McConnell State Park

I have gone many times and had great experiences. Someday’s there is a parking fee and others there is not. I have ridden my bike from town many times just to go hang a hammock and relax for a few hours. I have never camped here before, but it looks like a place that would be fun with a large group of people. The only complaint that i have was last time I got in the water there was leaches.

Bad experience the rangers, felt harassed and discriminated one thing is that they are there to help and protect another one is that they harassed and try to act like officers. Horrible horrible.

Definitely not coming here ever again! My family came here to came for more than 10 years every year was nice until last week! Ranger came the first day like 3 hours we got there only 7 ppl at the came site and ranger said «we were too loud» he came to try to prevent from others complaining from the «loud music». First off felt like the ranger was racist and didnt like us at all! Every year they came to empty our trash cans if they were full. Not even one single time they came to our campsite to empty our full trash cans or not even bags so atleast we could put the bags to the side!!! Anyways second day low music most of the adults playing volleyball and ranger came said «loud music» again!!! seriously such BS!!! Was so annoying!!! Have it for sure my family was annoyed too and we all agreeed were not returning ever again! Plenty of nicer places out there!

Needed a halfway stop on the way to the bay area and rain…82 when we got here at 2pm: -)! Here on a Monday in February, so no worry about crowds. The rangers were nice, the park was clean and we could let the dog run off leash cause there’s no one else here!
It worked for us.

I’ve been here a total of 4 times in the past 2 years as a stop between home and our final destination and I can’t really complain.
This place is definitely more of a day-​trip kind of stop on a trip; weekends are when it is truly busy and when all of the families come together and barbecue it up next to the river and such. Sundays are great and really quiet (we stayed on a Sunday once).
The river is always relaxing and at the perfect temperature for such high heats of the valley, at least during the summer when I have gone. There is plenty of beach room and swimming area and there is a tree swing on the other side of the river. Also, the current is so slow I always mistakenly call the river a lake. I haven’t discovered an area in the main watering hole that is more than maybe 7 – 8 feet deep and there is a great amount of shallow area to wade in the water
Both periods I went, there was one somewhat okay day (the weekend) and then a great day. Day-​trippers are required to leave at sunset and there is a park patrol who enforces that but once the day-​trip people leave or move to their campground, that is when the «party» happens. There is a strict 10pm-​6am noise curfew that NO ONE follows during the weekend or when there is a significant amount of campers. But, I have been irritated enough at 11pm to go across our campsite and ask them to turn it down and did it within seconds. I honestly believe that the groups don’t realize how loud their music is so you just need to give them a polite wakeup call. It would be nice to have patrol come around at curfew (10pm) to turn down/​off the music.
So yeah, I would suggest this as a pitstop between home and your final destination or for a family picnic if you’re extremely local.
FYI, I would suggest reserving your spot because most times we have gone, the Park had a sign saying «lot full.»

we came all the way out here on a day trip from sf. we were not disappointed.
it’s a 2.5 hour drive with no traffic from the bay bridge. once we got there, we asked the ranger where it would be best for our family to hang out and picnic for the day. he looked in our truck and said give the river down at the end of the parking lot a try since we didn’t need tables. we drove all the way back and unloaded our stuff by the river.
the river was clear, warm and slow moving. we hung out in the river for 7 solid hours. it was so nice i moved one of our lawn chairs in and sat half submerged for an hour or so. towards the end of the day, we waded downstream about 50 yards and came upon a short, swifter moving area. my youngest at 4 years had a flotation device and just loved walking upstream and then floating quickly into the banks after a 20 yard float. it was so shallow and safe i had no problem hanging out in midstream and watching her have her fun.
this park is really nice. relatively peaceful as all the overnight campers were more upstream.
btw, it was 60 degrees in sf and 90 degrees when we left mcconnell at 7 pm.
some recommendations:
— try to arrive early.
— bring plenty of water and food.
— bring some sort of flotation device for the kids.
otherwise, enjoy this jewel of a river/​park.

Some of the other reviewers are nuts. This place is awesome! The water is very clear and surprisingly warm. Great place to go picnicking and taking the kids swimming.
The water is not too swift for younger swimmers and it has a long shallow beach which drops off into a great swimming hole.
The rope swing seems like it could be dangerous, but also looks like a lot of fun.
If you live within an hour of this park, it is well worth the trip to take the kids — they will have a blast.
Take food and water, the park is remote and has no snack bar or nearby store.

Nice for little kids to go to river. Lots of trees to provide shade. Camps very close together. Bathrooms are gross tho.

Ok i just saw these reviews and decided to give it a try yesterday. So anyhow after paying within a 1 minute drive i wanted to leave because this place is a hell hole but not many options that late in the day and no refunds.
So now the review… i contemplated on whether to give it one or two stars i decided two and will let you know why.
First off this place and the guests are comparable to the dirtiest part of LA meets a river. the thought is quite disgusting. People and kids cross your camp like theyre your family (not cool at all). The river is comfortably accessible from one spot and let me tell you that spot is not for anyone looking for peace or comfort. it was the loudest and disrespectful groups of people ive ever seen (yes groups) not one group of a few but more like 50 groups of 5 or more people and lets just say LET THE CUSSING BEGIN… you cant tell whose parent to what kids cus nobody is looking over kids (INSANE BEING AT A RIVER!) i found myself looking out for children just in case and let me tell you there is stress with that cus you can clearly see the visitors were not swimmers but acting a damn fool like they are in command of that water…
So i scouted from the area and found a dirt side parking lot and there we found a nicer more remote area with only a few people (about 30) lol
Now that is why i gave a 2 star versus 1… if that area wasnt found i would have just stomped all over this review…
this place might have been good in the 80s but now its disgusting to say the least…
now if youre not opposed to the shadiest looking neighbors who cus and drink all damn day… give it a whirl you may love it :/​
Also i grew up near the beach and one thing i can not stand is people fully dressed and swimming!
it just looks awful! i was in shorts and a tshirt prior to going in the water and at that point i felt i was almost nude compared to others
and heres some advice if youre going to weigh 250lbs at 5′ 6″ please MEN do know where see through shirts… its not stylish at ALL!!!
anyhow i can go on for days about this slum of a spot.
WOW did i give it a 2 star?! if they had no star system then they would have gotten 1 star for the spot i found but 2 stars seems way too high!
hope this helps
EMMA you were sooooo right!!! i bow to your review

Went there for a family camping trip and turned out to be a horror. Some guy came into our site with a huge knife saying some one was trying to kill him and if we could give him a ride. The kids and dogs were terrified, dogs are barking kids are crying Im scared. Then a second guy comes from the back with a knife and a call pulls up to our site and these two guys get in d car. What was that all about… The car takes off and then comes back drives by our site again, by that time we called the police and started packing up. We had made reservationsfor 3 nights but ended up going home. We were not trying to make news — slaughtered family found at camp ground lol .Its cheap to camp there but ghetto people ruin it!
If your going be careful and aware of your surroundings.

Its a great little place to go camping. Their restrooms have a mirror, toilet paper, seat liners and electrical outlets. Their showers are coin opperated put provide (hot) water. The rangers clean and restock the restrooms everymorning and take out the trass. The camp sites have fire pits and food lockers. And the river and parking lots are walking distance. Would definatly check the weather before reserving a spot. But we picked the perfect time bc it was warm yet breezy. Would def come back again.

I think this is a great little state park. lots of family celebrations going on and there’s always families visiting during the daytime. the river is great for groups because for most of it it is quite shallow but you can venture out into the deep parts for a real swim. the temperature in the summer is amazing. the camp areas are very well shaded cooling it down a few degrees which really helps when its 100+ weather. there’s a little pink market carnicia, taqueria, grocery on your way there which has almost everything but firewood. you can buy wood from the park ranger (if you can find him) for $ 6 a bundle. lots of people just passing through overnight and lots of us young people getting drunk and laying in the field to look up to the stars. couldn’t believe how many shooting stars i saw. a few trees to climb. not a good place for hiking as i didn’t really see any trails except for one behind campground a. good place for bbqing, water fun, and enjoying the scenery. you’ll still have cell phone reception. showers are 50 cents for five minutes and the larger group campground have electric outlets.