U.S. Forest Service · Sierra National Forest · Lakeshore, CA

College

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.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov10 sites39 ft maxPets okFires okTents only

More like this: reservable in California · tent only in California · pets allowed in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
COLLEGE site 7COLLEGE signCOLLEGE mapCOLLEGE site 9
Photos courtesy of CLM · Recreation.gov
4fires
active
Dome · 33 mi away · 6,788 acres
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Tent-only10
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

10 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
001Back-in34PavedPartialLakefront6 / 2YesYes
002Back-in34PavedPartialLakefront6 / 2Yes
003Back-in29PavedFullLakefront12 / 4Yes
004Back-in22PavedPartialLakefront6 / 2YesYes
005Back-in28PavedPartialLakefront12 / 4Yes
006Back-in29PavedPartialLakefront6 / 2Yes
007Back-in33PavedPartialLakefront6 / 2Yes
008Back-in30PavedPartialLakefront6 / 2Yes
009Back-in36PavedPartialLakefront6 / 2Yes
010Back-in39PavedPartialLakefront6 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

Max vehicle length39 ft
EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySites 001, 004 are listed accessible

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.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonJune to September
ForestSierra National Forest
BookingReservations through the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) @ 1-877-444-6777 or www.recreation.gov
Fees$44.00 per night, per single site $87.00 per night, per double site $10 per night, per additional vehicle. During holidays fees increase $2 per site.
RulesMaximum length of stay=14 days Maximum vehicle length=30' Maximum group size=6 per site Reservations must be made at least 3 days in advance. 2 night minimum on weekends. 3 night minimum on holidays. Reservations are non-site specific.

Sierra National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near College30°40°50°60°70°January: 8.47 inches of precipitationFebruary: 7.80 inches of precipitationMarch: 6.80 inches of precipitationApril: 4.02 inches of precipitationMay: 2.42 inches of precipitationJune: 0.71 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.66 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.10 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.40 inches of precipitationOctober: 2.29 inches of precipitationNovember: 3.92 inches of precipitationDecember: 6.82 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 33.6°F averageFebruary: 33.8°F averageMarch: 36.1°F averageApril: 39.5°F averageMay: 46.0°F averageJune: 54.2°F averageJuly: 61.4°F averageAugust: 61.7°F averageSeptember: 55.9°F averageOctober: 47.4°F averageNovember: 39.9°F averageDecember: 34.7°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 in10 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Huntington Lake, 3 miles from the campground at 7,020 feet, station USC00044176 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 44 inches a year.

Getting there

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.

Nearest townLakeshore, California
Coordinates37.2525° N, 119.1703° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

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.).

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Dome

    33 mi from the campground · 6,788 acres · 95% contained

  • Prescribed
    Grant Grove Rx Spring

    36 mi from the campground · 15 acres

  • Prescribed
    Grant Grove Fall Rx

    36 mi from the campground

  • Wildfire
    Land

    42 mi from the campground · 20 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗11.9 mi
Outdoor gearCaptain Jack's Tackle ↗13 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Cherry Hill Park, College Park, Maryland - Campground Review

Worth a stop

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.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.5 mi
    Huntington Shore ↗
    3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.5 mi
    Potter Creek
    3.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.5 mi
    Huntintgon ↗
    8.3 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 0.5 mi
    Kaiser Pass ↗
    16 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 0.6 mi
    Rancheria
    0.8 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
  • 0.8 mi
    China Peak
    1.7 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Kaiser Wilderness, which overlaps Sierra National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

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.

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.

Guidebooks for California

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at College?

Sites at College are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations through the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) @ 1-877-444-6777 or www.recreation.gov Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at College?

$44.00 per night, per single site $87.00 per night, per double site $10 per night, per additional vehicle. During holidays fees increase $2 per site.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at College?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at College?

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

Source: Charges and cancellations

Is College open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season June to September.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does College have?

10 sites, including 10 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at College?

The longest site here provides 39 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are there showers or a dump station at College?

A pay phone, limited drinking water, and both vault and flush toilets are provided.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at College?

Yes, pets are allowed at College. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at College?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Maximum length of stay=14 days Maximum vehicle length=30' Maximum group size=6 per site Reservations must be made at least 3 days in advance.

Source: Fire nearby

Are there accessible sites at College?

Sites 001 and 004 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at College?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G and AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map