Collins Lake Recreation Area and Lake Francis Resort offer premium glamping accommodations in the Smartsville region of California. Collins Lake features lakefront sites with water, electric, and sewer hookups, while Lake Francis Resort provides yurts and cabin-style glamping options for visitors seeking comfort in nature. Both destinations maintain clean facilities with modern amenities including showers, toilets, and picnic areas. The glamping sites include comfortable sleeping arrangements, electricity, and convenient access to resort amenities. Many accommodations offer private outdoor spaces with stunning views of the surrounding landscape. According to one visitor, "Collins lake has become our destination for spring break. In early April it's relatively quiet. Staff is great, facilities are clean, kids love the playground."
Glamping visitors enjoy direct water access with excellent fishing, kayaking, and swimming opportunities. Collins Lake maintains a well-stocked trout fishery where guests regularly catch rainbow trout ranging from 14-17 inches, while also offering excellent bass fishing with catches up to 5 pounds. The resorts feature hiking and biking trails, with one reviewer noting that "there are nice hiking and biking trails in and around the campground." Lake Francis Resort provides additional recreation through its yurt accommodations. On-site stores offer camping supplies, fishing gear, and refreshments including popular ice cream that multiple reviewers specifically recommend. Winter glamping is available at select locations, though summer remains the peak season with advance reservations strongly recommended due to limited premium glamping sites.
"*pros: great little market, very nice staff, clean, great views *cons: rocky watch your step, especially at the beach and a long the shore."
"We’ve been to Collins Lake a few times and we love it! Lots of different camping spots and the lake is stocked with fish. Ice cream at the store is a must."
"This is such a beautiful piece of California."
"The trees are amazing and there are about 2 miles of walking trails. The campground is along Dry Creek, which isn't dry but is covered in some sort of green stuff (not algae)."
"The common house has a fully stocked kitchen so you can camp without having to bring supplies! The campground is exceptionally clean and meticulously maintained."
"It’s clean, has great amenities (pool, showers, kitchen, bathrooms), and it’s a nice walk away from town. It has a spot for everyone - RVs, glamping tents, and the standard tent sites (my style)."
"It’s definitely a place I’ll put on my list to camp at again, especially when they figure out their electrical issues."
"WiFi is very very limited- drive to top of hill or lodge( very sporadic) Great Lake for swimming, fishing and small boats. Store on site. Clean swimming pool. Ideal for Tent or RV."
"We decided this time around to reserve one of their cabins. We stayed at the Diamond P cabin which has the best view of the lake within this group of cabins."
"Nice quiet lake. Good campsites. Good general store and even a little restaurant and ice cream shack."
from $40 - $100 / night
from $33 - $222 / night
"Bathroom s still need updating. New fences between back in sites, which was nice. Saved a couple bucks because we didn't need sewer. The office was super nice and let us have guests, no problem."
"Very clean and was very pet friendly. All of the folks were very friendly and most had their own dogs."
"I wanted to find a spot somewhat close by and came across this one."
"The grounds are very well kept and the staff is available but keep their distance."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $28 / night
from $120 - $140 / night
"Group sites we were near played loud music. Quiet hours weren’t enforced as people played music or loudly chatted until 1am the first night we were there."
"Steve at check in was very helpful, the little store is cool, and the campground is walking distance from the historic town of Coloma and the Argonaut for breakfast and lunch (and Gelato!)"
GuideThis site does not recognize any state or federal pass the rate starts for 40 a day then they charge per person and per pet grand total for a one night stay with hookups 62$ for one RV one person one dog . 
RangerVery nice 1970 style park most spots only has water and electricity. Section X is full hook ups and close to all amenities. Lots of deers and gray squirrels playing about the park. Nice beach area with rental boats. Restrooms and laundry areas in good shape. This is a nice area to camp.
Scout5 stars for the campground itself. I've been camping at Lodgepole in Sequoia National Park since 1984, when I was just 20 years old. I have loved every camping trip since(at least 30 plus times)! The campsites are great, the grounds, and trails are well-maintained, and safe. I love that the general store is easy to get to and has ice and extras that we may have forgotten to bring. However, we have noticed over past few years that the restrooms in the campground have become increasingly filthy. I get that people walk in with dirt all over their shoes, so of course the floors will be dirty, but it's unacceptable to allow the toilets to be so gross! I will leave out the unpleasant details! I asked a young park ranger how often the restrooms are cleaned and he said every day. Apparently they source out the cleaning. It's obvious that all they do is sweep the floors, empty the trash and provide more TP. The sinks, and floors look like they haven't been scrubbed in a long time, and I noticed the toilets looked as bad the day we got there to the day they left. I remember in the 80's and 90's seeing rangers doing a very thorough cleaning each morning. We would walk in and could smell the cleaning chemicals, and the floor would be wet from mopping. Also, the showers are dirty too. They removed the benches in the individual shower stalls so there's no place to put your clean clothes. Do better Lodgepole!
GuideVery popular in the summer!! Amazing lake front campsites with incredible views. Also kind of pricey. There’s onsite security and a big store with delicious icecream. Totally incredible fishing opportunities.
TravelerOur family loved it here. Great staff. The poo was clean and heated. They had volleyball, karaoke, clean bathrooms and open showers.
There is even a cute pond to fish out of.
Theirs an old town that has two stores open. One is ice cream and the other is breakfast and lunch.
Everything is affordable.
RangerLovely spots, no hookups, close to the highway but far enough off we couldn’t hear it. Stream is lovely, wish we had more time to spend.
ScoutShe was very rude
ScoutI wanted to find a spot somewhat close by and came across this one. I think it was because I went on a weekday but upon entering there’s no one at the front so there is no check in so you just go straight to your camp site. I wasn’t expecting there to be a distance from the campsite to your parking space but if you’re looking for a spot for van/SUV camping it’s a little difficult to find a spot. Some spots are better than others of course! Camp host was really friendly as well! Spotted some turkey, deer, and quail!
GuideWe booked the Eagles Nest campsite, and the views were awesome! We stayed two nights and had a good time. There are two spots down below the main road that are accessible but recommend at minimum AWD, especially if visiting during the rainy season. The host was very helpful got us a case of water and even had fresh eggs that we bought. 👍🏼
Collins Lake Recreation Area offers comfortable glamping options for visitors to the Smartsville area. The surrounding landscape features a mix of Sierra Nevada foothills and woodlands at elevations around 1,200 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-95°F, with much cooler evenings during spring and fall camping seasons.
Fishing opportunities: Collins Lake maintains an active fishing program with regular catches reported by campers. "We camped here TWICE in 2019... The fishing is awesome on Collins Lake! We fished from kayaks and always caught fish for dinner," notes Ed E. from Collins Lake Recreation Area.
Hiking trails: The region offers various terrain for hikers of all skill levels. "There are nice hiking and biking trails in and around the campground" at Collins Lake, while at Sycamore Ranch, one visitor reports "There are about 2 miles of walking trails. The campground is along Dry Creek, which isn't dry but is covered in some sort of green stuff (not algae). We saw a river otter playing in the creek, so there is life in it."
Water recreation: Beyond fishing, the lakes provide various water activities. At Lake Francis Resort, "Nice quiet lake. Good campsites. Good general store and even a little restaurant and ice cream shack." Many campgrounds offer boat rentals for those without personal watercraft.
Secluded spots: Finding privacy can enhance glamping experiences near Smartsville. At Peninsula Campground, "With only us and two other folks in the entire campground we enjoyed privacy and seclusion. Good bike riding too."
Waterfront access: Direct lake access remains a top draw. "We stayed at site 60A Lake Front View, which had stunning water views and a spacious setup 🤩👌🏽. The site gets a lot of sun in the morning and afternoon, so bring a popup canopy for shade—it made a big difference for us!" shares a visitor at Collins Lake.
Wildlife viewing: The natural setting provides excellent wildlife watching. At Sycamore Ranch RV Park, one camper notes, "My favorite thing about this campground is the birds! I use the Merlin app to identify the birds here and so far this place holds my record of around 18 birds not including the more silent ones we saw. There are turtles and otters in the creek to check out as well."
Reservation timing: Peak seasons fill quickly at popular glamping destinations. At Inn Town Campground, visitors appreciate the "very nice, beautifully maintained campground with a lot of topography." Another reviewer mentions "We spent two nights doing a family and friends reunion. We loved our rv spot, the rest of the group had great tent site and glamping tents."
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly between glamping sites. Lake of the Springs RV Resort has "No cell service in any of the loops and WiFi isn't great." Plan communications accordingly.
Seasonal considerations: Spring offers unique advantages. One camper notes, "We visited this camp ground last year for a pre-spring getaway and really liked it... The grass is green, and the leaves are out on all the oak trees which makes it more beautiful."
Kid-friendly amenities: Facilities catering to children make family glamping trips smoother. At Coloma Resort, "Pool, playground, basketball and soccer - will definitely be back with the kids soon." The resort offers "A large grass area great for games, and if you are up for it, rafting, kayaking and fishing in the cold American river."
Educational opportunities: Incorporate learning into your glamping experience. Coloma Resort allows families to "pan for gold, relax, or bike, hike along the river, and kids can play along several playgrounds for kids of different ages."
Safety considerations: Water access requires supervision. One camper notes, "I had the opportunity to talk with Bonnie about her yurt and the great camping experience she hopes to provide for everyone who stops by" at High Camp, which provides a safer, contained glamping experience for families with young children.
Site selection: Choose RV spots carefully for the best glamping experience. At Sycamore Ranch RV Park, "Very clean campground with a helpful host. Bathrooms/showers for paid guest have a code to get in. The day use area has porta potties."
Hookup availability: Utilities vary between sites. At Collins Lake, "Both campsites, #66 and #116 had power, water and sewage. They were both lake front campsites, which meant the water or shoreline was right at our 'front door' from our 27' travel trailer."
Seasonal planning: Consider off-peak visits for more space. "We are here in the off season, so there weren't many other campers here. I think in high season it would feel cramped," reports a Sycamore Ranch visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Smartsville, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Smartsville, CA is Collins Lake Recreation Area with a 4.6-star rating from 26 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Smartsville, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 35 glamping camping locations near Smartsville, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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