U.S. Forest Service · Sierra National Forest · California

Swanson Campground

Shaded by dense pine trees, Swanson Campground is located near the town of Shaver Lake. Paved and dirt roads provide access to the campground. There is a vault toilet and each site has a table, fire ring and grill. A Campground Host is also on site. Visitors can experience a wide variety of recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and hiking at nearby Shaver Lake.

Closed for the seasonFirst-come, first-servedFrom $32 per nightTents only

More like this: first-come in California · tent only in California

Swanson Campground
Photo from the area. Pacific Southwest Region 5 (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
3fires
active
Cy26 Snf Rx Support (prescribed burn) · 7 mi away
2 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
Fees$32.00 per night, per single site $63.00 per night, per double site $10.00 per night, per additional vehicle

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
Fees$32.00 per night, per single site $63.00 per night, per double site $10.00 per night, per additional vehicle
RulesMaximum Length of stay = 14 days Maximum vehicle length = 25' Maximum group size = 6 per site

Sierra National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Swanson Campground30°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, 10 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

Coordinates37.0941° N, 119.2782° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Cy26 Snf Rx Support

    7 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Grant Grove Fall Rx

    29 mi from the campground · 466 acres

  • Prescribed
    Three Creeks Rx/Support Season

    47 mi from the campground

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

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearShaver Lake Sports ↗2.4 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗2.7 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗58.7 mi

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

Explore

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.7 mi
    Swanee
    1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 2.5 mi
    Summit Creek
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD and 1 more
  • 4.1 mi
    Tower
    0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 4.1 mi
    Deadman'S Curve
    0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 4.1 mi
    Bend
    0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 4.2 mi
    Bald Mountain T29
    0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more

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 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 →

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 Swanson Campground?

No. Swanson Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Swanson Campground?

$32.00 per night, per single site $63.00 per night, per double site $10.00 per night, per additional vehicle

Source: Forest Service

Is Swanson Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 26, 2026. Season June to September.

Source: Forest Service status

Can I bring an RV to Swanson Campground?

Swanson Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Swanson Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Dorabelle Campground (2.2 mi), Bretz Mill Campground (4.4 mi, first-come), and Dinkey Creek (6.9 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby