Camping On Lake Oroville

Many lakes in Cal­i­for­nia offer lake­side camp­ing, but Lake Oroville is home to the only camp­sites in the state where you can pic­nic, bar­be­cue, and pitch your tent right on the lake! Lake Oroville’s 10 float­ing camp­sites each fea­ture room for up to 15 vis­i­tors and three ves­sels (two per­son­al water­craft count as one ves­sel). Bring food for grilling and take advan­tage of the propane bar­be­cue and shad­ed pic­nic table. A sink, restroom, and stor­age clos­et help make the float­ing camp­sites con­ve­nient for the entire fam­i­ly. You can pitch sev­er­al tents on the flat upper deck or just sleep under the stars. The float­ing camp­sites make a per­fect home base in between your oth­er adven­tures on Lake Oroville (just make sure to bring plen­ty of drink­ing water with you, as there’s no potable water on the campsites!).

Make your reser­va­tions at Reserve Cal­i­for­nia by choos­ing ​“Lake Oroville SRA” and then ​“Float­ing Camp­ing Area”. You’ll be able to pick which site you want, if available.

• Float­ing camp­sites #1, #2, #3, #5, and #6 are close to Bid­well Canyon Mari­na and the Spill­way and Loafer Creek boat launch ramps. Camp­site #1 has acces­si­bil­i­ty features.
• Site #4 on the North Fork of Lake Oroville is the clos­est site to Lime Saddle
• Sites #7 through #10 are found east of the Bid­well Bar Bridge (High­way 162) near the Enter­prise boat launch ramp.

Make your Butte Coun­ty adven­ture even wilder by camp­ing at one of Lake Oroville’s boat-in camp­grounds! Each camp­ing area is nes­tled in the scenic oak wood­lands that sur­round Lake Oroville to help give you that feel­ing of get­ting away. Check in at one of Lake Oroville’s entrance sta­tions for direc­tions and to reserve your site. The camp­grounds have signs vis­i­ble from the lake to help you find your way.

There are five boat-in camp­grounds that are first-come, first-serve. 

• The Fore­man Creek camp­ground (26 sites) is cen­tral­ly locat­ed on Lake Oroville and is clos­est to the Spill­way and Bid­well Canyon areas. 
• Craig Sad­dle (18 sites) is tucked in between the Mid­dle Fork and South Fork of Lake Oroville. 
• Goat Ranch (5 sites) is a small camp­ground near the Lime Sad­dle area. 
• Bloomer Point (25 sites) and Bloomer Knoll (5 sites) can be found about halfway between the dam and the Lime Sad­dle area along the lake’s North Fork. 

Each site, sized for up to eight vis­i­tors, has a pic­nic table, fire ring, and garbage can. A vault toi­let is avail­able at each camp­ground, but be sure to bring your own water! 

Large groups (up to 75 peo­ple and 25 water­craft) can reserve the boat-in Bloomer Group Camp at Reserve Cal­i­for­nia.

Direc­tions

For those com­ing from the south, Oroville is about 25 miles north of Marysville and 65 miles north of Sacra­men­to. Take High­way 70 to Oroville and exit east onto Oro Dam Boule­vard (Exit 46) to access most of Lake Oroville’s fea­tures. To access the Lime Sad­dle area, con­tin­ue north along High­way 70 about 12 miles past the City of Oroville and turn left onto Pentz Road. The Lime Sad­dle entrance will be on your left after two miles. 

For those com­ing from the north, Oroville is about 90 miles south of Red­ding and 20 miles south of Chico. When trav­el­ling south along High­way 99, take the High­way 149 split towards Oroville. To reach the Lime Sad­dle area, take north­bound High­way 70 for about six miles and turn left onto Pentz Road. The Lime Sad­dle entrance will be on your left after two miles. For most oth­er Lake Oroville access points, take High­way 70 south­bound to Oroville and exit east onto Oro Dam Boule­vard (Exit 46).

Check out the Lake Oroville State Recre­ation Area Camp­ground Map to help you find your way!