Hornswoggle Group Campground Introduce
For California residents planning a group outdoor adventure, a family reunion, or a church retreat, finding the right campground that can comfortably accommodate everyone can be a challenge. Look no further than Hornswoggle Group Campground, nestled near Camptonville, CA, in the scenic Tahoe National Forest. This highly recommended destination is specifically designed with groups in mind, offering spacious sites and essential amenities to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for gatherings of all sizes.
Hornswoggle Group Campground provides a perfect balance of rustic charm and practical conveniences, making it an ideal choice for Californians looking to reconnect with nature alongside their community. Unlike individual campsites that can feel cramped with multiple tents and vehicles, Hornswoggle offers ample room for trailers, tents, and vehicles, ensuring everyone has plenty of space to spread out and relax. The feedback from visitors consistently highlights this spaciousness, making it a stress-free environment for larger parties to enjoy the outdoors together.
One of the most appealing aspects of Hornswoggle Group Campground is its thoughtful provision of amenities crucial for group comfort. The availability of both flushing toilets and vault toilets ensures that different comfort levels are catered to, a significant advantage in a group setting. Additionally, the presence of bear boxes for food storage offers peace of mind, allowing campers to securely store their provisions in an area known for wildlife. This attention to practical needs, combined with more tables than most groups typically require, elevates the camping experience beyond the basic, contributing to a more comfortable and organized stay.
While the campground itself is not directly on the lake, its proximity to the beautiful Bullards Bar Reservoir, just a short drive away, provides easy access to a wealth of water-based activities. This offers the best of both worlds: a peaceful campground setting away from the immediate hustle and bustle of the lake shore, combined with convenient access to swimming, boating, and fishing in very blue, inviting waters. For Californians seeking a versatile group camping experience with excellent facilities and nearby recreational opportunities, Hornswoggle Group Campground is a top-tier choice.
Hornswoggle Group Campground is conveniently located in Camptonville, CA 95922, USA, within the expansive and beautiful Tahoe National Forest. This location positions it perfectly for California residents seeking a genuine outdoor experience without venturing too far off the beaten path. Camptonville itself is a small community in Yuba County, known for its rich history and access to various outdoor recreational opportunities in the surrounding Sierra Nevada foothills.
For Californians, reaching Hornswoggle Group Campground typically involves a scenic drive through the picturesque landscapes of Northern California. The campground is situated near the New Bullards Bar Reservoir, a significant draw for water enthusiasts. While the campground is on the "opposite side of the highway from the lake," meaning no direct lake access from the campsites, the Dark Day boat ramp is approximately half a mile away, and the Cottage Creek boat ramp is about three miles from the campground. This close proximity ensures that lake access for boating, swimming, and fishing is easily achievable by a short drive.
The accessibility of Hornswoggle Group Campground is further enhanced by its clear designation as a group site. The campground has 5 sites designed for groups: 4 sites can accommodate up to 25 people each (Dogwood, Sugarpine, Ponderosa, Madrone, and Douglas Fir are listed as 15-25 occupants), and one larger site (Manzanita) can fit up to 50 people. This capacity makes it an excellent choice for large gatherings, and the sites are designed to comfortably hold multiple trailers, tents, and vehicles, as noted by satisfied visitors. Piped drinking water is available, adding to the convenience.
Being part of the Tahoe National Forest, the area around Hornswoggle is well-managed and provides a quintessential California outdoor experience. The drive is part of the adventure, offering glimpses of conifer and hardwood forests that surround the reservoir, providing ample shade at the campsites. For California groups, this combination of a dedicated group space, essential amenities, and convenient access to a major recreational lake makes Hornswoggle Group Campground a highly practical and appealing choice for their next collective adventure.
Hornswoggle Group Campground offers specific services tailored to accommodate the needs of large groups, ensuring a comfortable and functional camping experience:
- Group-Specific Campsites: The campground features 5 dedicated group sites, with capacities ranging from 15-25 people (4 sites) and one site for up to 50 people, designed for ample space for multiple tents, trailers, and vehicles.
- Varied Restroom Facilities: It provides both modern flushing toilets at some sites and traditional vault toilets at others, offering options for different comfort preferences within the group.
- Piped Drinking Water: Potable water is available throughout the campground for convenience.
- Bear Boxes for Food Storage: Each group site is equipped with bear-proof food storage lockers, ensuring safe storage of provisions in bear country.
- Numerous Picnic Tables: Sites come with more tables than typically needed, providing plenty of surface area for dining, food preparation, and activities.
- Fire Rings and Grills: Each group site includes a fire ring with a grill, perfect for campfires and outdoor cooking.
- Trash Collection: Designated trash collection facilities are available, aiding in maintaining a clean and responsible camping environment.
- Good Cell Service: Fair cell service is available, which can be a convenience for communication needs, though it also allows for a balance of digital connection and disconnection.
Hornswoggle Group Campground boasts several key features and highlights that make it a premier choice for group camping in California:
- Perfect for Groups: Designed specifically for larger gatherings, accommodating up to 50 people on its largest site, ensuring ample space for all.
- Spacious Sites: The campsites offer plenty of room for multiple tents, trailers, and vehicles, preventing overcrowding and enhancing comfort.
- Mix of Toilet Types: The presence of both flushing and vault toilets caters to diverse preferences within a group, a notable convenience.
- Not Too Busy: Generally described as not being overly crowded, even for a group campground, allowing for a more peaceful experience.
- Proximity to Bullards Bar Reservoir: Located near the beautiful New Bullards Bar Reservoir, offering excellent opportunities for swimming, boating, and fishing in "very blue water."
- Dedicated Food Storage: Bear boxes (food storage lockers) are provided at each site, crucial for safe food management in bear country.
- Abundant Tables: Sites come equipped with more picnic tables than typically necessary, providing versatile surface areas.
- Convenient Boat Ramp Access: The Dark Day boat ramp is just 0.5 miles away, making launching watercraft easy.
- Fair Cell Service: While some seek a complete disconnect, fair cell service offers a balance, allowing for essential communication if needed.
- Located in Tahoe National Forest: Offers access to a vast natural playground with opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and more.
For inquiries, reservations, or more information about Hornswoggle Group Campground, please use the following contact details:
Address: Camptonville, CA 95922, USA
Phone: (530) 288-3231
Mobile Phone: +1 530-288-3231
For California residents, Hornswoggle Group Campground presents an exceptionally suitable and highly desirable option for their next collective outdoor adventure. Located near Camptonville within the stunning Tahoe National Forest, its primary strength lies in its dedicated design for groups, a feature often difficult to find in many popular California camping destinations. This focus means that whether planning a family reunion, a church group outing of 40, or a gathering of friends with multiple vehicles and tents, Hornswoggle provides the necessary space and amenities to ensure everyone can comfortably enjoy the experience.
The practical considerations addressed by Hornswoggle Group Campground are particularly appealing to local Californians organizing group trips. The availability of both flushing and vault toilets caters to varied preferences, ensuring a more comfortable stay for all participants. The presence of bear boxes at each site is a critical safety and convenience feature in bear country, allowing peace of mind for food storage. Furthermore, the ample number of picnic tables and generous site layouts eliminate the common challenges of limited space and communal gathering areas that can arise with large groups at standard campgrounds. This thoughtful planning directly translates into a more organized, relaxed, and enjoyable trip for all involved.
While the campground itself is across the highway from the lake, the close proximity and easy access to the "very blue water" of Bullards Bar Reservoir are significant advantages. This allows groups to enjoy the tranquility of their dedicated campground while having quick access to a wide array of water activities like swimming, boating, and fishing. For Californians, who often seek out water-based recreation in the warm months, this convenient access to a beautiful lake enhances the overall value of Hornswoggle. It provides the best of both worlds: a peaceful group camping base and a vibrant recreational hub just a short drive away.
Ultimately, Hornswoggle Group Campground is perfectly tailored for the needs of California locals looking to organize memorable outdoor experiences for their groups. Its spacious, well-equipped sites, thoughtful amenities, and excellent access to recreational opportunities in a beautiful forest setting make it a premier choice for creating lasting memories with friends, family, and community members. It's a place that understands and caters to the unique demands of group camping, ensuring a smooth, enjoyable, and truly Californian outdoor adventure.
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Hornswoggle Group Campground Reviews
Perfect for groups, some of the sites have flushing toilets, others are vault toilets. Not too busy. My only knock is the location - opposite side of the highway from the lake. So, there is no lake access from the campground. We went with a church group recently and it was just right for a group of 40.
May 18, 2025 · Adam WilsonI was a great spot for a group camping. We had two trailer a few tents and multiple vehicles and still had plenty of room. Bathroom near by, bear boxes for food, and more tables then we needed. Near by lake with very blue water which is great for swimming and boating.
Aug 21, 2024 · Phillip MerchantAwesome place to camp. We stayed at the Mananzita group camp site. Lots of amenities available. Flushing toilet, 2 water spigots, 8 picnic tables, 6 bear lockers, a large fire pit, and a large grill. There are plenty of space to setup several tents around the area. There are large trash bins nearby that can be utilized when needed.Keep all the food in the bear containers to be on the safe side. Those containers fit full size coolers and plenty of food.Easy to reserve this site online.
Jun 04, 2023 · Doua MouaLarge group campground with non potable water and pit toliets
Apr 28, 2025 · Emily LambertNice spot for group camping, the spacing between sites is good and I didn't find sound carrying to be an issue. However, the bears were out every night and will definitely wait for you to go to bed and roam your site for any unattended coolers of food. We stayed at Manzanita (the 50 person site) with a group of 30ish folks and it fit us well - a mix of tent campers and 4 trailers.
Jun 13, 2022 · Bella Coladonato
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