Camping opportunities near Capay, California extend into the foothills west of the Sacramento Valley, with elevations ranging from 200 to 500 feet. The region receives approximately 20 inches of annual rainfall, mostly between November and March, creating seasonal creeks and verdant spring conditions. Fall camping offers milder temperatures in the 70-80°F range with low humidity compared to the valley floor.
What to do
Wildlife watching opportunities: Buckhorn Recreation Area provides excellent bird watching with seasonal waterfowl migrations. "This is a beautiful, quiet campground! 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," notes one visitor at Buckhorn Recreation Area.
Water activities: Black Butte Lake offers swimming, fishing, and boating from spring through fall. A camper at Orland Buttes observed that the campground features "hiking trails, lake access, and a boat ramp" with "random water spigots throughout the campground, as well as a dump station and water flush on the way out."
Hiking options: Explore nearby trail systems with variable terrain. At Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area, a camper mentioned "access to the wildlife refuge and the county river park" for additional hiking opportunities, though they noted "river access has been eroded in this last year."
What campers like
Convenience to Interstate 5: Many campers appreciate the accessibility for overnight stays while traveling. "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," reports a visitor to The Parkway RV Resort & Campground.
Riverside camping: Sites along the Sacramento River provide scenic views and water access. According to a camper at Woodson Bridge Mobile Home & RV Park, "Green & leafy campground right on the Sacramento River! Full hookups (30 amp), with very clean bathhouse and a community lodge available during the day and also picnic and grill area."
Flat, spacious sites: Many campgrounds in the area feature level camping pads. One visitor to the Olive Pit Dispersed Lot noted, "Just a small parking lot with 8 or 9 pull through sites in the middle of a small downtown commercial area. The parking lot is next to two restaurants and a bar."
What you should know
Unique site configurations: Campgrounds may have variable site layouts affecting privacy and accessibility. A camper at Orland Buttes observed, "Each camp site at this campground has a completely unique configuration, in terms of flatness, layout, privacy, closeness to neighbor, etc. For this reason we'd recommend waiting until you arrive to pick your site."
Limited tent camping at some locations: Several areas primarily accommodate RVs. At Rolling Hills Casino Truck Lot, a camper noted it was "Just a small parking lot with 8 or 9 pull through sites in the middle of a small downtown commercial area" with limited facilities for tent campers.
Seasonal water levels: Lake and river access changes throughout the year. A Buckhorn Recreation Area visitor mentioned, "Water was super warm, but gets icky in the summer, so definitely need to go early in the season."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer dedicated areas for children. A camper at Buckhorn Recreation Area mentioned, "Nice playground area for kids. The swimming looks good as well."
Dog-friendly options: Many sites accommodate pets with designated areas. A visitor to Rolling Hills Casino Truck Lot shared, "Conveniently located just off I-5, far enough away from the noise. Casino, restaurants, doggy daycare and golf just next door."
Swimming considerations: Water access varies by location and season. At Buckhorn Recreation Area, "The park was beautiful and on the way in we passed a bison conservation area nearby which was cool. Falling asleep to the shrieks of distant coyotes was cool too."
Tips from RVers
Overnight convenience: Many RVers use the area as a stopover on north-south travels. One camper at Corning RV Park observed, "Nice place. Every spot sits next to an olive tree. It's very manicured. Very close to the freeway but has a safe feel to it."
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups or dump facilities. At Orland Buttes, a camper noted, "There are flush toilets and free showers, but the showers were among the grossest we've seen and we did not use them."
Wind preparation: Some locations experience significant wind, particularly in spring and fall. A Buckhorn Recreation Area visitor warned, "Wasn't windy when we got there in the morning, but that night the wind started and almost blew everything away. STAKE down, no matter the weather."
