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Loafer Creek Recreation Area

Loafer Creek is a campground, launch ramp and day-use area of Lake Oroville State Recreation Area, 9.5 miles east on Highway 162. The Coyote Campground has 137 sites, and there are group sites and a horse camp. It is one of the two designated swimming areas at the lake. Checked October 29, 2026 on the operator’s own pages.

From Chico: about 55 min (typical, without traffic)

137 sitesCoyote Campground
6, up to 25 peopleGroup sites
15 sitesHorse camp
100Picnic sites

Plan It in Three Lines

  • Get thereFrom Chico: about 55 min, typical, without traffic. Address: Loafer Creek Road (off Hwy 162), Oroville, CA 95966.
  • WhenDay use 8 a.m. to sunset; campgrounds open 24 hours (park-wide hours).
  • CostLake Oroville SRA lists vehicle day use at $8.00 and boat launch at $5.00.

Key Facts

  • Loafer Creek is reached by going 9.5 miles east on Highway 162 to Loafer Creek and turning left into the park.[1]
  • The Coyote Campground has 137 sites for tents or trailers up to 31 feet and campers or motorhomes up to 40 feet, with no hookups.[2]
  • Drinking water, restrooms, coin-operated showers, laundry tubs, a launch ramp and an RV sanitation station are nearby.[2]
  • Six group sites hold up to 25 people each, with a limit of eight vehicles per site.[2]
  • Loafer Creek Horse Camp has 15 campsites, an accessible restroom with showers, pipe corrals, and horse exercise and washing stations.[2]
  • The Loafer Creek Area has a seasonal swim beach and a lawn area with 100 picnic sites.[2]
  • Loafer Creek and the North Forebay are the only designated swimming areas at the lake; lifeguard service is seasonal only.[2]
  • The turf and beach areas of Loafer Creek are closed to dogs.[5]
  • Floating campsite check-in is currently at the Loafer Creek Kiosk, (530) 538-2217.[1]
  • The Loafer Point Stage 2 launch ramp was listed as open, and the ramp is open 24/7.[4]
  • The Coyote Campground has seven accessible campsites (#3, #42, #43, #45, #47, #48, #51).[3]
  • The campfire center has accessible seating and offers assistive listening devices.[3]

Areas Inside Loafer Creek Recreation Area

  • Coyote Campground

    137 sites, no hookups.[2]

  • Loafer Creek Horse Camp

    15 campsites with pipe corrals.[2]

  • Loafer Creek Group Campground

    Six group sites, up to 25 people each.[2]

Plan Your Visit

WhatAs the operator states it
Run byCalifornia State Parks (Lake Oroville State Recreation Area)
AddressLoafer Creek Road (off Hwy 162), Oroville, CA 95966
Drive from ChicoAbout 55 min, typical, without traffic (Google Maps, plus 10 minutes, rounded)
HoursDay use 8 a.m. to sunset; campgrounds open 24 hours (park-wide hours).[1]
SeasonSwim beach is seasonal; camping reservations recommended from late spring through Labor Day.[2]
FeesLake Oroville SRA lists vehicle day use at $8.00 and boat launch at $5.00.[1]
DogsTurf and beach areas at Loafer Creek are closed to dogs; dogs are allowed in campgrounds, parking lots and paved roads.[5]
RestroomsRestrooms and coin-operated showers near the campground.[2]
AccessibilitySeven accessible campsites in Coyote Campground with nearby accessible restrooms and showers; accessible horse camp sites.[3]
Camping137 family sites, 6 group sites and a 15-site horse camp; no hookups at Coyote Campground.[2]
BoatingLaunch ramp at Loafer Creek/Loafer Point, open 24/7, subject to lake level.[4]
SwimmingDesignated swimming area with a seasonal swim beach; lifeguard service seasonal only.[2]
ReservationsReserve all campsites at ReserveCalifornia.com.[2]
Phone(530) 538-2217[1]
Official pageCalifornia State Parks (Lake Oroville State Recreation Area)

Hours at a Glance

Day use8 a.m. to sunset
CampgroundsOpen 24 hours

Season, as printed: Swim beach is seasonal; camping reservations recommended from late spring through Labor Day.

Bars are drawn from the hours printed in Plan Your Visit below; a faded or dashed bar means the page prints sunrise or sunset, not a clock time. Today is outlined.

Admission, Side by Side

Vehicle day use$8
Boat launch$5

As the operator prints it: Lake Oroville SRA lists vehicle day use at $8.00 and boat launch at $5.00.

Dogs

Turf and beach areas at Loafer Creek are closed to dogs; dogs are allowed in campgrounds, parking lots and paved roads.

Map of Loafer Creek Recreation Area

The pin uses the coordinates the operator prints. © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions

Around Loafer Creek Recreation Area

2 mi4 mi6 mi8 miN123456
  1. Bidwell Canyon Marina: 0.7 miles northwest
  2. Oroville Dam Overlooks and Visitor Center: 1.2 miles northwest
  3. Feather River Fish Hatchery: 5.6 miles west
  4. Oroville State Theatre: 5.9 miles west
  5. Downtown Oroville and the Riverfront: 6.1 miles west
  6. Oroville Chinese Temple: 6.3 miles west

The yellow dot is this place. Rings are spaced so close places do not pile up, and a numbered badge may sit slightly off its true spot (a thin line ends at the true spot). Distances are straight-line miles worked out from the map points each page prints; they are not drive times or walking routes.

What We Could Not Verify

These items were not on an official page we could open on October 29, 2026, or two official pages disagree. Check with the operator before you rely on them.

  • Not confirmedNightly campsite fees
  • Not confirmedExact swim beach and lifeguard season dates
  • Not confirmedReserveCalifornia listing details
  • Not confirmedWhether 2018 brochure site counts are current

More in Oroville & Lake Oroville

All of Oroville & Lake OrovilleFeather River Fish HatcheryOroville Wildlife AreaDowntown Oroville and the RiverfrontLime Saddle MarinaBidwell Canyon MarinaOroville Dam Overlooks and Visitor CenterLake Oroville State Recreation AreaOroville Chinese TempleOroville State TheatreAll Places

Coming Up in Oroville & Lake Oroville

11 events are on our calendar for Oroville & Lake Oroville in the next 45 days. 1 is listed as free by the organizer; 1 is marked Not confirmed because we could not confirm it on the organizer’s page yet. This list rebuilds itself every day at midnight, Pacific time.

October 2026

November 2026

December 2026

Sources: each card links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we checked it. This list shows the next 45 days; see every upcoming event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Loafer Creek have hookups?

No. The brochure says Coyote Campground sites have no hookups. An RV sanitation station is available.[2]

Can you swim at Loafer Creek?

Yes. Loafer Creek has a seasonal swim beach and is one of two designated swimming areas at the lake.[2]

Are dogs allowed at Loafer Creek beach?

No. State Parks says the turf and beach areas of Loafer Creek are closed to dogs.[5]

Sources

  1. Lake Oroville State Recreation Area, California State Parks. Read October 29, 2026.
  2. Lake Oroville State Recreation Area park brochure (Rev. 2018, PDF), California State Parks. Read October 29, 2026.
  3. Accessible Features at Lake Oroville SRA, California State Parks. Read October 29, 2026.
  4. Current Launch Ramp Status, California State Parks. Read October 29, 2026.
  5. About the Park (Lake Oroville SRA), California State Parks. Read October 29, 2026.

Cite this page: “Loafer Creek Recreation Area.” It’s Chico, checked October 29, 2026. https://itschico.com/oroville/loafer-creek/

Coming Up Here

No dated event at Loafer Creek Recreation Area is on our calendar right now. We list a date only after reading it on the organizer’s own page, so an empty list means not listed yet, not that nothing is happening. See every upcoming event.

On The Map

9 places named on this page are pinned. Tap a pin for the page and directions. Dashed pins were placed from the street address and are approximate. © OpenStreetMap contributors.