Camanche

California wrote the book on ghost towns, from Gold Rush tent cities to Owens Valley farm towns the aqueduct dried up.

Camanche (originally Limerick; also, Clay's Bar) is a former settlement in Calaveras County, California, United States. Located at an elevation of 220 feet (67 m), the town was once called Limerick, before it was renamed to Camanche in 1849. The settlement of Camanche is now submerged under Camanche Reservoir.

The on-the-ground condition of Camanche is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Camanche is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.