Columbia sits at 2,100 feet elevation in California's Gold Country, with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The area's RV campgrounds typically remain open year-round, though amenities like swimming pools operate seasonally. Most Columbia area camping is concentrated in small, family-operated RV parks with varying terrain from wooded sites to open, gravel pads.
What to do
Gold panning excursions: 49er RV Ranch offers free gold-panning lessons right on site. "The camp site has a cool '49 theme throughout," notes one visitor who enjoyed the historic mining atmosphere.
Swimming in natural pools: Rainbow Pools is a popular swimming destination near Yosemite Pines RV Resort. "Being close to Rainbow Pools is part of why we stay here. The kids can jump and swim there and that's all they really want to do anyway," explains one camper.
Fishing opportunities: The Merced River offers good trout fishing. A camper at McCabe Flat Campground reports, "I managed to catch a 12" rainbow almost right away, just feet from the campsite. Later on hooked another one but lost it."
Walking trails: Some campgrounds feature on-site paths. A visitor to Jackson Rancheria RV Park notes, "There's an awesome walking trail around the park. We had our 6 year old with us and she loved to scooter around the walking path with us."
What campers like
Quiet atmosphere: Many RV campgrounds in Columbia maintain a peaceful environment. A camper at Monument RV Park appreciated that "It was quiet and the sites were clean."
Spacious sites: Unlike more crowded parks, some Columbia area campgrounds offer room to spread out. "Not a bad spot anywhere! Spacious, clean, very friendly staff," reports a visitor to Jackson Rancheria RV Park.
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness ranks high in camper satisfaction. A reviewer at Angels Camp Campground noted, "Very clean and making improvements. Lots of activities for kids (pool, horseshoes, playground)."
Friendly staff: Personal service makes a difference at smaller parks. "The staff was very friendly!" reports one camper who stayed at 49er Village RV Resort, adding "We stayed 4 days at this park and had the best time!!"
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely between campgrounds. At Yosemite Lakes, a camper reports, "There is no cell service and the 'pay WIFI' did not work for us...but there is complimentary WiFi at the laundry to check in on things that works just fine."
Road conditions: Some access roads require careful navigation. A visitor to McCabe Flat Campground advises, "The dirt road was fine and only had a few large-ish potholes."
Sewer hookup positioning: Some RV parks have unusual utility setups. At Monument RV Park, a camper notes, "The hookups worked good but the sewer hookup is elevated so you will probably want sewer hose supports to lift your hose."
Weather considerations: Summer temperatures can be extreme. "On this particular trip the weather was over 100 degrees but we had the river right next to us to cool down," reports a camper at McCabe Flat.
Tips for camping with families
Petting zoo access: Children enjoy animal interactions at Yosemite Pines. "With a pool, petting zoo, a corral where they have a fire and s'mores followed by a movie, this is a great place to camp with the kids," says one family camper.
Playground options: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. Angels Camp Campground has "lots of activities for kids (pool, horseshoes, playground)," according to visitor reviews.
Swimming pool availability: During hot months, pools are essential for family comfort. A visitor to 49er Village notes, "The kids loved the stocked fishing ponds, and even better was the immaculate 2 swimming pools and playground!"
Cabin accommodations: For families not ready for tent camping, cabins offer a middle option. "We stayed in the cabin that sleeps 6. Super nice, close to the bathrooms. There's a community outdoors kitchen with stove and sink," reports a visitor to Angels Camp Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site surface conditions: Ground surfaces vary between parks. "Most RV sites have full hookups and are pull throughs," notes a camper at Angels Camp Campground, while other parks feature gravel pads that may be dusty during summer months.
Parking configurations: RV sites may be back-in or pull-through depending on the park. A visitor to Marble Quarry RV Resort mentions that while the location is "very questionable characters living in long-term," the surrounding area and nearby Columbia are attractive features.
Utility specifics: Columbia area RV parks typically offer full hookups with varying electrical capacity. A camper at Monument RV Park advises, "There is no shower and only a couple outhouses so it's definitely only if you want to use your camper/rv bathroom."
Site selection strategy: For the best experience, site location matters. "We specifically stayed in spot 24, but any of the spots along the back have a beautiful view of the canyon," suggests a visitor to Jackson Rancheria.
