Loafer Creek Campground

Fun Camping area close to the Lake. I'd call instead of using the Internet to book. We ended up in the horse camp grounds booking online.
4 8 years ago (20-05-2018)

Loafer Creek Campground lies at the east side of the lake, and the campground reflects the best of the foothills in winter: the black, naked arms of the oaks, covered with moss; the shiny green leaves of the branching live oak trees; last year’s grasses now sun-bleached husks beaten down and returning to the earth; bright green winter grasses, short and thick, where the sun shines most; and finally the gray and black boulders scattered by long-ago volcanic eruptions, their scaled, sharp shoulders covered by gray lichen and green moss. Above was the gray of low cloud cover and fog, occasionally the sun burning through, beams of light and blue sky. I began my 14-mile bicycle trek in the valley, which has an altitude of about 600 feet in the valley around the Oroville area. Highway 162 begins its climb quickly, and I enjoyed the challenge of the hills and mountains up until just past the Wagon Wheel Market, where I stopped and pushed for a while, resting my climbing muscles. I actually enjoy walking a bit if the way is not too steep or the bicycle not too heavily packed. It’s an even simpler version of bike touring except the even slower pace allows for even closer inspection and appreciation of the surroundings--a tiny dark blue flower with a yellow center is one treasure I spied while pushing my bike. The first steady ride was about two thirds of my journey; the last third was an alternation of riding and pushing. I set up camp, bought a bundle of firewood and borrowed a hatchet, cooked some lunch, and explored a bit. It was beautiful, silent and open. I sat upon a pale yellow-red sedimentary rock and just soaked up the silence of the sky, the green mountain summits, and the blue water of the lake. My leg muscles were tired from the trip up the mountain, and I knew I’d feel my toil when I had to head back up the hill to the campground. It was worth it, though. Maybe twenty minutes by car would have brought me to the lake, but my interaction with the foothills, with the sugar pines and the scrub oaks and the manzanita would have been minimal. Some of the manzanita were flowering, their pink bulb-like flowers massed in a carpet beside the road. The green winter grasses were dew-speckled and gleamed like jewels when the sun broke through the fog. A fire, tea and breakfast, and breaking camp and packing took up the early morning. The trip home, of course, was much quicker since it was downhill. I still had to walk a couple of sections, most notably the hill up past The Oaks, a long stretch of road straight up the hill. Also on the second day of an overnighter, I always notice the lower level of my stamina from the first day. That’s my main beef with overnighters, not enough time and mileage to really get in shape. I was patient with myself, though, and coasted (mostly) off the mountain and down into the valley fog. With my tail- and headlights blinking, I cruised into my brother’s mobile home park.
5 8 years ago (12-05-2018)

Surprisingly nice! I didn't encounter any of the issues reported here. The camp guard was super friendly toward us. It was also nice to be able to pay with a credit card on the self-service machine at the entrance.
5 9 years ago (02-10-2017)

Only 25 dollars a night, great place to camp with the kids.
5 8 years ago (17-04-2018)

It has great loation, clean camp grounds. Ok for RV, tent. Or even car camping. Also has it's own boat launch ramp, beach with upper grass level hosting BBQ pits, picnic tablets shade, sun, grass or beach areas which lends appeal to many campers, overnighters, daytime warriors, group gatherings etc. Besides, it is one of the best lakes in California. However, I have exprienced very poor business practices, operations, as well as some of the worst customer I have ever experienced.
3 9 years ago (27-09-2017)