Merced County Events

Lake McSwain and Lake McClure

Outdoors

PHOTO BY ADAM BLAUERT photo by adam blauert Lake McSwain and Lake McClureLake McSwain and Lake McClure: These two sister reservoirs on the Merced River are operated as a unit by the Merced Irrigation District.…

Lake McSwain and Lake McClure

 PHOTO BY ADAM BLAUERT

PHOTO BY ADAM BLAUERT

 photo by adam blauert

photo by adam blauert

Lake McSwain and Lake McClureLake McSwain and Lake McClure: These two sister reservoirs on the Merced River are operated as a unit by the Merced Irrigation District.  Both provide excellent fishing.

Lake McSwain may be tiny in comparison to Lake McClure, but sometimes has better trout fishing.  Gigantic Lake McClure is especially popular for waterskiing, wake boarding, and houseboats.

A 15-mile trail between the Bagby Recreation Area (Highway 49) and Briceburg (140) provides good river fishing, hiking, and mountain biking.

 bike park

bike park  

<div class="sqs-html-content" data-sqsp-text-block-content=""> <ul data-rte-list="default"><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Location: Lake McClure Road near Merced Falls</p></li><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Distance from Merced: 30 miles</p></li><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Distance from Los Banos: 66 miles</p></li><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Operating authority: Merced Irrigation District</p></li><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Surface area of lake: McClure 7,110 acres, McSwain 308 acres</p></li></ul><h2 style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Facilities and activities</h2><ul data-rte-list="default"><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Boat ramps, marina, fish-cleaning stations</p></li><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Flush restrooms</p></li><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Drinking fountains</p></li><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Campgrounds/group campgrounds with BBQ grills/fire rings, shelters, hot showers, RV hookups</p></li><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Picnic areas with tables, shelters, and BBQ grills</p></li><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Group picnic areas and shelters</p></li><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Swimming beach</p></li><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Playgrounds</p></li><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Store, laundry facilities, dump station</p></li><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Dogs allowed? Yes</p></li><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Horses allowed? No</p></li><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Hunting allowed? No</p></li><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Fish species: bass, bluegill, catfish, crappie, shad, sunfish, trout</p></li><li><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Rentals: Boats and personal watercraft including houseboats</p></li></ul><h2 style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Website: <a href="http://www.lakemcclure.com/">http://www.lakemcclure.com/</a></h2> </div> <hr> <div class=" summary-block-wrapper summary-block-collection-type-blog-single-column summary-block-setting-text-size-medium summary-block-setting-text-align-left summary-block-setting-design-list summary-block-setting-design-list-thumbnail-left summary-block-setting-metadata-position-below-content summary-block-setting-primary-metadata-date summary-block-setting-secondary-metadata-none summary-block-setting-show-thumbnail summary-block-setting-show-title summary-block-setting-show-price summary-block-setting-show-excerpt summary-block-setting-show-read-more-link sqs-gallery-design-list "> <div class="summary-item-list-container sqs-gallery-container"> <header class="summary-block-header"> <div class="summary-heading" data-animation-role="content"> <span class="summary-header-text">Featured</span> </div> <div class="summary-carousel-pager sqs-gallery-controls" data-animation-role="content"> <span class="summary-carousel-pager-prev previous" tabindex="0" role="button" aria-label="Previous"/> <span class="summary-carousel-pager-next next" tabindex="0" role="button" aria-label="Next"/> </div> </header> <div class="summary-item-list sqs-gallery"> <div class=" summary-item summary-item-record-type-text sqs-gallery-design-list-slide summary-item-has-thumbnail summary-item-has-excerpt summary-item-has-cats summary-item-has-author summary-item-has-comments-enabled "> <div class="summary-thumbnail-outer-container"> <a href="https://www.mercedcountyevents.com/about-adam-blauert/recreation-safety-recommendations-nh6h6" class=" summary-thumbnail-container sqs-gallery-image-container " data-title="About Adam Blauert" data-description=""> <div class="summary-thumbnail img-wrapper" data-animation-role="image"> <!-- Main Image --> <img src="/api/media/ghost/2a3f96b28fde1ab8f0767aa0ca019c99e2d1edb2e41ce4fb6c6d69aac228fe16.jpg" data-image="https://merced-county-events.ghost.io/content/images/2026/03/adam-with-fish-jpeg-3.jpg" data-image-dimensions="524x504" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" alt="About Adam Blauert" data-load="false" class="summary-thumbnail-image" elementtiming="summary-thumbnail-image-list"> </img></div> </a> <!-- Products: Quick View --> </div> <div class="summary-content sqs-gallery-meta-container" data-animation-role="content"> <div class="summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--above-title"> <div class="summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary"> <!-- Timestamp --> <time class="summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--date" datetime="2020-04-30">Apr 30, 2020</time> </div> <div class="summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary"> </div> </div> <div class="summary-title"> <a href="https://www.mercedcountyevents.com/about-adam-blauert/recreation-safety-recommendations-nh6h6" class="summary-title-link">About Adam Blauert</a></div> <div class="summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--below-title"> <div class="summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary"> <!-- Timestamp --> <time class="summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--date" datetime="2020-04-30">Apr 30, 2020</time> </div> <div class="summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary"> </div> </div> <div class=" summary-excerpt summary-excerpt-only "><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Adam Blauert, a high school teacher and avid outdoors enthusiast, has dedicated the majority of his life to Merced County. His passions include fishing, backpacking, delving into local history, and exploring the wonders of the western states.</p></div> <a href="https://www.mercedcountyevents.com/about-adam-blauert/recreation-safety-recommendations-nh6h6" class="summary-read-more-link">Read More &#8594;</a> <div class="summary-metadata-container summary-metadata-container--below-content"> <div class="summary-metadata summary-metadata--primary"> <!-- Timestamp --> <time class="summary-metadata-item summary-metadata-item--date" datetime="2020-04-30">Apr 30, 2020</time> </div> <div class="summary-metadata summary-metadata--secondary"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></hr></img></img></body>
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