Mcconnell State Recreation Area
Rate this placeNearby: Lucero Park Livingston Memorial Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
McConnell State Recreation Area is located in Merced County, California.
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Summary
It is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts due to its scenic beauty, diverse wildlife, and recreational activities. The park covers over 2,700 acres of land and features a lake, hiking trails, picnic areas, campsites, and playgrounds.
One of the main reasons to visit McConnell State Recreation Area is to enjoy its natural beauty. The park is home to a variety of plant and animal species, including oak woodlands, grasslands, and wetlands. Visitors can also fish, swim, boat, and kayak on the park's lake.
The park is also known for its historic sites, such as the San Joaquin River Trail, which was used by Native Americans for thousands of years. Visitors can explore the trail and learn about the area's rich cultural history.
Interesting facts about McConnell State Recreation Area include that it was named after John P. McConnell, who played a key role in establishing the park. Additionally, the park was once a working ranch and is now home to many species of wildlife, including deer, coyotes, and bobcats.
The best time of year to visit McConnell State Recreation Area is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the park is less crowded. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities for visitors in all seasons.
Overall, McConnell State Recreation Area is a beautiful and diverse park that offers a range of activities for outdoor enthusiasts.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Lucero Park
Livingston Memorial Park
Livingston Sports Complex
Shattuck Park
Hagaman Park