Barrett Cove Recreation Area, near La Grange, California, is a fantastic spot for campers looking to enjoy the great outdoors. With a mix of tent sites, RV accommodations, and cabins, there's something for everyone, whether you're rolling in with a trailer or just pitching a tent.

This campground is particularly popular among mountain biking fans, thanks to its well-maintained trails that offer stunning views and a chance to escape the crowds. Visitors have raved about the clean facilities, including bathrooms stocked with essentials and showers that provide great water pressure—definitely a step up from showering in your van. One camper noted, “The bathrooms are well maintained and stocked with paper towels and tp. They really do a nice job here.”

If you're into fishing or just want to relax by the water, the nearby lake offers plenty of opportunities for fun. The area is also home to a variety of wildlife, so keep your eyes peeled for deer, rabbits, and even the occasional fox. Just remember to bring some bug spray, especially if you're camping near the water.

While some sites can get a bit noisy during peak times, many campers appreciate the quieter spots tucked away from the hustle and bustle. Whether you're here for a weekend or a longer stay, Barrett Cove has the charm and amenities to make your camping experience enjoyable.

Barrett Cove Recreation Area

Join the fun near La Grange. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are La Grange campgrounds just for you. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your California camping adventure.

La Grange

The Best Camping Near La Grange, California

The staff there were great, very helpful and accommodating. They put us in G loop #19 which was pretty much on a hill and with my 33 foot travel trailer, there was no way for me to get it in there and level. I actually snapped a bolt off my stabilizer trying to back my rig in there, so we told the rangers we wouldn’t be comfortable in that spot even though it had full hook ups, so they moved us to McClure Point Rec Area. 
If you are planing to come out here, check out McClure Point Rec Area...much better sites and way better views, no sewer hook ups, but it’s worth it.

HILLS!

To be honest, I didn't experience much of the campground, but that parts that I did were above my expectations. A friend and I went in March of 2021 to ride the mountain bike trails. I reserved our spots on-line with no knowledge of the layout aside from the PDF map. It turns out I picked a nicely isolated spot with great hill top views. 

Down the hill from us - about 1/8 mile - was a nicely maintained bathroom. as my buddy said, it was a 4.5 of 5 stars. It was clean, smelled good and, get this, had nice toilet paper! This was a pleasant surprise after a night of tacos and beer. 

Our spaces were basic, but included covered picnic benches. These came in handy for drying our wet biking clothes.  

Shortly after our arrival the nice ranger rolled by to say hi. I imagine he may have had other objectives, but since you can't get in without passing through the ranger station I can't imagine it was to check our permit. 

The place was not crowded (rain was in the forecast, and the forecast was accurate), so we can't tell what it's like when full. The rain didn't impact the trails much - they drain well and have a lot of sand it seems - so we rode upon arrival, again after a few beers that afternoon, again the next morning and again after a couple beers that afternoon. On day 3 I stuck around by myself just to enjoy the solitude. It was a good move. 

During our stay I think there was a fishing competition. Down the hill and around the corner was a boat launch and that place looked to have some activity. Regardless, the lake wasn't obnoxiously noisy as some lakes can become. 

Overall we were very pleased with the camping and the trails. I know the area gets really hot in summer, so it may not be great then. We plan to return in the fall after the height of camping season subsides and the temps becomes moderate.

Came for the mountain biking, stayed for more

Since my initial visit in 2021 I've been back 4 or 5 times now. I guess that means I like it.

Generally, it's a great place - especially for mountain biking fans. Perhaps also for fishing and other activities, but that's outside my scope of interest. 

On my first return visit I went to the same spot as the first visit. It was a bad choice - crowded and full of RVs who ran their generators all night long. The next morning I scouted out some better spots. The ranger was quite accommodating and allowed me to move to a quiet spot on top of a hill. This area has become my "go to" as it's close to the Exchequer trailhead and away from boaters. 

Subsequent visits have been much better.

Could be a 5 star place, but shade is hard to come by in some areas and some clusters of camp sites get noisy when they're used by groups. 

None of my complaints will stop me from going again - the trails are great and keep getting better.

The photos are from various visits.

Continues to be a great MTB destination

This time I brought a friend who hadn't been here before. 

As usual, the staff was great! Very friendly at our arrival and in the evening while performing their drive-by checks. 

This time I actually tried the showers and I was not disappointed. Great water pressure, plenty warm and cleaner than you might expect. Sure, there are some bugs that get in, but it was way nicer than showering in my van. 

The bathrooms are well maintained and stocked with paper towels and tp. They really do a nice job here.

The riding was great. We were in awe of how empty it was. Father's Day weekend and we never came across anyone else on the trails. 

We did have to relocate. My buddy couldn't get his RV into the hillside spot we'd reserved - M49 I think it was.

Photos of Barrett Cove Recreation Area

Real photos from real campers