Beals Point SRA (Campground Review)

       Today we will share our thoughts on Beals Point Campground. The campground ranks up there as one of the nicer campgrounds, and we recommend you check it out if you are planning to camp in the area.
       For more pics, come check out the "outtakes" on this Photo Friday post!

You will find nicely sized, shaded campsites at Beals Point SRA Campground

Overview:

       Beals Point is a California State Recreation Area that is located at Folsom Lake in Granite Bay, CA, just outside the capitol city of Sacramento. Folsom Lake has a few different day use areas, boat launch sites, and campgrounds. The Peninsula Campground is a remote campground on the eastern side of the lake. Negro Bar, to the south of the lake, offers group camping, and Beals Point, the more popular campground on Folsom Lake, is on the western side of the lake.

              Beals Point sports a bustling day use area of the Folsom Lake. The campground is nestled in a natural setting just a short walk to and from the lake. While most tent sites have room enough to accommodate an RV or trailer, there are no hook-ups in the main camping area. There is a small RV camping section; however, near the main gate.

Beals Point, located at Folsom Lake, has a large day use swim and beach area.

       Enjoy the day use beach at Beals Point with a large swim area,  and ample BBQ and picnic spots. There are restrooms and seasonal concessions and small boat (paddle boats, etc) rentals. There are a few good hiking trails throughout the campground and a widely used bike trail. There is not a boat launch at Beals point, but Granite Bay (which features its own day use beach) is only about a 10 minute drive away, and has ample boat launching ramps.

Camping:

       While there are no lake views from the campground, camping at Beals Point has its own charm. Just beware of the "squirrel mafia". Yes. I said it. The squirrels will waste no time moving in on your campsite and claiming the territory as their own. This means that they will chew through your belongings and steal your food, leaving your campsite looking like .... well... like a gang of squirrels tore through there! So, especially if you plan to enjoy some time away from your site for the day, keep your belongings picked up and your food packed safely away. Oh, and make sure you zip your tent!

       Now, what was I saying? Oh yeah... the campground. The camp sites each have a picnic table and fire ring with a cooking grate. Water is nearby, and so are garbage bins. The bathrooms are better than many campgrounds. There are both private restrooms and private (pay) showers. Restrooms are cleaned every morning. You may get a visitor or two, though. We have seen frogs and various bugs and spiders in and near the restrooms, so don't let them surprise you.

This little frog was waiting to greet us at the restroom door!

       As with any natural area, there are some some things you need to be cautious about. Park staff is pretty good about keeping poison oak out of the campsites, but it does grow near the hiking trails, so be on the lookout. There is also an occasional siting of rattlesnakes. If you see one, DO NOT try to catch it. Call the park rangers, and they will re-locate them. You may also see skunks and other little critters roaming around. Aside from the squirrels, though, I would have to say that the mosquitoes are the most prominent pests. I swear that they use the aroma of citronella oil as a beacon to tell them where the "food" is, so a repellent containing DEET may be your best bet.

This hiking trail leads to a group meeting area near, what we affectionately refer to as "the giant pine cone tree".

       Evenings are usually pretty mellow, and most of the time, campers abide by the quiet time hours. If you experience particularly annoying camping neighbors, don't hesitate to call the rangers.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• close to stores and shopping
• lots of shade
• most tent sites have flat areas for the tent placement
• clean, private restrooms
• hot, private, pay showers
• good-sized tent sites
• nice day use beach
• lots of recreational options

Cons:

• occasional rattlesnake sightings
• pesky mosquitoes
• militant squirrels

BEALS POINT AT A GLANCE
  Beals Point Granite Bay, CA 95746 38°43'09.3"N 121°10'30.2"W

FEATURES	Y/N	COST	NOTES
Day Use	Y	$12
Tent Camping	Y	$33	$33 peak; $28 non-peak
RV Camping	Y	$58	$58 peak; $48 non-peak
Extra Vehicle	Y	$12	Campers allowed an extra vehicle at Day Use fee.
Check in/out Time	Noon/2p
Electric Hookups	Y		17 hookup sites are dedicated exclusively for RV use
Sewer Hookups	call
Water	Y		Shared water faucets are available throughout the park
Dump Station	Y	Free*	*$12 for non-registered campers
Restrooms	Y		Private restrooms
Showers	Y	25¢	Private quarter pay showers with hot water
# of Campsites	62		17 RV/trailer only; 26 standard; 19 tent only
Store	N		Shopping nearby; seasonal concessions in day use area
Lodge	N
Recreation	Y		Hiking, Biking, Boating, Swimming, BBQ/picnic, fishing
Wildlife	Y		squirrels, skunks, and other critters; birds, hawks, snakes
Setting			Wooded campground, a short walk from lake and beach
Use Limits	Y		30 camping days per year

While in the area:

While in the area, there may be a few things you would like to check out. Here is a short list of some of the many sites to see:

• Folsom Dam
• Downtown Sutter Street (Downtown Folsom)
• Folsom Zoo Sanctuary
• Nimbus Fish Hatchery
• Folsom Premium Outlets
• Rafting on the American River 

Have you been to Beals Point Campground? If so, we would love to hear your thoughts about it! Please share in a comment, below!