Best Tent Camping near Clearlake Oaks, CA
Clear Lake State Park provides several tent camping options near Clearlake Oaks, California, including Cole Creek, Upper Bayview, and Lower Bayview Campgrounds. These established tent sites offer varying levels of amenities while maintaining proximity to the lake shoreline. Boggs Mountain Demo Forest, though temporarily closed from fire damage, historically offered primitive tent camping sites in a forested setting with toilet facilities but no drinking water.
Most tent campgrounds in the region include fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities vary significantly between sites. Cole Creek offers showers and toilets but campers need to bring their own drinking water. Sites throughout Clear Lake State Park provide picnic tables and fire rings on mostly level terrain. Several campgrounds enforce seasonal fire restrictions, particularly during summer and fall months when wildfire danger increases. A recent review noted, "Nice clean camp sites close to restrooms and showers. Lots of places to fish, hike and bike." At Lower Hunting Creek Campground in the Knoxville Recreation Area, tent sites include toilets and trash facilities, with year-round availability.
Tent campers visiting Red Mountain, approximately six miles from the nearest town, experience significant seclusion on primitive sites. The area features vault toilets and allows free camping for up to 14 days per year. One visitor described it as having a "million dollar view of the mountain range and Clearlake," though they recommended bringing solar showers and all necessary water. Areas affected by past wildfires show varying levels of recovery, with Boggs Mountain demonstrating significant new growth and trail development. Most tent sites throughout the region offer good access to hiking trails and fishing opportunities, with several campgrounds providing direct water access. Summer temperatures can be extremely hot, so selecting shaded sites where available becomes particularly important for tent campers.
