Yurt camping near Beale Air Force Base, California provides visitors with year-round access to the Sierra Nevada foothills. Located at elevations between 300 and 1,500 feet, the region experiences hot summers with temperatures often exceeding 100°F and mild winters with occasional frost. Water levels at area lakes fluctuate seasonally, with many reaching their lowest points by late summer.
What to do
Fishing in stocked waters: Collins Lake Recreation Area maintains an active trout stocking program throughout spring and fall. "I love this camp ground. Really nice lake always stocked with fish. Quiet at night and not rowdy during the day. Great place for family camping. They also have boat rentals," notes Veronica N.
Gold panning experiences: Coloma Resort offers authentic gold panning opportunities on the American River. "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," shares Jill F.
Wildlife viewing: Peninsula Campground provides excellent opportunities to observe local fauna. "But in the early spring it is quite, especially here, with green grass and wild turkeys. With only us and two other folks in the entire campground we enjoyed privacy and seclusion," explains Ray B.
What campers like
Seasonal site selection: Lake of the Springs RV Resort offers varied terrain for different weather conditions. "We had a standard Hookup-RV-Spot. Was very uneven, couldn't get the RV level. The rest is nice, quiet (except for the geese) and clean," comments Sebastian M.
Quieter weekday stays: Sycamore Ranch RV Park experiences different crowd levels throughout the week. "Weekdays are the best when there are few people but on weekends it does fill up. We did camp one time and some folks were having a karaoke party late into the night (somehow I suspect they will never be back)," shares B. Douglas J.
Natural observation spots: Several campers noted the wildlife viewing opportunities. "We saw a river otter playing in the creek, so there is life in it," remarks Suzanne S. about Sycamore Ranch. At Lake of the Springs, Nicole G. reports, "Each day a family of deer came thru our site and were so tame they ate fruit right out of the kids' hands."
What you should know
Cell coverage limitations: Inn Town Campground offers amenities but limited connectivity. As Eileen B. notes, "Just know that here on The Dyrt, the location on the map for some reason shows it as being many miles away from Kidder Ct: it's marked as if it is at Higgins Corner, halfway to Auburn? Whereas it is in reality only a mile away from downtown Nevada City."
Site crowding concerns: Several campgrounds become congested during peak times. Steven H. reports about Collins Lake: "Not a bad campsite, but was surrounded by RVs and people walking around. Can't bring dogs onto the beach area which was a bummer, but was too crowded anyways."
Drought impacts on water levels: Water access changes throughout the season. According to Ed E. at Collins Lake, "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
Playground alternatives: Coloma Resort offers extensive family facilities. "You can tent camp (it's covered sites for camping too), rent a cabin or RV camp. Great sites along the river too... kids can play along several playgrounds for kids of different ages. A large grass area great for games," shares Rosina A.
Wildlife interaction opportunities: Lake of the Springs creates memorable animal encounters for children. Nicole G. describes, "Each day a family of deer came thru our site and were so tame they ate fruit right out of the kids' hands. So cool!"
Water-based entertainment: Collins Lake Recreation Area provides multiple water activities. "Lovely lake. Had a great site big enough for a couple of tents. Nice clean site near lake. Hubby enjoyed fishing. Kids loved canoeing out onto the lake. Amazed to watch a bald eagle grab a fish and fly away," recounts Coleen C.
Tips from RVers
Dump station considerations: Additional fees may apply at some facilities. At Auburn Gold Country RV Park, Sebastian M. cautions, "If you don't have the premium hookup spots, you got to pay 20$ 'Service Fee' for dumping. Idk why because you end up doing it all by yourself as usual anyway."
Yurt alternatives for RVers: Peninsula Campground — Folsom Lake State Recreation Area offers options for those who enjoy yurt camping near Beale Air Force Base. "Excellent camping area, depending on time of year camp site may be within a few yards from the water. We bring our kayaks and paddle all day there are plenty of miles of lakeside to explore," says Francisco N.
Power reliability issues: Some campgrounds experience electrical problems. Eric P. reports about Lake of the Springs, "There wasn't a single day when some campsite didn't have electrical issues, in fact they turned a lot of their RV sites into Tent Sites because of electrical issues."
