Yurt camping and glamping options around Cool, California provide travelers with alternatives to traditional tent camping. The area sits at elevations between 1,200-1,600 feet in the Gold Country foothills, creating moderate temperatures with summer highs in the 90s and winter lows around 30°F. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable camping conditions with reduced crowds at riverside camping locations.
What to Do
River recreation access: At Peninsula Campground, visitors can enjoy direct water access during summer months. One visitor notes, "Folsom lake is a great place to take the boat, beals point has a snack bar, life guards and equipment rentals, there are plenty of places you can drive or boat to get away from the crowds if you prefer."
Gold panning experiences: Coloma Resort offers gold panning opportunities within walking distance of campsites. A visitor shared, "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."
Hiking trail exploration: Multiple trail networks connect the camping areas around Folsom Lake and the American River. A Peninsula Campground visitor mentioned, "A lot of awesome trails and little environmental signs to walk around and learn about the area. Highly recommend!"
Winter camping opportunities: The lower elevation camping areas remain accessible year-round. A recent Peninsula campground visitor reported, "Another mid-week quick adventure two weeks before spring. Weather in the Sierra foothills in early March is perfect for a couple day getaway from the colder temperatures and snow in the higher elevations where we live."
What Campers Like
Riverside yurt locations: American River Resort offers direct views of river rapids from their camping areas. One visitor noted, "Campground was clean and well taken care of. 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."
Accessibility to historic sites: Many campgrounds provide walking access to Gold Rush era locations. A Coloma Resort visitor observed, "We are going back in august and can't wait. Looking forward to rafting in the river! It was neat to walk across the bridge and check out the old historic mining town."
Off-season quietness: Peninsula Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area becomes nearly empty during non-peak months. A recent visitor shared, "With only us and two other folks in the entire campground we enjoyed privacy and seclusion. Good bike riding too."
Well-maintained facilities: Despite the rustic setting, many campgrounds maintain high standards of cleanliness. As one American River Resort visitor said, "Super clean restroom facilities, access to the river, a nice store, and friendly customer service."
What You Should Know
Seasonal water levels: Folsom Lake water levels fluctuate dramatically between seasons. A camper noted, "Resevoir is beautiful when full. Relaxing, good facilities."
Off-grid yurt options: Ascension Ranch provides a more remote yurt camping experience. A visitor described it as "an off-grid paradise tucked away in an oak savanna along Folsom Lake with a unique and ever growing list of features and activities."
Road access challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult access roads. At Peninsula Campground, a visitor advised, "Try not to forget anything because it is eleven twisty, narrow, miles back to the city of Cool, where you can buy the essentials."
Tent site preparation: During summer heat, shade becomes critical. One Coloma Resort camper mentioned, "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."
Tips for Camping with Families
Animal interaction opportunities: Finnon Lake Recreation Area provides a more laid-back setting for families. A visitor noted, "never crowded and has a great view. small town community has occasional events going on too. great little lake for a weekend getaway."
Swimming options: Multiple campgrounds offer swimming areas of varying sizes. One visitor to Peninsula Campground mentioned, "In the summer months the lake is very busy and the hills are brown with dried grass. But in the early spring it is quite, especially here, with green grass and wild turkeys."
Group camping layouts: Campground designs accommodate multi-family trips. An American River Resort visitor explained, "We stayed in spot 33 with a large group and didn't feel crowded."
Kid-friendly amenities: Structured recreation areas keep children entertained. A Coloma visitor mentioned, "They offer a lot of amenities for families. We are two single adults and to no fault of their own there was a lot of children running around, riding bikes and it seemed like everyone had a dog."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Auburn Gold Country RV Park offers variable site quality. A visitor recommended, "Had a standard Hookup-RV-Spot. Was very uneven, couldn't get the RV level. If you don't have the premium hookup spots, you got to pay 20$ 'Service Fee' for dumping."
Sizing limitations: Many campgrounds have tight clearances for large rigs. An American River Resort visitor warned, "I would be very cautious about coming here with a larger RV. Ours is 30' bumper to bumper. I think 32 would be ok."
Power considerations: Voltage issues affect some locations. An American River Resort visitor reported, "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."
