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Best Campgrounds near Elk Creek, CA

293 Reviews

Camping options around Elk Creek, California include several lakeside recreation areas with varied accommodations for outdoor enthusiasts. Stony Gorge Reservoir offers tent and RV camping with boat-in access and basic amenities like picnic tables and pit toilets. East Park Reservoir near Stonyford provides tent, RV, and cabin options with similar basic facilities. The region encompasses developed campgrounds operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and US Forest Service, with primitive dispersed camping available in parts of the Mendocino National Forest.

Road conditions vary significantly throughout the area, with some campgrounds requiring travel on rough or unpaved forest roads. The camping season typically runs from April through September, with many facilities closing during winter months. Orland Buttes, about 20 miles north of Elk Creek, operates seasonally from April to September, while East Park Reservoir opens in April. One camper noted, "This is a great spot close, but not too close to the highway. About 5-7 drive off the highway right next to the Sacramento River." Summer temperatures can be extremely hot, often exceeding 100°F, making lakeside camping particularly popular for swimming and cooling off.

The Elk Creek area campgrounds receive positive reviews for fishing access, lake views, and natural surroundings. Campsites at developed areas like Buckhorn Recreation Area provide spacious layouts with lake views. According to visitor feedback, "The sites are spacious and there is a pool to cool down during the hot summers." For those seeking more remote experiences, campgrounds further into Mendocino National Forest offer greater seclusion but fewer amenities. Wildlife viewing opportunities include elk herds that sometimes pass through the more remote camping areas. Many campgrounds in the region are situated near water bodies, making them popular for fishing and boating activities, though some visitors note that these areas can become crowded during peak summer weekends.

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Best Camping Sites Near Elk Creek, California (138)

    1. Stony Gorge Reservoir - USBR

    2 Reviews
    Elk Creek, CA
    2 miles
    Website

    "The lake is amazing for swimming!"

    2. The Parkway RV Resort & Campground

    13 Reviews
    Orland, CA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 865-9188

    "Stayed here for a second time driving from Southern California to Oregon. The sites are spacious and there is a pool to cool down during the hot summers. There is wine tasting as well."

    "I have stayed here several times as a waypoint on my travels between California to Washington.  It is a nice safe quiet park that has many pull through spaces for RVs spending the night.  I have used"

    3. Buckhorn Recreation Area

    8 Reviews
    Paskenta, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 865-4781

    $18 - $200 / night

    "Didn’t really have neighbors too close and had a great view of the lake."

    "A lot of the sites have fabulous views of the lake. The surrounding area is beautiful to see as well. Great trail system for exploring the park. Boat ramp, old bathrooms."

    4. Letts Lake Campground — Mendocino National Forest

    11 Reviews
    Stonyford, CA
    22 miles
    Website

    $6 / night

    "National Forest pulled in officers from surrounding forests and Sheriff Depts.

    With a 35' Class A our options were limited. A Ranger suggested Letts Lake."

    "The campground does not offer very much privacy between sites, but is right on Letts Lake, offering great views."

    5. Orland Buttes

    2 Reviews
    Orland, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 865-4781

    $20 - $130 / night

    "This is a nice, basic COE campground with hiking trails, lake access, and a boat ramp. Volunteer host on site."

    6. East Park Reservoir

    4 Reviews
    Stonyford, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 458-0466

    "But, no worries, there were plenty of sites spread around - it is a large reservoir. We found one that had shade, wasn't too sloped and wasn't even next to anyone else.

    We are going again this year."

    "It was relatively quiet, and nobody immediately near us.  Amazing sunsets.

    The second time we went was June 2020.  This time we stayed on the other side of the lake. "

    7. North Fork Campground

    2 Reviews
    Stonyford, CA
    16 miles
    Website

    "The campground is next to the Truckee River but most sites do not have easy access to it.

    There are only three pit toilets since one of them is permanently damaged and has been for quite some time."

    "If you drive past all the OHV-filled camps, you’ll eventually get to this little gem."

    8. Snow Mountain Wilderness

    1 Review
    Stonyford, CA
    16 miles

    9. Rolling Hills Casino Truck Lot

    11 Reviews
    Corning, CA
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 528-3586

    $49 - $69 / night

    "Casino nearby has multiple restaurants and entertainment, including golf.  Cheap gas for California.  Little bit of a hike to clean restrooms.  Quiet.  Convenient location for traveling down I-5."

    "Conveniently located just off I-5, far enough away from the noise. Casino, restaurants, doggy daycare and golf just next door. Sites are level 75 ft pull through sites. We will stay again."

    10. Sunset Point Campground

    8 Reviews
    Mendocino National Forest, CA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 275-2361

    "Close to neighboring campsites but not too bad. Grove village is really close where they have firewood, grocery store, restaurant, shops, post office. Bugs in summer so don’t forget your bug spray!"

    "Great location in the Sequoia National Park. Appropriate for families, couples or singles. Plenty of trails to roam and scenery galore. Easy access to bathrooms, evening activities."

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Recent Camping Photos near Elk Creek, CA

138 Photos of 138 Elk Creek Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Elk Creek, CA

293 Reviews of 138 Elk Creek Campgrounds

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 13, 2025

    Kyen Campground

    A convenient and good campground

    I liked this tree shaded campground. Some Lakeside campsites for RVs and tents with many other campsites, stretching up a gentle hill. Potable water is available. Bathrooms were clean but showers not so much but plenty of hot water and does not require quarters. Campground can be very crowded prior to Labor Day, especially weekends. When I was there on 9/10/25 there were very few campers. Register on recreation.gov. Use your federal discount pass to get half price on the $35 or $65 electrical sites.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Oak Flat Campground

    Beautiful and peaceful *on weekdays*

    Quiet and peaceful, watch elk, birds, lizards, toads/frogs on weekdays. All but the hardiest of wildlife and people should avoid the weekends. We finally learned our lesson after every Friday and/or Saturday over the years has been disrupted by people yelling and/or blasting music, running dogs off leash, and then (last trip) racing dirt bikes through the campground until 1 am.

  • Bruce E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Post Creek Guard Station

    Labor Day seclusion

    Post creek guard station was awesome. The views were amazing, especially the star gazing. Took Tedoc rd going in. Long, dirt, rocky rd not recommended for passenger vehicles. Our transit connect was fine, but slow going, just enough clearance. The cabin was pretty clean. Someone left their garbage. It's a pack in 0ack out kinda place. Water is gravity feed for a flushing toilet and dish washing water. (Non-potable) nearby spring was great for filtering or the 1/4 mile down to creek and swimming hole. There are 2 new full size mattresses and a 2 burner Coleman stove. Recommend just bringing all your own gear and consider it like a camping trip, w/ bonus flush toilet. The drive out was smooth. Took service rd 30. Dirt for a short bit, then paved all the way to hwy 36. Definitely be going back, and hitting some of the hiking trails.

  • Diana R.
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Red Bluff KOA Journey

    Messed up reservations, staff rude.

    This campground has a lot of live ins: there animals are not well behaved, barked most of the night, stray cats wandering around bothering our animals.  We made reservations and reserved a campsite number, was not told we had to pay $25 more to reserve a site, they put us in the site I requested not to have, the excuse was the computer rearranged the campsite. Asked to speak to management who never appeared and lady at desk was rude.

  • Karmen V.
    Aug. 15, 2025

    High Valley Rd Dispersed

    Absolutely not

    The road to this pin is completely impassable in any regular vehicle, this would require an ATV. We took a regular AWD midsize SUV, after seeing the review with photos of a regular car. The road is EXTREMELY narrow and windy on the edge of a cliff. There is no way to turn around once you start up it. It has deep ruts in the road. We got to a large trench in the road that we couldn't go around because we would fall off the cliff. We tried to put the trench between the wheels, but our tire went in it and we bottomed out very badly and almost got stuck. We ended up having to spend 30 minutes backing slowly down the road. Long story short, just don't even try.

  • william T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 2, 2025

    Lakeview Dispersed Campground

    Simple spot

    3 main spots in the beginning, Drowned trees to assess further down the other road. Very bumpy and dusty, not a 4x4 needed road

  • Kirra L.
    Jul. 24, 2025

    Lakeview Dispersed Campground

    Great location, nice views

    The drive up was full of breathtaking views, and even though the road was quite bumpy, dusty, and steep at times, our AWD Kia made it up no problem. Only two other groups were set up so not crowded, plenty of spots. Only complaint is that one group that was set up near us went hunting in the middle of the night, so the gunshots scared us at first because there are signs that say hunting is illegal in this area. Otherwise it was great!

  • James W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 23, 2025

    The Parkway RV Resort & Campground

    Great Place to stop on I-5

    We needed a place to camp for the night, and Parkway was in the right location.  We booked through the Dyrt, but the campground's booking site was almost as easy.  We needed to move our reservation to one night earlier, and the camp staff graciously made it happen.  When we arrived, the sites were clean and orderly, and there was actually grass and level parking spots.  The full hookups worked great and it turned out to be just what we needed.  We also found a local panaderia for breakfast pastries that were delicious.  This was exactly what we needed.

Guide to Elk Creek

Camping near Elk Creek, California, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking to relax by the lake or explore the outdoors, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Fishing: Many campers enjoy fishing at Letts Lake Campground. One visitor shared, "Great camping and fishing. Lots of smaller bass and trout." This lake is perfect for those who love to cast a line.
  • Swimming: At Parkway RV Resort & Campground, there's a refreshing pool to cool off in after a long day. A reviewer mentioned, "The best grassy, clean dog run and a refreshing pool to cool off in after a long day of driving."
  • Hiking: Explore the trails around Sunset Point Campground. One camper noted, "Nice walk around the lake, fishing wasn’t the best but still fun."

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at places like Rolling Hills Casino Truck Lot. A visitor said, "Super clean and well-kept property from the grounds to the toilets."
  • Friendly Staff: Many reviews highlight the helpfulness of staff. At The Aurora RV Park & Marina, one camper mentioned, "We were greeted by the camp host with a smile! Very friendly!"
  • Spacious Sites: Campers enjoy the roomy sites at Buckhorn Recreation Area. A reviewer stated, "We had a good experience. Didn’t really have neighbors too close and had a great view of the lake."

What you should know

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Letts Lake Campground, have minimal services. A visitor noted, "There is no water or trash service there was no fee."
  • Access Issues: At Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area, river access has been eroded. One camper mentioned, "But river access has been eroded in this last year so access is down the way at the county park."
  • Crowded During Peak Times: Campgrounds can get busy, especially on weekends. A reviewer at Sunset Point Campground said, "It can get a bit rowdy at this campground, with lots of large groups."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Campgrounds with Pools: Kids love to swim, so look for places like Parkway RV Resort & Campground that have pools. One parent said, "We really appreciated the pool, the very friendly staff and clean restrooms."
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to bring fishing gear for lakes like Letts Lake Campground. A family shared, "Great lake to go camping with a family. Had great swimming and a nice little hiking trail."
  • Pack Snacks: Having snacks on hand can keep everyone happy. A camper at Rolling Hills Casino Truck Lot mentioned, "There are also amazing views at sunset and sunrise."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at The Aurora RV Park & Marina noted, "The lakeside spots are very tight together—and require backing in."
  • Look for Full Hookups: Campgrounds like Woodson Bridge Mobile Home & RV Park offer full hookups, which can make your stay more comfortable. One visitor said, "Full hookups (30 amp), with very clean bathhouse."
  • Be Prepared for Noise: Some campgrounds can be near busy roads. A camper at Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area mentioned, "Instead of waking up to birds and nature it was loud cars and honking."

Camping near Elk Creek, California, has something for everyone, from families to RVers. Just remember to check the amenities and plan your activities for a great outdoor experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Elk Creek, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Elk Creek, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 138 campgrounds and RV parks near Elk Creek, CA and 12 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Elk Creek, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Elk Creek, CA is Stony Gorge Reservoir - USBR with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Elk Creek, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 free dispersed camping spots near Elk Creek, CA.

What parks are near Elk Creek, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 21 parks near Elk Creek, CA that allow camping, notably Black Butte Lake and Mendocino National Forest.

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