100% (276) • 11 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near Catheys Valley
100% (276) • 11 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near Catheys Valley
Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
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Jennifer
1 week ago
With pets
Jeremy was very communicative and gave great recommendations! The views at his property were simply amazing! I wish we would have stayed another day! We plan to come back again with our friends!
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Adrienne
2 weeks ago
Weekend Trip to The Painted Lake
What an amazing place this is. We stayed in the newly built super view cabin and it absolutely was the most super view. We were there in cold weather and the cabin was so cozy and comfortable. The outdoor grill and fire pit were so great too. The animals were free range and it was magical seeing horses frolic by with their goat friends. Jeremy and his wife and son were so friendly and gave great suggestions on places to visit. By far some of the best hipcamp hosts we've had. We would give this 1000 stars if possible. In the wet weather you definitely should have a AWD or 4WD. My Mazda CX5 handled it like a champ. If you want to see the best sunrise surrounded by endless beauty, go here!
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Artur
December 2025
25 ft travel trailer
With pets
What an amazing spot. Had everything we needed and was extremely clean. Lot's of things to do around town. Highly recommended.
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Sen
December 2025
Weekend Trip to The Painted Lake
Really really nice place and nice hosts! Enjoyed staying in the tree house and all of the animals are so friendly (especially the 17 cute puppies!!!). There are a lot of things to explore and would definitely love to visit again
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Jen
December 2025
4 nights at The Painted Lake
Wow, what an amazing and beautiful weekend my girlfriends and I had at the Painted Lake Treehouse! The place is absolutely stunning! It was a mystical and magical wonderland with an amazing view of the lake. We woke up every morning to sounds of the roosters crowing and goats bleeting. We also had the pleasure of being there at the time where they had puppies on the property. They were so cute! The treehouse was warm and comfortable perfect for the three of us. The two petite girls stayed in the loft bed and I stayed on the futon couch down below. The heater kept us nice and toasty as we went there in December so it got brisk at night. There was was a camp kitchen, outdoor shower hut & portopotty just a just a short walk up the hill from the treehouse. There were dishes and cooking utensils provided as well as running water and a stove for cooking. Everything we needed. Our purpose for the weekend was to be surrounded by nature and to do a healing retreat weekend. We each booked a constellation therapy session with Michelle. Let me tell you she is absolutely magical. Such a compassionate and knowledgeable healer. It was truly transformative on so many levels. The animals participated as well. My favorite part was when the horses nuzzled my back during the final session. Our hosts Jeremy and Michele made sure that all of our needs were met and were extremely welcoming and excited to have us there. I would highly recommend this to anyone! Thanks M&J!! 💖 MAGIC!
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Kenneth
December 2025
29 ft Class A
With pets
Best campground in Gold Country.
We always stay here when visit this area of California.
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Michael
December 2025
33 ft travel trailer
With pets
Our stay at Squirrel Rock was absolutely fantastic. Julie was super nice and gave us the perfect balance of attention and privacy. The campground is beautiful and so well maintained plus there are lots of things to see in the Columbia area. We will definitely be coming back and recommend Squirrel Rock to everyone else looking for a quiet getaway in the gold country.
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Gwendal
November 2025
25 ft Class C
With kids
Beautiful camp, extremely well maintained. Our 2 families had a great time and the kids loved climbing the rocks!
Walking distance to Columbia state park as well!
Highly recommend
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Mia
November 2025
Tent
Group trip
Amazing and attentive hosts, Jeremy is awesome! Super friendly animals on the property and great views of the lake. Highly recommend, hosted our large group with ease. Will be returning!!
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Chiqui
November 2025
With kids
Indescribable 10 out 10....definitely going back soon! WE MISS THE DOGS 🐕
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marilyn
November 2025
With kids
Gorgeously rugged property, amazing views, awesome host, super fun hipcamp.
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Garrett
November 2025
Tent
Very peaceful and close to everything there is to do, if you want to go for a hike natural bridges is 15 minutes away
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Dennis
November 2025
25 ft travel trailer
Everything was awesome, only I forgot my water hose and Julie called and let me know. I picked it up the next time I was in the area.
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Aiden
October 2025
Weekend Trip to The Painted Lake
Perfect spot to get away for the weekend! The cabin area was clean and the owners friendly. To get down to the cabin is a little steep but if you don’t feel confident getting down or out of there the owner kindly offered to help out. Great for animal lovers as the horses, chickens, goats, and more are always nearby. The fresh eggs in the morning were the cherry on top. There’s only a porta potty on site but it was in A1 condition. Definitely recommending to friends and family.
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Brian
October 2025
15 ft travel trailer
With pets
This spot is an absolute gem! It’s so nicely appointed and private. Perfect spot as a home base to explore gold country! We will absolutely be back!
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Betsy
October 2025
With pets
Jeremy's "Super View Cabin" is a fun getaway with amazing view of the lake and accompanied by friendly animals. The cabin is comfortable with a queen size bed and an amazing view for sunrise and sunset.
Amenities: Next to the cabin, Jeremy provides a picnic table with umbrella, chairs, propane fire pit, trash bin, BBQ stove and an outdoor shower powered by solar. While there is a water hose next to the BBQ, you may also use the outdoor kitchen area a short walk down the hill next to the chicken coop.
Activities: Enjoy the view for sure! But if you're looking for other activities, there are plenty of friendly farm animals where you can get fresh eggs from the hen, say hello to the sheep/goats, and walk by the horses grazing on the grass. Like what others have said, the lake is a steep 20 min walk down and it will be challenging for little ones or elderly. If you do get to the lake, Jeremy provides kayak for you to bring down to the lake. There isn't quite an easy to hang out "beach area" of sort because it's quite rocky as the water has receded considerably for central CA agricultural needs.
The super view cabin is fairly private unless you have people who camping further down driving back and forth often. Otherwise, it's a relaxing getaway for Hipcampers looking for a great lake view, fresh eggs daily and a friendly host.
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Tanja
October 2025
With pets
The tree house was cozy and comfortable. The outdoor kitchen had everything we needed. The views and scenery were beautiful. Stargazing at night was incredible. I highly recommend booking a stay here ❤️
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Ashutosh
October 2025
Weekend Trip to The Painted Lake
I booked the lake view cabin to celebrate my wife’s birthday, and it turned out to be an unforgettable experience. The cabin itself was super cute, cozy, and had large windows perfect for stargazing at night. The view from the cabin was absolutely epic — both sunrise and sunset were breathtaking, and the lake was stunningly beautiful.
The property has a lovely rustic charm with friendly animals like dogs, hens, sheep, goats, lambs, and a horse. There’s even a kayak available if you want to explore the lake, which we really enjoyed.
Jeremy was an amazing host — friendly, responsive, and went above and beyond by arranging a beautiful bouquet for my wife at my request. He patiently answered all my questions since it was my first glamping experience, which made everything smooth and enjoyable.
One small note for first-time campers: the portable toilet is a bit away from the cabin and doesn’t have a traditional flush, so it might be an adjustment at first.
Overall, we had an incredible stay and would definitely love to come back again — next time with our friends!
⭐ Rating: 5/5 — Highly recommended!
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Yulia
October 2025
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HARMINDER
October 2025
Weekend Trip to The Painted Lake
We followed the host’s directions (not Google Maps) and arrived without any issues. The host greeted us warmly and showed us to our cabin. The road from the main house down to the cabin is a bit steep but well-maintained with gravel — I drove a truck without any problems, and even saw a Honda Accord make it up and down. As long as you drive slowly and carefully, any car should be fine.
The cabin itself was beautiful and peaceful, with a stunning view — you can even see the lake right from the bed. The grill was perfect for cooking, and although the bathrooms were a short walk away, we didn’t mind. We spent time down by the lake and enjoyed seeing the horses, sheep, and chickens on the property (and even got fresh eggs from the coop!). The stargazing at night was incredible. I never seen so many stars.
The only small downside was that a larger group was camping below the cabin, so a few cars passed by, but it still felt private and quiet overall. The host — friendly, helpful, and shared some exciting plans for future improvements. We’d definitely stay here again and might try the other cabin next time, though this one has the best lake view.
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