Glamping near Crescent Mills, California offers visitors access to the northern Sierra Nevada mountains with elevations ranging from 3,500 to 5,000 feet throughout the region. The area experiences warm, dry summers with daytime temperatures typically between 75-90°F and cool nights around 45-55°F. The surrounding Plumas National Forest creates a diverse backdrop of pine forests, mountain lakes, and river systems that support various outdoor recreation activities.
What to do
Fishing in alpine lakes: Eagle Lake near Merrill Campground offers excellent trout fishing opportunities with easy water access. "Great campsite in a nice remote area to take in nature, go hiking, bike riding, and fishing for trout! This is a great place to get off the grid and electronic devices and have some fun!" notes Will M.
Paddle sports: Several area lakes permit non-motorized boating for tranquil water exploration. "Antelope Lake has two islands, and boat access," explains Toby R. from Long Point Campground, making it ideal for kayakers and paddleboarders seeking calm waters.
Biking on paved trails: The Eagle Lake Recreation Trail offers approximately 6 miles of paved paths perfect for cycling. Angela G. confirms: "We travel with electric bikes and dog carrier in tow. There is a total of 6 miles of paved bike path. We loved it! We rode to the other dry camp grounds all very big and spacious with the tall trees."
Bird watching: The lakes and forests around Crescent Mills host diverse bird species including bald eagles. Ron G. at Grasshopper Flat notes, "AWESOME for birding - Bald Eagles 🦅, Pelicans, woodpeckers, chickadees & ravens - this is the Sierra after all."
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Many campgrounds offer generous spacing between sites, creating privacy. Brian P. at Merrill Campground writes, "The facilities were well maintained and very clean. The camp hosts were friendly and helpful. Site 12 had ample shade from the trees and close proximity to two restroom facilities."
Clean facilities: Grasshopper Flat maintains well-kept amenities that enhance the camping experience. Jennifer Q. confirms: "Clean restrooms and campground. Super easy access to the lake from this site where you can paddle board and kayak in peace."
Riverside locations: Several campgrounds sit along the Feather River, providing cooling water access. Petar M. describes Gansner Bar Campground: "A sweet little campground located right on the Feather River. Clean facilities, fun fishing. Sites are spacious and include covered picnic bench and fire pit."
Natural surroundings: The pine forest setting creates cool shade and wildlife viewing opportunities. Dan S. at Grasshopper Flat shares, "Great, large sites that are well maintained. Sites are roughly 100 yards from the lake...Saw a Bald Eagle dive and grab a fish...Great fishing."
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds in the area operate from May through October due to winter conditions. Almanor Campground has specific seasonal variations according to Kurt T.: "North is open, South is closed for Summer 2024... The North campground is OPEN, but you cannot reserve it. First Come First Served (FCFS)."
Mosquito presence: Some lakeside areas have significant insect activity, especially early in the season. Will M. warns: "The bad 🦟 Tons of mosquitoes! The Good- Great campsite in a nice remote area to take in nature, go hiking, bike riding, and fishing for trout!"
Beach limitations: Not all lakefront campsites have traditional sandy beaches. Will M. adds this caution about Merrill Campground: "There is no beach to the lake, so sun bathers be warned."
Train noise: Some campgrounds near railroad tracks experience periodic noise. Angela G. notes about Little Bear RV Park: "The railroad tracks along side of park and loud in early hours you got use to it. Will return but off season when kids are back in school."
Tips for camping with families
Look for camp hosts: Campgrounds with active hosts typically maintain cleaner facilities and provide helpful information. Lori T. shares: "The campground is very well maintained and the sites are exceptionally large. As it was the last week before trout season opened on the lake, our side of the campground was nearly empty."
Check shower availability: Not all campgrounds offer shower facilities. Susan L. mentions: "The only reason this campground didn't get 5 stars is that there are no local showers."
Consider partial hookup sites: Some families prefer sites with basic amenities while maintaining a natural feel. Marty P. observes at Merrill Campground: "National forest camping with power and electric, Wow!!! The price with a National Forest pass was only $32."
Plan for seasonal crowds: School vacation periods can significantly impact campground noise levels. Angela G. shares: "Will return but off season when kids are back in school. Also no access to creek from park."
Tips from RVers
Backing space varies: Some sites have limited maneuvering room. Ron G. notes: "Site 23 was shorter than expected which upped the parking challenge but squeezed in okay."
Dump station locations: Not all campgrounds have onsite dump facilities. Paul C. at Merrill Campground advises: "Extremely clean, easy to get in your spot. We have a 30' travel trailer and there was so much availability, we did go mid Sept so kind of off season."
Generator restrictions: Policies vary between campgrounds, affecting off-grid capabilities. Nathaniel S. observes about Little Bear RV Park: "This clean, quiet, and very family friendly campground offers a mixture of full and partial hookup sites, plus cabins."
Consider rig size limits: Some forest roads and campsites can't accommodate larger RVs. James W. notes: "Clean and quite. The sites are spread out and offer a lot of privacy. Full hookups $35, water and electric $30. Dry camp $20."
