10 acres hosted by Kathryn M.
1 RV site · 4 tent sites
Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Activities
Biking
Fishing
Hiking
Paddling
Natural features
Forest
Lake
Select a site
Filter by
Tent sites
4 sites
#2/Volunteers/lower
96% (27)
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
from
for NaN guests$50
/ night
#1/Marley/lower
94% (16)
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
from
for NaN guests$50
/ night
#4/Gallup/upper
100% (15)
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
from
for NaN guests$50
/ night
#3/Caseywood/upper
95% (10)
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
from
for NaN guests$50
/ nightRV sites
1 site
#5/Waterfront RV site
91% (11)
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
from
for NaN guests$60
/ nightReviews
96% Recommend106 ratings · 58 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
Tent ·
#2/Volunteers/lower
Absolutely splendid!! Huge fire pit by the lake, lovely landscape, shooting stars, so peaceful! Be aware that the restroom is located off the driveway up the hill just beyond the main lodge. I didn’t have wifi so couldn’t reference the info online and didn’t see any signs around pointing to its location. You’ll certainly enjoy this remote spot!
M
Meghan L.
1 review
We had the most amazing camping trip! 2nd time at Camp Watanda. It did not disappoint. We love this place! It is me and my boys favorite. Camping on a deck is the way to go! And having the chairs to sit on and table w/a shelf provided for your camp stove is awesome! Plus the dressing room w/curtain is nice for changing. The lake is beautiful! And having the kayaks, paddle board & canoes w/plenty of life jackets to choose from. As well as, badminton, tether ball, giant connect 4, horseshoes, etc. all provided...fantastic! Less stuff I had to squeeze into my car or strap to the roof of my car. And at no extra charge! How many places do that these days? I would absolutely recommend Camp Watanda for families or couples/ friends looking for a great & affordable camping experience :)
H
Heather C.
3 reviews
Camp Watanda is GREAT for kids! So many fun things for them to do. It was fun seeing all the kids running around having a blast. And even though we don’t have children, we enjoyed ourselves as well. The lake was full and we had a wonderful time swimming and paddling around. It’s just a few miles from downtown Nevada City, and we used Watanda as a jumping off point to do a bike ride from there. It was a very hot day, so we enjoyed coming back to camp and jumping in the lake.
K
Karyn S.
6 reviews
Recommends
· May 2025
Tent · With kids ·
#1/Marley/lower
We enjoyed our time everything about the area was beautiful. The lake was perfect. It was very nice and clean. It was our first time and we will definitely be back. Thank you.
M
Michelle R.
2 months on Hipcamp
Another wonderful trip at watanda ! A beautiful spot, it is mine and my families favorite place! If I could live there I WOULD the camp host is so kind and she really set up the grounds with families in mind, would be a great place to rent out for maybe a wedding ? Possibly a family reunion? Literally it is perfect for so many different things, please clean up after yourself, please respect the camp, please respect other campers and the camp hosts property ! I hope we can camp here again next year ❤️ thank you so much Kathryn you are an angel ❤️❤️❤️❤️
H
Hope Layne S.
2 reviews
It’s an easy and convenient location in the beauty of nature.
The hosts are very hospitable and make sure you’re cared for.
It exceeded expectations ( ;
B
Bill K.
3 reviews
We had a nice time here! It's close to one of my favorite Yuba River swimming holes and doesn't have as many gnats and mosquitoes as other local campgrounds I have stayed at. Our site had a sink which was so convenient. but please bring biodegradable soap as it drains right into the landscape. Showers and sinks were a nice touch and it was a little less work than car camping as i didn't have to set up a tent. I would stay here again because it's a great location, but now am prepared to know that I'll need to sweep out the kiosk upon arrival, clean the shower and clear pinecones and needles out of the the bathroom sinks. Fortunately I had a broom in my truck as the one provided was stiff and not useful to the purpose. Lots of cobwebs in the bathroom and dusty back of toilet seats indicated it had been a while since the last cleaning. But there were cleaning supplies in there so was able to do a little touch up cleaning. Walking the dried up lake bed was fascinating! We had the whole place to ourselves!
M
Michele T.
10 months on Hipcamp
Camp Watanda is very nice. If you’re looking for a peaceful getaway, this is the place.
Trisha M.
10 months on Hipcamp
There is no lake and the property wasn’t maintained, not with the amount they are charging per night
M
Mariah V.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent ·
#4/Gallup/upper
Great place to camp and the kiosks were perfect. Kathryn is a responsive and lovely host!
Cesar G.
11 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2024
Tent · With kids ·
#2/Volunteers/lower
Nice elevated campsite. I recommend bringing a tent - the bunks are rustic and there are ants and mosquitoes. It’s great that they have a fire pit by the lake.
Chris T.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2024
Tent · Group trip ·
#4/Gallup/upper
Everything was amazing as last time we were there, this place has bécame our favorite family scape, we love the privacy and safe atmosphere that watanda provides. Thanks Katerine we had the best time there.
R
Rosalba S.
1 year on Hipcamp
My daughter and I absolutely adored staying at their place. I would highly recommend staying here to other families. A great mix of roughing it but having enough home amenities to be comfy.
The kiosks are big and super cool...feels like a giant outdoor fort. We set our tent up between the bunkbeds for our bedroom. We brought umbrellas that attach to the picnic table for shade (our dining room). And used a camp stove on the handy cooking station. (our kitchen). The extra cooler they provide was very handy.
We really loved taking the rowboat out for a sunset boat ride. And listening to the frogs at night. And admiring the friendly lizard and chill young buck who rested near our kiosk one of the days. For us--the sounds of nearby camps added to the festive summer kid vibes.
On top of it all, I made a booking mistake and booked one less night than I thought. Kathryn, her local helper person, (and the guests who'd booked the entire place were all very understanding and human and helped us out by letting us stay an extra night to spare us what would've been a really big bummer of having to pack up at dusk. For which I am eternally grateful.
I loved that it was not too far from the Yuba River and town so we could river swim and get treats in town without having to drive too far.
I'd love to come here again with some other families and share this wonderful place with more folks. It's a rare find at a beyond reasonable price.
Tex D.
4 reviews
I really enjoyed my time at Camp Watanda. I set up my tent in a kioske and found it private, quiet, and super serene. Whether I was hanging out in the kioske or down on the grassy beach with my dogs, it was lovely. I took a SUP and kayak out for a paddle on the lake and built a nice camp fire in the fire pit at night. I also loved having access to the hot water in the showers and sinks of the community bathrooms since I had just come from a dusty camping trip in the desert. Overall, perfect place to rejuvenate my body and soul.
J
Jennifer L.
1 year on Hipcamp
Camp Watanda was everything we expected and more. We were in kiosk 2 closest to the water . There is not one bad site. The bathrooms and showers were clean. Loved that they had a giant fire pit down by the water and provided all the wood. So much fun on the lake. I love to Kayak and didn’t have to bring my own. They had plenty to use. They also had row boats, canoes, paddle boards and lots of water floating stuff too. I have been wanting to paddle board for a while now and got the opportunity this weekend while I was here. I look forward to going back. Incredible weekend and wonderful place.
J
Jackie J.
3 reviews
Recommends
· June 2024
Tent ·
#4/Gallup/upper
We had a great time at Camp Watanda! I grew up going to one of the camps across the lake so it was a nice little stroll through memory lane. Gallup is nice because it is the most secluded kiosk, but also be ready to get your steps in. It didn't bother as at all, but definitely something to consider when selecting your kiosk, it's a hill to get to the bathroom, then a second to get down to the lake/charcoal grill/campfire. We finally got a system down of packing everything we might need when going down to avoid the extra trips.
I loved that there were lots of different water crafts to use- rose boats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboard, and a whole shed full of floats and life vests. Everything was clean and pleasant.
Izza ś.
3 years on Hipcamp
What a great spot! Our camp site (#5) was just a few steps from the lake. The provided kayaks and canoes made were super fun, and whole place had great classic summer camp vibes. Shade was limited, so maybe bring a tarp if you’re not in one of the cabins
Clay K.
4 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2024
Tent · Group trip ·
#2/Volunteers/lower
This place is great! The attendants and fellow campers were all wonderful and the lake was a treat. Highly recommend staying here!
Ryan S.
3 reviews
It was lovely, the fact that it’s a close knit campground of wonderful, the lake is private so you get to share it only with those who are also on the campground, acouple kids summer camps along the banks of the same lake but didn’t have to interact with the people on those spots, the kayaks and paddle boards available is an amazing touch, it is camping, so don’t get any fantastical ideas about it being clean and proper, don’t imagine a house shower or toilet, it is camping! And flush toilets and hot water to wash my hands was awesome! It is unfortunate because the fire alarm In our kiosk went off all night due to low battery but that is not really the fault of the host, this place might get sold, so I would love for more people do book so they do not sell! Because it really was a super cool experience, it would be awesome if they dredged the lake too!
H
Hope Layne S.
2 reviews
We had a good time at Camp Watanda. It was very quiet. The bath room was a little walk from our site but it was fine. Although the lake is very small, our dog enjoyed swimming there. There were canoes, kayaks and row boats for us to enjoy but we didn’t have the time to use it .
It’s a nice place for a little getaway.
S
Sue Q.
1 year on Hipcamp
Great spot, lake was wonderful and the kayaks, SUPs, boats all good. No complaints, we’ll be back!
B
Brandon K.
2 reviews
What an amazing stay! Our family heavily enjoyed our trip to the Watanda camp over the memorial weekend. The camp site was equipped with mattresses, a cooler, chairs, a table, cleaning supplies, and other essentials for your camping necessities. There are endless activities (kayak, boats, swimming, camping) at this site and even several areas to relax or barbecue. The site is also wonderfully kept by Katherine and completely clean. I appreciated the bathroom and shower areas when getting ready for bed and activities in the morning. Our family will be back for gatherings year round, thank you Katherine!
R
Rosalba S.
1 year on Hipcamp
Such a beautiful getaway. The site is owned by a lovely welcoming family. The lake is beautiful and Camp Watanda provides so much -- boats, kayaks, paddles, life jackets, firewood, drinking water. We brought our dog who loved swimming in the lake. Thanks for a great weekend!
C
Carson T.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2023
15 ft campervan ·
#5/Waterfront RV site
kathryn was responsive & super helpful. i had an extremely last minute booking with a couple special requests & she was quick to respond & accommodate everything i needed. it’s off-season so the lake is low…but for me - it was perfect. i just needed a quiet place under the stars with my dogs. Oh, S. Yuba State Park is less than 15 minutes down the road…just keep in mind that it’s a gravel and very rough road… But that was a wonderful surprise to enjoy as well. thanks for a great stay kathryn! cheers!
Dustin B.
9 reviews
Recommends
· October 2023
22 ft campervan ·
#5/Waterfront RV site
We loved camping here! The lake was beautiful and quiet. We had a lovely time. Rachel up at the house visited and was very friendly and welcoming.
Valerie C.
2 reviews
Came to Kathryn’s land with my family and some of my sons friends to celebrate his birthday. The kiosks felt safe and were very roomy. Plenty of seating and places to put mattresses. We didn’t put up tents. Just slept in the covered space. Loved the ability to check our selves in. Was happy to be provided with bug spray at the kiosk as we had forgotten to bring any. With only a handful of sites it felt like we had the place to ourselves. Thank you for having us!
Bekie W.
3 reviews
Had a great time at Camp Watanda! The area is just beautiful! We stayed in volunteers 2 and loved how close to the lake it was. It was so nice to have the canoes and kayaks to use during our stay. The lake is full of wildlife and I even saw deer while kayaking. There was plenty of space to cook and hangout. We look forward to visiting again, Thank you for having us!
Bekie W.
3 reviews
Recommends
· August 2023
Tent ·
#2/Volunteers/lower
There are many amenities that make the camping experience less harsh, running water, toilets, showers, wifi...we chose to build our tent inside the yeart/lean-to. This kept us outta the suprise rain shower!! Host very helpful, with many supplies on hand if you forget something...nit to mention kayaks and canoes!
Aaron M.
2 years on Hipcamp
Nice quiet place to stay. We enjoyed kayaking on the lake, the campfire, and the star gazing. Marley had the perfect amount of space for our tent and camping equipment and we felt safe and comfortable leaving our campsite for a few hours. There other guests were incredibly kind and inviting but also respectful of the noise level and privacy.
F
Frank D.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2023
20 ft campervan · With kids ·
#5/Waterfront RV site
The camp is lovely in a sweet non-public lake/ pond shared with 3 other camps. We had a choice of various canoes, kayaks and even some kid kayaks. Our son learned to kayak thanks to these! The fire pit was well located and has a nice functional design with plenty of seasoned fire wood for an easy campfire. The host was accommodating when we encountered an issue with our chosen location and recommended a different spot for us.
Michael A.
21 reviews
Location
Nevada City, Nevada, California, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Kathryn M.
Joined in March 2021Response rate: 100%Response time: Within an hour
Things to do nearby
Similar campgrounds nearby
Campers also viewed...
Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.