Best Tent Camping near Lewiston, CA
Tent campgrounds near Lewiston, California offer a mix of lakeside and forested settings within the Trinity Alps region. Mary Smith Campground provides tent sites with views of Lewiston Lake and access to hiking trails, while primitive options like Crystal Creek and Peltier Bridge campgrounds in the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area offer more secluded experiences. Most sites are accessible via drive-in access, though some like Mary Smith require campers to pack gear up or down sloped terrain to reach their sites.
The primitive tent campgrounds typically provide basic amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, and bear-proof food lockers. Vault toilets are available at most locations, though none offer running water or showers. Campers must bring their own drinking water or be prepared to filter from nearby creeks and lakes. Sites at Peltier Bridge Primitive Campground feature dirt pads near a creek with bear boxes for food storage, while Crystal Creek offers similar primitive setups. According to one visitor, "Be prepared, there is wildlife out there. About 3am something woke me up sniffing around my hammock."
Sites at Mary Smith provide lake access with small paths leading to Lewiston Lake for swimming during warmer months. The campground features only 17 tent sites, creating a more intimate camping experience with minimal noise from other campers. Peltier Bridge and Crystal Creek primitive campgrounds offer creekside camping with the soothing sounds of flowing water. Many tent sites are shaded, providing relief during hot summer days, while still allowing for cool nights in the mountains. Sites are typically well-spaced for privacy, especially at Peltier Bridge where spots #8 and #9 are noted as being more secluded. A reviewer noted, "We loved listening to the creek while falling asleep, lots of shade and the staff was friendly. Sites are nicely spread apart."
