140 acres hosted by Lorna G.
Activities
Biking
Fishing
Hiking
Horseback riding
Natural features
Forest
River, stream, or creek
Swimming hole
Mountainous
Not currently accepting bookings on Hipcamp
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Reviews
86% Recommend22 ratings · 19 reviews
Really nice campsite, the pups LOVED the creek. Very easy to find & host was super communicative.
Prescilla F.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2023
Great campsite to get away
Tent · Group trip ·
*Creekside Camping Retreat Site 1
The campsite was great! Far off the main road, restroom was clean and the weather was great. Only thing to be mindful of is there is ticks in the area. Other than that I definitely would stay there again.
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Wyatt C.
2 years on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· May 2023
Good, with room to improve.
22 ft pop-up camper · With pets ·
Creekside Camping Retreat Site #2
Everything as advertised, but needs a bit of refinement given the price point.
The host was quite clear that there was no water available. They provided a port-a-potty for bathroom services, which was perfunctory.
The host does not provide garbage service, as it's a 'pack in/pack out' situation.
All of these were communicated in advance of booking and expected.
However: guidelines from the host about where campers could get water or dispose of their rubbish in a proper manner would have made a difference.
As for the 'creekside' aspect, that is true. However, due to the overgrowth from the last winter, there's no creek access. Camp host could improve this by cutting a path through the brush to the creek from each campsite.
Beyond that, I feel that future campers may want to know that there is an several critters you may not want near you, your children, or your pets. Ticks and scorpions were both observed in abundance. Wildlife is expected, but a reminder from the camp host would have been helpful.
Lastly: Other campers, gentle reminder to keep your dogs under your control. I should not have been having to shoo off-leashed dogs out of my campsite nor dealing with their excreta.
I do not regret my decision to camp here as a medium sized party on a holiday weekend, but for the $157 spent for a 3 night stay, given the lack of services, I'm not sure the value proposition works out mutually beneficial.
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Nate M.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2022
Creekside Camping Retreat Site is a nice choice for a low-key, relaxed Hipcamp not far from the quaint downtown district of Murphys, California.
During our short stay at Creekside Camping Retreat Site, my husband and I pitched a tent near a provided charcoal grill and picnic table. The camping plot was clean and easily accessed. The simple, outdoor toilet facility was also conveniently accessible and in good, working condition.
The grounds of Lazy G Ranch are open and spacious. There is room to stretch out and enjoy; a children’s playground, tetherball set-up, and volley ball net are primed and ready for use. The sound of the stream gurgling below is most likely heard as you prepare a meal on the picnic
table, or repose in your bivouacked lodging during wetter seasons.
However, in the hottest, driest days of summer, my husband and I heard only a pleasant chorus of melodic bird calls. There are many open and shaded spots to choose from, so it was easy to find a suitable spot to relax.
For a quiet location in modest driving proximity to the wineries and amenities of nearby Murphys, Creekside Camping Retreat Site is a nice spot. We enjoyed our time here.
Virginia P.
153 reviews
Recommends
· May 2022
24 ft travel trailer · With kids ·
Creekside Camping Retreat Site #2
Very nice and off the beaten path. Large meadow with only 3 sites. Super quiet and great for kids.
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Forrest G.
2 reviews
Secluded camping by a beautiful meadow -- with gorgeous flowers, when we were there! There are picnic tables, shade, and it's nearby to several cool attractions, too. Note that it's a little tricky to identify the exact location of the campsites -- it's not super clear where to go if you arrive at night -- but overall, would highly recommend!
M
Michael H.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· April 2022
Tent · With pets ·
Creekside Camping Retreat Site #2
Beautiful, secluded meadow. Tons of wildlife. The kids had a blast
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Kyle S.
2 reviews
The place is good. They forgot to mention that the creek is dry so there was no water. I wasn’t exactly prepared for that. Apart from that I enjoyed being the only tent out there so I had the desired quiet time, it is far enough to have no light pollution and only a few cars pass by. I enjoyed it generally.
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Rola A.
3 years on Hipcamp
Nice and quiet. Off the beaten path. Campsites are a bit sloped and there are some thorny plants so be careful. Host responded quickly to messages and accommodated us checking in late.
Aubrey C.
4 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2021
Group trip ·
*Creekside Camping Retreat Site 1
We really enjoyed our stay. Sites were clean and included a fire extinguisher on the charcoal grill. With all the fires blazing now I really appreciated seeing this. The porta potty was just cleaned. We were also surprised by the cool swing set. We will definitely be returning.
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Brian B.
4 years on Hipcamp
A few pros: the general area is very beautiful and remote, which is what we were looking for. There is a little playground for kids.
However, I would not camp here again, definitely would not recommend for summer camping. The whole area is sloped and so finding a location to pitch your tent is difficult. There is not much afternoon shade, so that limits choices. While we had our choice of sites since we were the only ones there, we camped in Site 2 b/c the other two did not offer enough shade or flat areas for tents. Most importantly, the creek is not perennial (at least not in a drought year, as most years in CA are now) as the posting states, so if you are planning on filtering water for drinking, that's not an option. It appears the posting has been updated in the last day to state that the creek is ‘low’, but it should not state the creek is ‘year round’, and should say the creek is dry by the campground. Their website has not been updated to reflect this. The host was vague about this when I asked after we had booked; she should have been honest and stated that there is no water flowing by the campsite and that we could not rely on it for filtering, or perhaps offer to let campers fill up at the ranch.
While it was quiet in the evenings, it was loud at night. A neighbor runs their generator much of the night. On the first night we were kept up by nearby barking dogs. The family camping with us left after one night because they did not get any sleep due to the noise. The second night, a neighbor started blasting music at midnight. Calling the site a ‘meadow’ is a stretch; the field is largely covered in yellow star thistle, which should be mowed regularly. Note that it is a 45 minute drive to Calaveras Big Trees. Cell service is limited. Overpriced for what you get.
Saana D.
2 reviews
Quiet, clean, roomy
Kathleen D.
4 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2021
Great spot especially when visiting Calaveras Big Trees or anything else up and down 4. We camped on a crazy super-hot weekend with pretty much every creek in California dry. Of course that all as nothing to do with the site….just our poor timing. Fall is right around the corner!
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Mike B.
4 reviews
Such a beautiful campsite! There are only 3 sites on this property and when we stayed, we had the place to ourselves. It was perfect. We stayed in campsite #1 which was a little slanted compared to the others, but had a lot of shade and a great view of the meadow. The owners stopped by and said hello and were so friendly!
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Cortney M.
7 years on Hipcamp
A true beauty off the beaten path. This place is just perfect! Let’s start with the host, Lorna is very accommodating and welcoming. She welcomed us once we arrived, gave us the lay of the land and some cool trivia about the area. She even came to ensure us that we were not in any danger when the fire department drove past responding to incident. Without any service, it’s reassuring to know that we have someone keeping an eye out for us during fire season.
The camp spot is amazing! With tons of vegetation we didn’t have any issue finding shade during the warm day. There are only 3 sites so you get a ton of space and privacy. Each site has its own path to the stream, picnic tables and a bbq grill.
We hung a hammock across the stream and enjoyed a nice relaxing nap in the shade while listening to the trickling water. That being said, whenever there is a body of water expect bugs! Bring plenty of Off!
Lots of history and beauty in the area to go explore. There’s a nice 6 mile loop right off the campsite if you are looking for a leisure hike. Or only a 20 minute drive to the Calaveras State Park if you are looking for a more scenic hike.
Worth the 7 hour drive for us, we will definitely be returning!
Trayvon T.
3 reviews
We booked a last minute camp trip to Creekside Camping Retreat in Calaveras county this last weekend (Memorial Day). This is a private camp ground & only has 3 camp sites. It was very quiet & peaceful. There is a year round stream but very low this year. There is still enough water for the kids and dogs to cool off (areas of the stream are not easily accessible due to overgrown). This property backs up to Forest Land therefore hiking is a possibility to those who like to hike. The host Lorna was very kind and came over to the sites to let us know there was a bear at there home just prior to her visit & to insure us that the emergency vehicle that can through was not a fire. Our overall trip for 3 days was fantastic.
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Lorna D.
4 years on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· June 2021
Great spot if you are planning on staying multiple nights. If you are planning on staying only one night be aware that it is a 30+ min ride down back roads that are very rough. Otherwise, the host was very helpful and the sites were clean. Site 1 is a bit too close to the only porta potty but overall a good experience.
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Ryan O.
2 reviews
Beautiful little campground. Nice set up with picnic tables and grills. Heavy mosquito activity; make sure you bring bug spray. Road is very bumpy when coming in from Murphys. Pretty slow-going with trailer. Overall, great spot!
Shannon B.
2 reviews
Recommends
· May 2021
We loved this spot. The creek was perfect for our three year old to play next to and explore. AND THERE WAS NO POISON OAK by the creek!!! big bonus. We loved the quiet and so many birds singing in the morning. Didn't find the hiking trails but still came home feeling filled up by nature and relaxed.
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Armene B.
5 years on Hipcamp
Location
Sheep Ranch, Calaveras, California, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Lorna G.
Joined in February 2021Things to do nearby
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