Best Cabin Camping near Alta, CA

Several cabin options are available around Alta in Northern California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Thousand Trails Snowflower in Emigrant Gap provides cabins with electricity, heating, and basic kitchen amenities including microwaves and refrigerators. The Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park Campground offers more rustic cabin accommodations with limited amenities but scenic surroundings. "We stayed at the Diamond P cabin which has the best view of the lake within this group of cabins. The cabin was great. Two bedrooms, each with twin bunk beds and a full bottom bunk and twin above. Small bathroom with shower, mini fridge, hot plates, microwave, and dishes," notes one visitor about a similar cabin experience in the region.

Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Collins Lake Recreation Area provides family-sized cabin layouts suitable for larger groups, while smaller options exist at Manzanita Rock Meadow for couples or solo travelers. Most locations require advance reservations, especially during summer months from May through September. Pet policies vary by campground - Thousand Trails Snowflower allows pets in select cabins while other locations may restrict animals completely. According to one camper, "Galen was a great host. She told us of some cool hiking trails nearby, and where we could paddleboard. The spot was clean with lots of room to spread out. Our dogs loved it!"

Most cabins include beds but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Basic kitchen supplies are typically provided, though cooking facilities range from full kitchenettes to simple hot plates depending on the cabin type. Some locations like Coloma Resort and Lake Francis Resort feature camp stores with essential groceries, firewood, and ice. Big Meadows Campground offers a "great camp store" according to visitor reviews. Firewood is available for purchase at many locations, particularly those that permit fires, though fire restrictions may apply seasonally due to wildfire concerns.

Best Cabin Sites Near Alta, California (54)

    1. Thousand Trails Snowflower

    6 Reviews
    Emigrant Gap, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Great lake for swimming and water play. Too warm for trout and too small for kayaks/SUPs. But it does make a beautiful backdrop. 
    The park is rather spread out, so a bicycle/ebike is a plus."

    "I am a member of Thousand Trails and that being said this is one of my favorite TT spots in California. Family friendly, great little Lake for swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding."

    2. Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park Campground

    2 Reviews
    Washington, CA
    13 miles
    Website

    $35 - $165 / night

    "This park give excellent access to the Yuba River if you are looking to hike a section that does not have a ton of swimmers."

    3. Manzanita Rock Meadow

    6 Reviews
    North San Juan, CA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 263-3656

    $40 - $55 / night

    "The solar string lights blinking on at dusk added a cozy ambiance! Galen is a warm and welcoming hostess and we enjoyed connecting with her!"

    "I don’t think the bigger rigs would be able to make the turn into the site and the road to the entrance is a bit rough. Don’t miss visiting the covered bridge at South Yuba State Park!"

    4. Collins Lake Recreation Area

    22 Reviews
    Oregon House, CA
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 692-1600

    "Clean sites and pet friendly. We took the boat on our last trip here and had a great time. Great fishing spots!!"

    "We camped along the lake shore. They also have lots of great spots higher up, among the trees that come with picnic tables, firepits and water available."

    5. Coloma Resort

    15 Reviews
    Coloma, CA
    29 miles
    Website

    "Coloma resort is what some friends call "Glamping", but it's so much more than that. You can tent camp (it's covered sites for camping too), rent a cabin or RV camp. Great sites along the river too."

    "The sun shade provided in the tent sites came in handy when we had a short moment of rain. It was also much appreciated during the sunny weather."

    6. Big Meadows Campground

    5 Reviews
    Alpine Meadows, CA
    22 miles
    Website

    "Definitely a great stay, big space, plenty of clean bathrooms, great camp store, and great hikes without having to leave the campground."

    "It sounds like there are multiple Big Meadow camp grounds in California. This review is for Big Meadow Campground, Sequoia NF - FS, CA. The photos are of site 009B. My visit was wonderful."

    7. Bright Bear Camp in Tahoe NF

    Be the first to review!
    Emigrant Gap, CA
    7 miles
    Website

    $45 - $120 / night

    8. Lava Cap Land

    Be the first to review!
    Forest Knolls, CA
    9 miles
    +1 (954) 245-9804

    $50 - $200 / night

    9. American River Resort

    11 Reviews
    Coloma, CA
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 622-6700

    "Nice campground - close to river. .5 mile walk to town for shopping/eating. All sites have fire pit and picnic table. Bathrooms clean and private showers."

    "Super clean restroom facilities, access to the river, a nice store, and friendly customer service."

    10. Rollins Lake Getaway

    Be the first to review!
    Pinecrest, CA
    10 miles
    Website

    $115 - $160 / night

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Cabin Reviews near Alta, CA

281 Reviews of 54 Alta Campgrounds


  • Gina C.
    Jul. 26, 2019

    Lake Francis Resort

    Fun cabin rental

    Some of my family has camped here in the past at one of the tent sites. We decided this time around to reserve one of their cabins. We stayed at the Diamond P cabin which has the best view of the lake within this group of cabins. You can walk to the lake (it’s about 100 yards) from this location. Though it does fill up fast (by 11am it was pretty full). They have a large portable toilet there for use. We spent our time at the pool which is near the flushable toilets and the ice cream parlor, restaurant, and camp store. The pool goes from 3.5’ ft to 5’ back to 3.5’ ft.

    The cabin was great. Two bedrooms, each with twin bunk beds and a full bottom bunk and twin above. Small bathroom with shower, mini fridge, hot plates, microwave, and dishes. Dining table and futon in the living area. Nice wide front porch to sit on and enjoy the view, communal tables and bbq for all the cabins. This unit also had a swamp cooler to help manage the heat.

    Check in is 4pm and check out is 11am. There is also a small game room with a pool table, a baseball field, paddle boats, and kayaks to rent.

    The down side is how quickly the easiest access to the lake fills up. Everyone has to drive over from the tent RV site to access the water. There are other places you can drive and park to get to the water, but there it a drop off into the water from there vs a gradual walk in.

  • m
    Aug. 13, 2018

    Thousand Trails Snowflower

    SUP and kayak friendly

    we found there to be a lot of rules at this campground such as no fires, however there is a community fire pit. No driving over 5 MPH, no charcoal grills or smokers, only electric and propane grills. They are also very serious about the 11pm quiet time.

    Aside from all the rules this was a very clean, family and pet friendly campground. Very clean bathrooms with showers!! There are a few lakes that are very nice for fishing and kayaking. Nice calm water for a leisurely SUP experience.

  • Bernardo B.
    Aug. 7, 2020

    Tahoe Valley Campground

    Overall an ok experience

    I’ll start by saying this campsite is huge , there’s like 400 sites so you got to keep that in mind when booking . We got a couple of the sites with electricity which were nice . No fire pits included because those are rented additional , lucky we had one from home . Firewood is $10 a bundle at the store so keep that in mind . The campground advertises WiFi but it’s ran from an separate company and service is extremely poor and slow so your better of using your cellphone data . This is a very active bear area with no bear boxes so keep in mind . We saw bears every single night roaming around and eating from the picnic tables . Some small , medium and extra large size . I recommend the tent sites better than the RV sites because they have a nice location and more private . The RV sites are just packed like sardines , some barely fit or stick out a few inches . Restrooms are clean and showers too . Funny detail the shower head is positioned for ADA handicap specs so you got to kneel down or seat to shower . The campground is located on the Main Street so it’s walking distance to stores or restaurants , I would go back but choose a better site on an outside loop more secluded instead of being in the middle of hundreds of rv’s

  • J
    Jul. 11, 2023

    Meeks Bay Resort & Marina

    Great Place to Stay

    Clean and best play to stay with beach access, cabins, tents sites and rv sites. Tent site can fit 2 or more tents with fire pit and picnic table. Restroom with shower and warm water.

  • M
    Oct. 11, 2021

    American River Resort

    Family of 4 roof top tent camping

    Nice campground - close to river. .5 mile walk to town for shopping/eating. All sites have fire pit and picnic table. Bathrooms clean and private showers. A little pricey for a tent site - 45.00 and 5.00 for the dog but it’s California.

  • FThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 23, 2022

    Ascension Ranch

    Heaven On Earth

     WELCOME TO ASCENSION RANCH Ascension Ranch is an off-grid paradise tucked away in an oak savanna along Folsom Lake with a unique and ever growing list of features and activities. Family owned, we're a small operation with big dreams. Offering a serene environment, an abundance of farm animals, and good old fashion ranch activities, we invite you to spend some time with us out on the ranch! Come play for the day or reserve a private campsite, and see what all the fuss is about. Some of things you'll come across at Ascension Ranch include baby farm animals, sheep, goats, cattle, horses, more horses, ranch dogs, puppies, chickens, equestrian activities, secluded campsites, amazing views, access to endless trails around and of course, good company.

  • marcus K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 10, 2025

    Fallen Leaf Campground - South Lake Tahoe

    Beautiful campground

    Sites have lots of space, table, fire ring and generally level drive pads. Water spigots are not too far. Showers scattered throughout camp though not every bathroom has them. There is a small camp store that has wifi. Book far in advance to get a spot in summer.

  • Amber B.
    Aug. 5, 2018

    Lake Tahoe KOA - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

    Doable

    This campground is located in a gorgeous spot by a creek, about 7-10 minutes away from the Y. Drawbacks are that the campsites are incredibly small (about the size of a parking spot), and are pretty much on top of each other. It’s pretty inconvenient to have picnic tables right next to your neighbors fire pit. Also, we had a bear come through our campsite a couple nights during our stay. We weren’t harassed but our next door neighbors had their trunk broken into, ice chests raided, and some heavy bear breathing right next to their tents 😬

  • Aly M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 12, 2024

    Meeks Bay Resort & Marina

    Family, campfires, and S’more: The Lowdown On Meeks Bay

    Nestled on the tranquil shores of Lake Tahoe, our family's stay at the cabins was nothing short of enchanting. From the moment we arrived, we were captivated by the breathtaking views of the crystal-clear Tahoe water. My wife and I were having a celebratory wedding weekend with family, we had just gotten married (eloped) in Yosemite the day before driving to Tahoe. The cabins were full of rustic charm, very cozy, and in a great location!

    One of the highlights of our trip was waking up to the beauty of Lake Tahoe right outside our window. Whether we were sipping coffee on the porch or enjoying a family campfire by the shore, the lake served as the perfect backdrop for our celebratory memories.

    The campground itself was well-maintained and staffed by friendly and accommodating personnel who were very helpful when it came to our firewood needs! We took advantage of the various recreational activities available, from hiking trails to water sports, and even had a chance to roast marshmallows over a campfire under the starry night sky.

    Overall, our experience at the Meeks Bay Resort cabins exceeded our expectations in every way. It provided the ideal setting for quality family time, relaxation, and adventure amidst the stunning beauty of nature. We can't wait to return for another unforgettable getaway. Everyone voted that we should do this every year so we are looking forward to making this a yearly event!


Guide to Alta

Cabin camping near Alta, California provides convenient access to the American River and multiple Sierra Nevada lakes. The area sits at elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 feet, creating moderate summer temperatures around 75-85°F during peak camping season. Winter conditions can bring snow to higher elevation cabin sites, with many locations closing from November through April.

What to do

River rafting and paddling: At American River Resort, visitors can experience Class III rapids directly from the campground. "It is right in the American River and next to a class 3 rapid called Trouble Maker. It was awesome watching rafters and kayakers go through it," notes Chris U. The resort offers guided rafting trips launching from the property.

Gold panning and historical exploration: Many cabins sit near California Gold Rush sites, allowing visitors to try panning. "If you ever want to experience the thrill of gold panning, and California history go here! You will not strike it rich, but with a couple hours of effort you can get a nice little bottle of gold flakes to take home with you," reports Jill F. about Coloma Resort.

Swimming and fishing: Several cabin locations offer swimming access, though water temperatures can be cold. "We love Collins!! Very nice for paddle boarding and kayaking. Clean sites and pet friendly. We took the boat on our last trip here and had a great time. Great fishing spots!!" writes michaelle P.

What campers like

Private waterfront settings: Cabins with lake or river views remain the most popular option. "We stayed in spot 110 with a lakefront view," reports Daniel S. about his stay at Collins Lake Recreation Area. These waterfront cabins often book 3-6 months in advance for summer weekends.

Family-friendly amenities: Collins Lake Recreation Area offers extensive recreation options. "Great campground! Our first stay at Collins Lake was fantastic. The lake views were beautiful, the campsites were clean and spacious, and the staff was friendly. Plenty of activities for the family, like fishing and hiking," states John L.

Well-maintained facilities: Many cabins feature modern conveniences despite rustic settings. "Very nice and beautiful campground but can be expensive. The sites are very close to each other but they are spacious. It's nice to to wake up to the sound of the river and birds singing," notes Maria O. about her stay at Coloma Resort.

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Most cabin sites require advance booking, with weekend dates filling 2-3 months ahead. According to Ed E. about Collins Lake: "We camped here TWICE in 2019. First time in mid April and 2nd time on the first weekend of November. Both times were AWESOME!!! Both campsites, #66 and #116 had power, water and sewage."

Fire restrictions: Fire policies vary significantly by location and season. "We found there to be a lot of rules at this campground such as no fires, however there is a community fire pit. No driving over 5 MPH, no charcoal grills or smokers, only electric and propane grills," observes michaelle P. about Thousand Trails Snowflower.

Seasonal considerations: Water levels affect the cabin experience throughout the year. "Just an FYI, in the Spring, the water level is much higher so the water line is closer to the campsites, especially #66. In the fall, pre-winter, the water level is much lower. It was about a 50 yard walk down to the water from #116 camp site, which is a lake front site."

Tips for camping with families

Book cabins with specific bedroom configurations: Many cabins offer bunk arrangements perfect for children. "This is our second time camping at Collins Lake, and we loved it just as much as the first! We stayed at site 60A Lake Front View, which had stunning water views and a spacious setup. The site gets a lot of sun in the morning and afternoon, so bring a popup canopy for shade—it made a big difference for us!" advises John L.

Consider pest protection: Some locations experience significant insect activity. "We were so thrilled to find this clean, family-friendly resort with its own (warm!) little lake in the high sierras. To top it off, everyone here appears to be very friendly and generous (loaning our group their inflatables). But our group's collective joy was short lived after we were beseeched with mosquitos," warns Tai W. about his stay at Thousand Trails Snowflower.

Look for camp stores: On-site supplies eliminate trips to distant towns. "Definitely a great stay, big space, plenty of clean bathrooms, great camp store, and great hikes without having to leave the campground," notes Jason G. about his experience at Big Meadows Campground.

Tips from RVers

Site selection considerations: Not all cabin areas accommodate larger RVs. "The terrain is steep with mostly smaller sites. Water pressure is excellent. Our site had 30 amp only and I doubt any of them have 50 amp. The power is not good. I had to bypass the surge suppressor because it kept cutting out due to low voltage. Voltage was generally 104-105," reports David C. about American River Resort.

Leveling challenges: Many Sierra foothill sites require leveling equipment. "It was a little challenging getting our 16' trailer to the pad but it was worth it. So quiet and serene there. I don't think the bigger rigs would be able to make the turn into the site and the road to the entrance is a bit rough," notes Karen B. about her visit to Manzanita Rock Meadow.

Navigation issues: GPS directions can be unreliable in mountainous areas. "Be aware that Garmin nav might take you the wrong way. Apple Maps had it correct though," advises David C. when traveling to American River Resort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Alta, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Alta, CA is Thousand Trails Snowflower with a 3.3-star rating from 6 reviews.

What is the best site to find cabin camping near Alta, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 54 cabin camping locations near Alta, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.