Best Tent Camping near Applegate, CA
Tent camping options near Applegate, California include a mix of established sites in the surrounding Sierra foothills and Auburn area. Lake Clementine Boat In Campground at Auburn State Recreation Area offers tent-specific sites with access to the American River, while Tahoe National Forest's Onion Valley Campground provides more remote tent camping surrounded by meadows and forest.
Most tent campsites in the Applegate vicinity have basic amenities like fire rings and picnic tables, though services vary significantly between locations. Lake Clementine sites require exact cash payment ($28/night) with self-registration, and campers must bring their own water as no potable sources exist on-site. The Auburn State Recreation Area campsites feature vault toilets but no showers or running water. Tent sites at Onion Valley Campground in Tahoe National Forest are more primitive with vault toilets and well-spaced sites. During fire season, restrictions often limit campfires to designated fire rings, and some areas enforce complete fire bans.
Tent sites near Applegate provide access to numerous outdoor activities including hiking, fishing, and swimming. At Lake Clementine, the crystal-clear American River creates excellent conditions for water recreation directly from tent campsites. Onion Valley offers peaceful meadow settings with wildflowers in season and excellent stargazing opportunities from tent sites. Camp Far West North Shore provides lakeside tent camping with more amenities including trash service. Tent camping areas throughout the region experience varying levels of usage, with some locations becoming quite busy during summer weekends. According to one visitor at Onion Valley Campground, "The meadow near the campgrounds is amazing and was perfect for my dog to frolic through. Frogs are noisy at night due to the streams that run nearby."