College

Show on map559-893-2111vista@vista-rec.com
P O BOX 152
LAKESHORE, CA 93634

Overview

College Campground is located on Huntington Lake near the Kaiser Wilderness. The camp features tent-only sites in open, meadow-like spaces or wooded sites among pine and fir trees. Visitors can have the option of mooring their boats nearby some of the sites.

Recreation

There are many hiking trails in the area, including Rancheria Falls, Indian Pools and Black Point. Hikers and horseback riders can access the 12-mile Kaiser Loop Trail, which connects to a network of trails within the Kaiser Wilderness.

Huntington Lake offers many activities, including swimming, sailing, boating, non-motorized boating, fishing and water skiing. Additionally, California Land Management sponsors a variety of interpretive programs and nature walks throughout the summer at several locations in the Huntington Lake area.

Facilities

Each tent-only site has a dirt and grass parking spur, table, fire ring, and grill. A pay phone, limited drinking water, and both vault and flush toilets are provided.

Natural Features

The Kaiser wilderness was named after Kaiser Ridge, which divides the area into two distinctly different regions. Most of Kaiser Ridge is 10,320 feet high and Kaiser Peak provides a commanding view of the central Sierra Nevada. The northern portion is much steeper and more open than the more gentle terrain found in the southern portion of the wilderness. The Sierra National Forest, located on the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada, is known for its spectacular mountain scenery and abundant natural resources. The terrain includes rolling, oak-covered foothills, heavily forested middle elevation slopes and the starkly beautiful alpine landscape of the High Sierra.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (559) 893-2308.

Nearby Attractions

College Campground's proximity to the Kaiser Wilderness offers the chance to explore a wide network of hiking trails. This wilderness area is known for its scenic alpine and meadow views.

Charges & Cancellations

Rules & Reservation Policies

As you make travel plans that include reservations on Recreation.gov, there are standard policies that apply to most locations of which you should be aware. Do keep in mind, however, that there are many exceptions, so it is best to review reservation information listed on individual facility pages for those policies and procedures that pertain to your specific locations.

Any location or activity requiring a permit or lottery will have unique requirements and policies. Please check individual facility pages for pertinent information for those sites.

Booking Window

For most locations, you can reserve six months in advance of your stay for individual sites and 12 months in advance for group sites. There are some exceptions, so it is best to check with each facility.

Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees

Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation.

Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount.

You can cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.

Tours & Tickets: You may request changes to tour dates at no cost before the arrival date. If you cancel before your tour date, you may be eligible for a refund. Cancellation fees apply. Please check the tour facility description details page for cancellation policies.

Permits: Varies by location. Please check the permit details for the permit location.

Late Cancellations

Overnight and Day Use Facilities: Late cancellations are those cancelled between 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival.

Individual Campsites: If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and will also forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply.

Cabins / Lookouts: Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin or lookout reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.

Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.

Group Day Use Area: If a customer cancels a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date, they will forfeit the total day use fee with no service fee charge.

No-Shows

Camping / Day Use: A camping no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day-use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival date.

If a customer does not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the times listed under "Late Cancellations" above, the customer may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit use fees.

Tours: A tour or ticket no-show is one who does not cancel a ticket before arrival and does not arrive for the tour. Tour no-shows are not entitled to a refund.

Refunds

Customers must request refunds no later than 14 days after the scheduled departure date. Recreation.gov will not grant refund requests after 14 days of departure.

Reservation Fee: For some facilities, tours or permits an additional reservation fee is charged. For some overnight and day-use facilities, an additional non-refundable reservation fee may apply. The non-refundable reservation fee for tours and tickets is $1.00. The non-refundable reservation fee for permits varies by location.

Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank card.

Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for Recreation.gov payments made by check or money order, and cash payments at selected campgrounds will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. Please Note: Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy.

Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure.

Recreation.gov Billing Information

Reservation transaction will appear on customer's credit card statements as "Recreation.gov 877-444-6777."

Changes to Policies and Procedures

Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. These policies were last updated July 

Camp site features

Across 10 camp sites:

  • Picnic table: all 10 sites
  • Pets allowed: all 10 sites
  • ADA accessible: 2 of 10 sites
  • Longest rig: 39 ft
  • Largest party: 12 people

Directions

Take Hwy 168 east from Clovis to Shaver Lake. Continue through Shaver Lake to Huntington Lake. Continue around Huntington Lake for .5 miles to College Campground.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

52 reviews
5 stars
34
4 stars
10
3 stars
4
2 stars
3
1 stars
1
Alexis D
Loop:Area College
Site:
Reviewed 12 days ago
The campsite was super clean and very well maintained. The bathrooms are very clean and well stocked with toilet paper. The only downside is that the map is inaccurate and the campsites are a LOT closer together than what the map shows. Also, we had to drive 45 minutes towards shaver lake for firewood, since everything nearby was sold out. Otherwise this campsite was perfect!! We definitely will be returning.
Pat D
Loop:Area College
Site:
Reviewed a month ago
Very small sites, and close to each other. This was by far the most I have paid for a semi-primitive campsite. (No hookups, one pit and one flush toilet with sink bathroom, no showers, no host, no recyclable cans. It is a convenient location, being walking distance to the boat launch (we were part of the sailing regatta) , and lakeshore resort, with a saloon/restaurant and general store.
Megan D
Loop:Area College
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
This campsite is one of the best I have ever camped at! Beautiful! Great location. Great view. We will be back!
Adam W
Loop:Area College
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
Nice big spot, plenty of room for several tents. Close to the restroom with running water, but not too close. Nice view, nice shade. Road is a little noisy, but tolerable. Bear lockers are spacious, will fit and 3-foot-long cooler. No cell for T-Mobile, but store up the way will offers Wi-Fi.
Michael M
Loop:Area College
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
Really enjoyed our time here. My one major complaint was the plumbing. The toilets were constantly backing up, and we repeatedly had to plunge them before my family could use them. Unfortunately, that often meant dealing with someone else’s waste, which was unpleasant. I hope you can have the sewer lines professionally snaked or inspected, as it would make a big difference for future guests.
Ariana L
Loop:Area College
Site:
Reviewed 3 months ago
Overall, we had a great experience at College Campground. We stayed at Group Campsite #3, which had plenty of space for our group's tents and made it easy to set up comfortably. Our site felt private and offered nice access to the lake, which we really enjoyed. It does get a bit windy at times, but the weather was otherwise excellent throughout our stay. The only downside was the restroom situation. One of the toilets was clogged for most of the weekend, and by our last day the second toilet was clogged as well. Unfortunately, no one appeared to come by to address the issue during our stay. Despite that, the campground itself was beautiful and well-suited for groups. We'd definitely consider staying here again.
Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Popularity: Busy

Busiest in August, when about 69% of guest capacity is reserved. Based on 11 years of reservations.

Camp Sites

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