockwise direction.
Restrictions: no powerboats upstream of last boat-in camp at Upper Campground; no-wake zones at ramp, marina, and camping areas.
Flat water paddlers enjoy the lake year-round, but in the summer they prefer the upper end where the motorboat restrictions and shallower water limits conflict. In the off-season for motorboats, the paddle down the long narrow lake can be serene and delightful. The Day Use Area on the upper end provides an easy car-top put-in and take-out spot.
Boating - Flatwater Paddling (Rating: Best)
At the upper end for the nearly mile from the last campground to the Day Use Area, power boats are prohibited; so paddlers have more solitude and this limited area provides excellent flat water paddling. The upper end provides a good car-top put-in and take-out spot. The body of the lake is 3 ½ miles long but is little more than a wide river so power boats kick up too much wake to be fun for paddlers. Week-days are better, but after the powerboating season and before the new spring, this is a great lake for flatwater paddling. Remember, the water level is not drawn down each year.
Camping (Rating: Good)
15 boat-in only, tent sites. Limit 8 people. Primitive, pit toilets, bring drinking water. Lake water contains motorboat oils and fuels. No dogs or glass beverage containers. Open Memorial Day to mid-September. Reservations a must in summer May 15-September 15: 800-444-7275. Reservations not required May 1-14 and September 15-30. No camping in winter season.
The boat launch and marina are located at the end of the Lower Lake Clementine Access Road. Parking space reserved with each campsite.
Fishing (Rating: Good)
Some rainbow and brown trout activity, but mostly warm-water species of large and small mouth bass, catfish, and lots of trash fish. The lake is certainly noted for its good fishing.
