Manzanita Lake Camping Cabins (CA)

Mike & AJ the camp hosts went above and beyond to help make our stay more comfortable.

Mike & AJ the camp hosts went above and beyond to help make our stay more comfortable.

Our anniversary stay was simply amazing, the cabins are perfect for a quiet getaway. Views are tremendous, plenty of hiking and exploring to be had and the night reveals SO MANY stars. The staff are always a pleasure to talk to and they do a fantastic job maintaining the facilities. Overall an amazing experience!

Our anniversary stay was simply amazing, the cabins are perfect for a quiet getaway. Views are tremendous, plenty of hiking and exploring to be had and the night reveals SO MANY stars. The staff are always a pleasure to talk to and they do a fantastic job maintaining the facilities. Overall an amazing experience!

Admittedly, this was the first time I had ever been to a campground. I discovered there are lots of campfires in a campground! Not the best situation for someone with asthma. Would love to see either a limitation on duration of campfires or on the amount permitted. Firewood is for sale for $14 per bundle, and it is discouraged to bring your own firewood from elsewhere, so as to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.
The cafe seemed to run out of things and not resupply quickly. Don't count on the laundromat change machine working. Sometimes the cafe has quarters for the showers and sometimes it doesn't. The showers were not as bad as some reviewers mentioned. Each shower has a small dressing room behind the curtain. Plus, there is a heater in each one. Peak hot water use is from 4 to 7 p.m., but I always found there was hot water for me.
We stayed in the cabins, which are very clean and new-is. Each cabin had a picnic table, bear box, and fire pit. The bed pads seemed adequate at first, but they did compress under our weight after a few minutes. We highly recommend that you bring extra bed padding. My partner also had the foresight to uproot one of our solar garden lights to add to the single LED Lantern they provide, which tended to dim quickly. Headlamps are also a good idea for the walk to the restrooms before bed . We think there might have been two water spigots for the 20 cabins, and the water was good tasting.
Manzanita lake is gorgeous. Easy hours walk around it. Animals are very active at sunrise and sunset of course. Must do in the park is Kings Creek Falls. Worth visiting the visitor center at the Southwest entrance. They have Wi-Fi, snacks and coffee there. Great drive on Highway 89 as well. You'll go by bubbling mud pots and thermal vents.

Admittedly, this was the first time I had ever been to a campground. I discovered there are lots of campfires in a campground! Not the best situation for someone with asthma. Would love to see either a limitation on duration of campfires or on the amount permitted. Firewood is for sale for $14 per bundle, and it is discouraged to bring your own firewood from elsewhere, so as to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.
The cafe seemed to run out of things and not resupply quickly. Don't count on the laundromat change machine working. Sometimes the cafe has quarters for the showers and sometimes it doesn't. The showers were not as bad as some reviewers mentioned. Each shower has a small dressing room behind the curtain. Plus, there is a heater in each one. Peak hot water use is from 4 to 7 p.m., but I always found there was hot water for me.
We stayed in the cabins, which are very clean and new-is. Each cabin had a picnic table, bear box, and fire pit. The bed pads seemed adequate at first, but they did compress under our weight after a few minutes. We highly recommend that you bring extra bed padding. My partner also had the foresight to uproot one of our solar garden lights to add to the single LED Lantern they provide, which tended to dim quickly. Headlamps are also a good idea for the walk to the restrooms before bed . We think there might have been two water spigots for the 20 cabins, and the water was good tasting.
Manzanita lake is gorgeous. Easy hours walk around it. Animals are very active at sunrise and sunset of course. Must do in the park is Kings Creek Falls. Worth visiting the visitor center at the Southwest entrance. They have Wi-Fi, snacks and coffee there. Great drive on Highway 89 as well. You'll go by bubbling mud pots and thermal vents.

Staff was friendly and the cabins clean. Great view.

Staff was friendly and the cabins clean. Great view.

I need to bring an air mattress or something else because even with a sleeping bag the mattress hurt my back.

I need to bring an air mattress or something else because even with a sleeping bag the mattress hurt my back.