PARDEE LAKE WILL BE CLOSING FOR THE SEASON SEPTEMBER 05, 2023
Please call 1-800-416-6992 or CLICK HERE, to make reservations for camping with us! Scroll down to “Camping Information & Reservations” for more details.
Pardee Recreation Area has been creating positive memories for visitors since its opening in 1958. Located along the Mokeumne River, Pardee Recreation Area provides stunning views and diverse activities for all visitors, old and young. The park lays in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range of Northern California and is just twelve miles southwest of Jackson. The facility is reachable from Highway 88 or Highway 12 and is near the Jackson Rancheria Casino. The overwhelming beauty of this recreation area provides for guests a state of peace as they witness the tranquility of geese floating on the water top, excitement as wild turkey dart across their path, and joy as they interact with the friendly staff.
From fishing to hiking, Pardee Recreation Area offers an abundance of activities to keep even the most active groups busy over a long weekend. Over 100 campsites, each with a fire pit and picnic table, are located within the park, interspersed with incredible oak trees that provide plenty of shade for the sites. Two swimming pools, several day use areas, boat rentals, fishing and breathtaking hiking trails make this park full of adventure and areas to explore. The park is also home to several friends including wild turkeys, deer and various fish species. To fuel visitors’ adventures, the Lake Pardee Cafe offers tasty breakfast and lunch options and the best 50/50 Freeze you’ll find.
As the center of EBMUD’s drinking supply, to comply with state law which prohibits body contact with the lake, personal water crafts, water skiing, and lake swimming are not permitted.
ATTENTION: Pardee Lake Closes November 6, 2022 for the winter season. Will re-open on February 16, 2023 for camping.
Gate Hours: 5 a.m.-11 p.m.
Kiosk Hours: 5 a.m.-8 p.m. (Sunday-Thursday) and 5 a.m.-9 p.m. (Friday-Saturday)
Marina Hours: 6 a.m.-7 p.m. (until Labor Day weekend)
| Daily | Season Pass | Senior Season Pass | |
| Vehicle (Car / Motorcycle) | $10.00 | $118.00 | $59.00 |
| Vehicle & Boat | $16.00 | $228.00 | $114.00 |
| Large Van or Bus (10+ Passengers) | $38.00 | N/A | N/A |
| Dog | $5.00 | N/A | N/A |
| Standard Boat Launch | $10.00 | $110.00 | $55.00 |
| Cartop Boat Launch | $5.00 | $44.00 | $22.00 |
| Fishing Access | $7.25 | $200.00 | $200.00 |
Marina Hours are 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Until Labor Day weekend. After Labor day hours are: 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
In addition to rental boats, the marina provides ice, wood, drinks, groceries, camping and fishing supplies. California State Fishing Licenses are also available.
At the center of the marina is a vast 10 lane launch ramp that allows for a smooth launch into the reservoir for all boaters.
All boats must be surveyed and are subject to inspection before launching to prevent Quagga Mussels invading EBMUD waters. Vessels from Southern California and out-of-state are prohibited from launching on Pardee Reservoir unless they have gone through a decontamination process.
A gas station is located by the marina store.
Boats are first-come first-serve only! We do not accept reservations.
| Type | # People (weight dependent) | Deposit | Minimum | Each Add’l Hour | All Day |
| 14′ Motor Boat | 3-4 max | $105 | $45/2 hour min | $12 | $105 |
| 16′ Deluxe Boat | 4-5 max | $175 | $78/2 hour min | $20 | $175 |
| Pontoon | 7 max | $225 | $100/2 hour min | $25 | $225 |
| Deluxe Pontoon | 8-10 max | $300 | $120/2 hour min | $45 | $300 |
| Fishing Pontoon | 18 max | $300 | $120/2 hour min | $45 | $300 |
| Kayaks, Canoes, Peddle Boats | 1-2 max | $52 | $15/1 hour min | $10 | $52 |
Senior/Disabled/POW Discount: 50% off all day rate on Non-Holiday Weekdays only. Age 62+
For added entertainment, the park also has a horse shoe station and two pools (one for small children and one for all others).
The Pool is typically open Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend. Please contact the Lake Pardee Gate for more information on early opening. 209-772-1472
Cafe
The café is located just past the entrance of the recreation area next to the pool.
Serving breakfast and lunch on weekends, the café is an excellent place to grab a bite! The current menu is displayed below, but the chef
always has something new up her sleeve! Their menu includes several tasty frozen treats for those hot summer days at the lake. The patio in the back of the café is a great place to enjoy a refreshing drink or sandwich.
The café is now open! Hours are 8am-4pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Breakfast:(Served all day) |
Lunch: |
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Day Use & Hiking
The park offers several hiking trails filled with wildlife. Portable toilets are available along the trails for hikers’ convenience. Ornithology enthusiasts will have plenty to observe as the recreation area is home to Duck, geese, eagles, ospreys, hawks, owls, quail and wild turkeys. Rabbits, squirrels and deer also accompany hikers along their journey. Much more allusive coyotes, bobcats, rattlesnakes, and mountain lions also call Pardee their home, but do not enjoy visitors as much as the squirrels so interaction with these animals is highly unlikely.
Visit this site to see the best ranked hiking trails at Pardee and share your opinion too!
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/california/pardee-recreation-area
Day use areas make up the edge of the lake and have tables and barbecues, perfect for a weekend picnic or a cool down after a hike!
Pardee Recreation Area is an exceptional place for a camp out, with over 100 sites for tenters and RV campers.
Reservable Camping Areas
Lake View Campground(Current COVID-19 Map) |
Oaks Campground(Current COVID-19 Map) |
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Two separate campgrounds, Oaks and Lake View, allow a camper a large number of sites to choose from, all with a picnic table and fire ring. Ample shade from the oak trees spread through the campgrounds make for plenty of cool sites. Restrooms and shared water spigots available all throughout camping areas and flush toilets, showers and laundry facilities are available closer to the marina of the park.
Lake View campground has sites that provide an exquisite view of the water and has twelve short-term camping full hook-up RV sites. Oaks campground has sites that are a little smaller but are more secluded and present a camping experience full of nature and closer to the woodsy feeling many look for when visiting the wilderness. 3 ADA sites, two for tent camping and one for RV camping, are also available for reservation.
Nightly Boat Slips are available for $9.50 per night.
Please see the rules and regulations sheet for further camping information: Pardee Campground Rules For terms and conditions, please CLICK HERE. Please Note: Campground gate hours have changed due to COVID-19, new hours are 5 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday & Saturday.
Make A Reservation Online Here
Or call 800-416-6992 for phone reservations and/or cancellations.
| Site Type | Nightly Rate | Weekly Rate |
| Standard Campsite | $25.00 | $150.00 |
| Premium Campsite | $30.00 | $180.00 |
| Double Campsite | $50.00 | N/A |
| RV Site | $40.00 | $240.00 |
There is a $10.50 NON-REFUNDABLE reservation fee for all reservations made
Seasonal RV Camping
The newly renovated long-term RV park has 56 full hook-up RV sites available for rental of an entire season at the lake. For more information regarding the availability of these sites, please email sgazonas@ortegaparks.com
Monthly: $520.00*
Season: $4,095.00*
Premium Site Season: $4,225.00*
*Site electricity charged separately.
The 300 -foot-deep reservoir is home to many species of fish including: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, kokanee salmon, brown trout, catfish, crappie, bluegill, catfish, and various species of sunfish. Crappie, bluegill and sunfish are great for young anglers.
The large perimeter of the lake allows for plenty of shore fishing in open areas and small coves accessible from a short hike. The fishing dock is also an excellent location for anglers old and young. A fish cleaning station is available for use at the top of the marina.
California State fishing licenses are required for anyone over the age of 16. For youths under 16, the adult accompanying them is required to have a fishing license. Fishing licenses are available for sale at the lake’s marina.
Fishing Access Permits are $7.00 for each guest over 16 years old. 100% of the funds are used to plant Rainbow Trout.
Storage Facilities:
| Weekly | Monthly | Season | Concurrent with season RV Site | |
| Boat Slip | $50.00 | $120.00 | $690.00 | $640.00 |
| Dry Storage | $30.00 | $70.00 | $510.00 | $445.00 |
| Nightly Boat Slip: $10.00 |
| Dry Storage 12 months consecutively: $670.00 |
Marina Hours are 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Until Labor Day weekend. After Labor day hours are: 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
In addition to rental boats, the marina provides ice, wood, drinks, groceries, camping and fishing supplies. California State Fishing Licenses are also available.
At the center of the marina is a vast 10 lane launch ramp that allows for a smooth launch into the reservoir for all boaters.
All boats must be surveyed and are subject to inspection before launching to prevent Quagga Mussels invading EBMUD waters. Vessels from Southern California and out-of-state are prohibited from launching on Pardee Reservoir unless they have gone through a decontamination process.
A gas station is located by the marina store.
Boats are first-come first-serve only! We do not accept reservations.
| Type | # People (weight dependent) | Deposit | Minimum | Each Add’l Hour | All Day |
| 14′ Motor Boat | 3-4 max | $105 | $45/2 hour min | $12 | $105 |
| 16′ Deluxe Boat | 4-5 max | $175 | $78/2 hour min | $20 | $175 |
| Pontoon | 7 max | $225 | $100/2 hour min | $25 | $225 |
| Deluxe Pontoon | 8-10 max | $300 | $120/2 hour min | $45 | $300 |
| Fishing Pontoon | 18 max | $300 | $120/2 hour min | $45 | $300 |
| Kayaks, Canoes, Peddle Boats | 1-2 max | $52 | $15/1 hour min | $10 | $52 |
Senior/Disabled/POW Discount: 50% off all day rate on Non-Holiday Weekdays only. Age 62+