Bell tents near Shaver Lake, California with campfires

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United States
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California
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Shaver Lake

Bell tents near Shaver Lake with campfires

This small lakeside town offers easy access to water-focused fun in Sierra National Forest.

Top-rated stays

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The Canopy - Sierras

2 sites · Lodging20 acres · Shaver Lake, CANestled up in the woods on top of the mountain, it will be you and the stars and the sounds of nature. With 20 acres and 100's of acres of national forest, you will feel like no one else is around. At 5400ft you are above it all and can see the entire Sierras to your east and the distant lights of fresno to the west. Shaver lake is 15 minutes away with great fishing and kayaking. There is countless hikes and waterfalls within 45 minutes drive. Once you arrive, you won't want to leave :) We have 4 total places to stay on this property but they are all spaced out so you plenty of privacy from the others. There is countless spaces to roam and relax and you will feel like you have the whole place to yourselves. -Shaver Lake is 15 minutes away. -McKinley Grove is a beautiful patch of massive Sequoia trees about 45 minutes away. -Mono Hot Springs is 1.5 hours away and just incredible. We have horseshoe pits, fun swings, amazing views, hiking trails throughout the property as well as flushing toilet and on-demand hot showers.

Lakeview Glamping Near Murphys

26 sites · Lodging, Tents21 acres · Angels Camp, CAExperience the ultimate in glamping at this breathtaking destination near Murphys. Nestled between ancient rock formations and boasting stunning lake and mountain views, our serene and very private property is sure to be the glamping experience of your dreams! Spectacular sunrises and sunsets await you as does a sky full of night stars that just make everything right with the world. A very large rock firepit overlooks the lake with ample seating for 8 people. The outdoor shower gets you back to nature and you can hike down to the seasonal creek that runs along the North side of the property. Turkeys, deer, and birds are common to see and may meander through during your visit!

24 sites · Lodging, Tents86 acres · Placerville, CACamp Nauvoo was originally bought by the LDS church in the 1960's for a girl's camp. The camp was owned by the Boy Scouts from 2011-2015. The Rose family bought the property in 2016 with the intent to continue the tradition of tent camping as well as creating opportunities for exclusive events i.e., group/family reunions, weddings and corporate events. We are a small privately owned small campground (20 sites only) located on the outskirts of Placerville. The property features 86.5 secluded Tahoe like acres with beautiful year-round Weber Creek. The camp sites are placed along the creek or the bluff overlooking the creek. We have traditional dirt camping, canvas tents on platforms, teepees and glamping tents for those that want the comforts of home. We are tent camping only with only one site that allows a small travel trailer or van. (#14) . We are dog friendly and allow dogs in all but 5 glamping sites. We do enforce camp rules especially our quiet time between 10 PM and 7 AM (please review). We’ve been told that we have a “family camp” vibe. We are a great place for families wanting a safe environment for their kids but also several group sites for those that want to hang out together with multiple families. We are also a great base site for those wilderness enthusiasts with access to all the El Dorado National Forest including Desolation but want a hot shower at the end of the day. We have a lodge that is stocked with games and a ping pong table. The lodge has a microwave, Keurig machine and a hot water kettle for those hot drinks (BYO Cups).We have several tables set up for those that want to eat inside as well as multiple picnic tables along the side of the lodge with overhead protection. We have electricity at the at the lodge for small appliances and charging phones. We have a compressor on site to blow up your air mattresses or float toys. We’ve been told that our bathrooms are the “cleanest” ever and have changing tables and diaper pails. We offer nice flushing toilets and hot showers! For outdoor activities we have basketball, volleyball, pickleball and cornhole not to mention the playground with swing sets, seesaw and tractor play. We have hiking trails throughout the property. Our highlight is a camp fire bowl with bench seating with a stage to display camper talent which is perfect for the evening fire and roasting s’mores (bring the fixings). The creek starts out in spring looking like a rushing river featuring many fishing and swimming holes. As the summer progresses the water level falls but is still great for water play and fishing. We have propane BBQs (we provide the propane for BBQs) located throughout the property. We also have a propane grill and charcoal BBQ located in the common area for all to use. There is a dutch oven pit also in the fire bowl area. We do not allow wood fires at the individual sites but each site has a propane firepit for ambiance (not cooking) that requires you to purchase a 20 lb. propane cannister on site (add in extras) or pay cash on site. No internet service. There is limited internet only available for purchases at the setore. We require a 3 night minimum for the major holidays - Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day. We do not do checkins on Sunday but do allow camping over Sunday night. We do exclusive events so you may need to explore multiple weekends to find the right reservation. We are located in the foothills so we are a short hop to many local attractions that include river rafting, gold mines, wineries and historical towns with great eating establishments. Tahoe is less than an hour away and there a many hiking trails within 20-30 minutes. We have a limited number of items to rent i.e, tents, cots, camp stoves, etc. We also have a small store on site for those items you forgot and a good selection of ice cream. We take venmo or cash. CHECKIN IS BETWEEN 4 AND 8. IF YOU ARE COMING FROM THE BAY ALLOW 4 HOURS - YOU MUST LEAVE BY 3:00 IN ORDER TO ARRIVE DURING CHECKIN. IF YOU GET DELAYED, FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE OTHER CAMPERS YOU MAY CONSIDER WAITING AND ARRIVING THE NEXT MORNING. THERE ARE NO CHECKINS AFTER 9:00.

from

$80

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Outdoor stays for every style

Find your new favorite spot.

On the southwest shore of its namesake lake, the small town of Shaver Lake offers lodging, restaurants, shops, and other services to support visitors to the popular recreational lake. With 20 miles of shoreline and warm surface temperatures in the summer, Shaver Lake is a popular lake for swimming, boating, padding, waterskiing, and water sports. Anglers flock here for the more than 15 species of fish, including Kokanee salmon and rainbow trout. More than 30 miles of trails also surround the lake. Campers have plenty of options, from lakeside campgrounds around Shaver Lake to developed and dispersed campgrounds in the national forest and parks nearby.

Where to Go

Shaver Lake

Situated on Shaver Lake’s shores are a handful of campgrounds, some with hundreds of campsites and plentiful amenities including wifi, marinas, boat ramps, and horseback riding facilities. On the lake’s southwest shore, the US Forest Service Dorabelle Campground offers 67 campsites with limited amenities but drinking water and vault toilets. Two miles south of the lake, the primitive Swanson Meadow Campground features eight campsites.

Sierra National Forest

The Sierra National Forest surrounds Shaver Lake. Spanning more than a million acres, the landscape varies from rolling foothills to alpine peaks, and more than 60 developed campgrounds. Bass Lake, Huntington Lake, and Mammoth Pool Reservoir are all a short drive away, and offer more than a dozen campgrounds among them. To enjoy natural hot springs, head to the Mono Hot Springs area. Several campgrounds also offer easy access to the Dinkey Lakes and Ansel Adams wilderness areas.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

To the southeast of Shaver Lake, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is home to numerous groves of giant sequoias, the tallest trees in the world, and one of the country’s deepest canyons, along with glacial valleys, massive caverns, and waterfalls. The two parks together offer more than 20 developed campgrounds. Tent cabins are also available for those looking for more luxury. Popular options include the Sunset, Crystal Springs, Azalea, Hume Lake, and Princess campgrounds.

Yosemite National Park

One of the country’s most popular national parks, Yosemite National Park is known for its granite monoliths, grand vista points, waterfalls, epic rock climbing, and hundreds of miles of trails. The park offers more than a dozen developed campgrounds, with the Wawona Campground the closest to Shaver Lake. The campgrounds in Yosemite Valley offer easy access to many highlights, while several high sierra camps offer the best of backpacking, without having to carry everything.

When to go

Summers are the most popular times at Shaver Lake and both lakeside campgrounds fill up early. Boat ramps and marinas are usually open from April to October. Shaver Lake is open for fishing all year, though fishing in area streams is often limited to between late April and November. Spring and summer are good times for birdwatching. In the winter, enjoy snow play at several area SNO-parks and the China Peak Mountain Resort near Huntington Lake.

Know before you go

Permits are required for backpacking in certain wilderness areas, including Ansel Adams and Dinkey Lakes.
Campfire permits are required outside of developed campsites. Some areas do not permit any fires, even when fire regulations are not in place.
Many forest products, including mushrooms and firewood, require permits.
Be bear aware. Always store scented items outside your tent in a bear-proof container.
Fishing licenses are required for those 16 and older. Special regulations apply to US Wild and Scenic Rivers.