Caswell Memorial State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $10 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(209) 599-3810
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Alert Parts of the park are closed due to damage and debris from flooding.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Covering about 294 acres, Caswell Memorial State Park lies in San Joaquin County, about 4 miles southwest of Ripon.
Popular activities here are boating, swimming, fishing, wildlife watching, and picnicking. Water access includes a swimming beach. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers).
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day use | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
Year-round day use: 8:00am to sunset
Seasons/Climate Recommended Clothing: Winter is 45-50 degrees. Summer is 85-100 degrees. It’s not unusual to for several consecutive days with 100+ temperatures from June through September. Remember insect repellent if you are sensitive to mosquitoes.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use (Regular) | $10 |
| Vehicle Day Use (Special Holiday/Seasonal/Weekend Rate ) | $12 |
| Senior Day Use Fee | $9 |
| Holiday Senior Day Use Fee | $11 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use (Regular): $10.00 • Vehicle Day Use (Special Holiday/Seasonal/Weekend Rate ): $12.00 • Senior Day Use Fee: $9.00 • Holiday Senior Day Use Fee: $11.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: trails.
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs are welcome at the park but not allowed on trails, in the river, on beaches, and must always be on a leash. Caswell is home to several endangered animal species, including the riparian brush rabbit.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
CAMPING
Quiet Hours—Campground quiet hours 10:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m. Be courteous; allow everyone to enjoy their visit.
Generators—Permitted 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Check in is at 2:00 p.m and check out is at 12:00 p.m.
Capacity—Campsites are limited to eight persons/two vehicles. One vehicle per campsite included with reservation fee. Additional vehicles will be charged an overnight vehicle fee.
Fires—Gathering wood is prohibited. Campfires are permitted in fire rings provided on the campsites only. Stoves and barbecues are permitted.
Reservations—Reserve your campsite by visiting ReserveCalifornia.com or calling 1-800-444-7275.
Overnight facilities: Tent Camping, Group Campsites, Hike-and-Bike Campsites, RV Access
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BoatingPicnickingFishingSwimmingWildlife viewing and birdingHikingCamping
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
- Group facilities
Water
- Swimming beach
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Group camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
Caswell Memorial State Park protects a fine example of riparian oak woodland, which once flourished throughout California's Central Valley and is home to several endangered animal species. It is located along the Stanislaus River near the town of Ripon, off Route 99. Phone (209) 599-3810 for more information.
Camping
Four accessible campsites are available: #29, #41, #44, and #56. Combination restroom/shower buildings in the campground are accessible and include accessible parking.
Picnic Area
Two accessible picnic sites are available in the Oak Grove picnic area. The picnic sites include accessible picnic tables on paved pads and accessible BBQ grills. Accessible parking and restrooms are available nearby. Pathways between parking, picnic sites, and restrooms are accessible.
Read more from the park
Trails
The Loop Nature Trail is a 0.71-mile accessible loop trail that starts at the day-use parking lot and uses portions of the Oak Grove, River Bend, Gray Fox, and Fenceline trails to create the accessible trail loop. The shaded trail offers views of oak trees, roses, berries, and a peek or two of the river. The trail is compacted soil. The trail is generally flat at less than 5% slopes. Accessible parking is available at the day-use parking lot.
The Day-Use to Beach Trail is a 0.20-mile trail from the day-use parking lot to the beach (riverbank) of the Stanislaus River. The trail is composed of compacted soil and is generally accessible. The slope of the beach exceeds 30% in some locations and may present a challenge for some users.
Trail Name Running Slope Cross Slope Trail Width Trail Surface
Loop Nature Trail 1% Average 1% Average 6.75 FT Average Soil
5% Maximum 4% Maximum 3 FT Minimum
Beach/Shore Access
A beach wheelchair is available to provide access to the beach (riverbank), however, users should take caution as the slope of the riverbank may be hazardous. Please contact park staff at (209) 599-3810 for more information or to inquire about beach wheelchair availability.
Other Information
There is 1 van accessible parking space located at the kiosk (park entrance).
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Rules and permits
Safety Notification:
Summer Branch Drop
Caswell Memorial State Park is experiencing a phenomenon known as Summer Branch Drop. The term describes the failure of mature tree branches in summer, with no obvious cause. The failure of trees is inherently unpredictable.
Safety Notification/Summer Branch Drop (pdf)
Find guided walks and other park events Find Park Events Here Click the link and search for Caswell Memorial State Park.
The park is located along the Stanislaus River near the town of Ripon, California. The park protects a fine example of the threatened and still declining riparian oak woodland, which once flourished throughout California's Central Valley. Caswell is home to several endangered animal species, including the riparian brush rabbit.
Read more from the park
The Native Americans who lived along this river and collected acorns among these ancient groves were Yokuts. In the early 1800s, Spanish explorers traversed this area, and fur trappers found the river bountiful.
Thomas Caswell, landowner, enjoyed this wonderful forest and felt it should be preserved. In 1950 the children and grandchildren donated 134 acres to the people of California. Additional donations and state purchases brought Caswell to its current size of 258 acres. Caswell Memorial State Park was open to the public in 1958.
Getting there
- Address
- 28000 South Austin Road
Ripon, CA 95366 - Nearest town
- Ripon — about 4 mi southwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 37.7000, -121.1829
- Phone
- (209) 599-3810
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
From 99, take the Austin Rd. exit. Head South on Austin Rd. and you will run into the park at the end of the road.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Vitis californica at Caswell Memorial State Park spring leaves.jpg — Public domain (released by the author)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology