Dora Belle Campground
Shaver Lake, California · on Shaver Lake · Sierra National Forest
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Dora Belle Campground
Dorabelle Campground is a U.S. Forest Service campground in Sierra National Forest, perched above Shaver Lake near the town of Shaver Lake, California. Recreation.gov's official listing for the campground designates a swimming site at the lake, giving campers a built-in swimming hole and a lake to swim in alongside boating, fishing, and hiking.
The campground sits above Shaver Lake, a 2,177-acre reservoir at 5,500 feet elevation in the Sierra National Forest (Fresno County), created and managed by Southern California Edison as part of its hydroelectric system. Campsites are described by the Forest Service as shaded by fir, cedar, and pine, with some sites more open and offering lake views.
Swimming at Dora Belle Campground
Recreation.gov's official campground page lists a designated swimming site at Shaver Lake associated with Dorabelle Campground, alongside boating (boats can be moored nearby), fishing, hiking, and other water sports. No first-hand accounts describing water depth, bottom conditions, or water clarity were found.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Clovis: take Highway 168 north for 49 miles to the town of Shaver Lake, then turn right on Dorabelle Road and go 0.5 miles to the campground (per Recreation.gov).
Parking: Each campsite has its own dirt parking spur (per Recreation.gov); no separate day-use or swim-site parking area was described in sources found.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up campground with a swim site directly on Shaver Lake; no trail or hike is needed. Recreation.gov/fs.usda.gov describe a designated swimming site with campsites offering direct or near-direct lake access, and a Dyrt review states most sites sit within a five-minute walk of the water/cove.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Multiple Dyrt reviewers call Dorabelle a 'perfect family campground' with a protected cove described as 'wonderful for swimming' and 'perfect for relaxing with kids,' reachable by a short walk from most sites. Caution warranted because Shaver Lake itself hosts motorized boating, water skiing, and jet skiing (per Recreation.gov/Wikipedia), so swimmers should stay close to the sheltered cove rather than the open lake.
Parking
Paid, $48/night single site, $95/night double site (per fs.usda.gov); +$10/night per additional untowed vehicle, +$2 holiday surcharge
Each campsite has its own dirt parking spur (one vehicle included in the site fee); there is no separate day-use/swim-only parking area described in any source. Access roads are narrow and one-way, and Dyrt reviewers advise against large trailers/RVs. Max vehicle length 40 ft (fs.usda.gov).
Restrooms
Yes
Vault toilets at the campground (no showers or dump station). Dyrt reviewers repeatedly praised cleanliness, e.g. 'very clean, including the restrooms,' 'bathrooms were cleaned daily,' 'the cleanest I've ever seen at a campground.'
Hours
Campground season is May through September (reservable into October, per fs.usda.gov). Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM, quiet hours 10:00 PM-7:00 AM.
On the water
Recreation.gov and Wikipedia both list Shaver Lake as supporting motorized boating, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, jet skiing, windsurfing, and sailing; Recreation.gov's Dorabelle listing also notes boats can be moored near campsites. No no-wake zone, electric-only, or carry-in-only restriction was found in sources reviewed.
Rentals nearby
Pontoon boats (16-24 ft, 4-12 passengers), fishing boats, WaveRunners/jet skis, kayaks (1- and 2-person), canoes, stand-up paddleboards, paddleboats
Prices: Kayak $30/hr (1-person), $35/hr (2-person); canoe $40/hr; SUP $35/hr; pontoon boats from $205 (2 hrs, 4-passenger) up to $720 (all day, 12-passenger premium); jet ski from $175-$325 (2 hrs) up to $590 (all day)
42698 Tollhouse Road, Shaver Lake, CA 93664, inside Camp Edison (Bikini Cove area), roughly across the lake from Dorabelle Campground · 7:00 AM-6:00 PM daily, seasonal April 15-October 15
Jet skis/WaveRunners, competition ski boats, pontoon boats (8, 10, or 11 passenger), water toys. No kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards listed.
45795 Tollhouse Rd, Shaver Lake, CA 93664; a California's Best Camping page describes Dorabelle as about half a mile from Sierra Marina · 8:00 AM-6:00 PM daily unless otherwise posted; 2026 season opens April 24
Jet skis, canoes, Malibu ski boats, fishing boats, Sun Tracker pontoon boats, one- and two-person kayaks, paddle boats
Day-use area on Highway 168, described as 'right before The Point' restaurant/landmark on the lake
What regulars say
Visitor reports (Dyrt campground reviews, r/fresno) describe Dorabelle's swim cove as calm, protected, and family-friendly, with comfortable summer water temperatures and most sites within about a five-minute walk of the water; one r/fresno poster specifically mentioned using 'the beach at the campsite.' The same reviews flag peak-season crowding and noise ('partiers non-stop, even after camp hosts made their rounds' on busy weekends) and recommend booking well ahead in summer. No visitor comments on water clarity/murkiness were located.
Dora Belle Campground: FAQ
Does Dora Belle Campground charge a fee?
Campground camping fees apply, with an additional nightly charge for extra vehicles collected on-site; specific dollar rates were not shown on the source page.
Is Dora Belle Campground kid friendly?
Multiple Dyrt reviewers call Dorabelle a 'perfect family campground' with a protected cove described as 'wonderful for swimming' and 'perfect for relaxing with kids,' reachable by a short walk from most sites. Caution warranted because Shaver Lake itself hosts motorized boating, water skiing, and jet skiing (per Recreation.gov/Wikipedia), so swimmers should stay close to the sheltered cove rather than the open lake.
Do I need to hike to reach Dora Belle Campground?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Dora Belle Campground?
Each campsite has its own dirt parking spur (one vehicle included in the site fee); there is no separate day-use/swim-only parking area described in any source. Access roads are narrow and one-way, and Dyrt reviewers advise against large trailers/RVs. Max vehicle length 40 ft (fs.usda.gov).
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Dora Belle Campground?
Recreation.gov and Wikipedia both list Shaver Lake as supporting motorized boating, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, jet skiing, windsurfing, and sailing; Recreation.gov's Dorabelle listing also notes boats can be moored near campsites. No no-wake zone, electric-only, or carry-in-only restriction was found in sources reviewed.
What are the rules at Dora Belle Campground?
Fire restrictions may be imposed during hot, dry conditions; food must be stored in bear-resistant containers or locked vehicles due to bear activity in the area (per Recreation.gov).
What water body is Dora Belle Campground on?
Dora Belle Campground is on Shaver Lake, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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