Book These Boat-In Campsites (Before It's Too Late)

If being crammed onto a postage-sized lot and listening to RVers blare music until 2 a.m. isn't your idea of a relaxing getaway, you'll love these remote and scenic boat-in campgrounds. While it's a bit more work (read: adventure) to reach these secluded campgrounds, on arrival you'll be rewarded with lakefront views, private lots, and stunning scenery. So what are you waiting for? Load the cooler, pack the tent, and look over the outboard — it's time to go boat camping!

Cultus Lake is a 2-mile-long natural glacier-formed lake in the high Cascade Range. Located 48 miles southwest of Bend, Oregon, in the Deschutes National Forest, it offers spectacular pacific northwest scenery complete with towering ponderosa pines, snow capped mountains, and expansive lake views.

The lake is popular for water skiing, windsurfing, swimming, sailing, and jet skiing and is one of the few lakes in the area that allows high speed motorized watercraft. It's also known for producing trophy size lake trout.

There are three boat-in only campgrounds at the north end of the lake — Big Cove Campground, Little Cove Campground, and West Campground. The 22 rustic campsites include campfire rings, picnic tables, and tent pads. Sites cost $13.70 per night and can be reserved at Recreation.gov.

Lake Sonoma, California

Nestled in coastal foothills, just two hours from San Francisco, Lake Sonoma is sheer boating bliss. Surrounded by vineyards and rolling hills, the lake's winding arms offer great places to explore, water ski, and fish. Anglers reel in smallmouth bass, catfish, sunfish, and rainbow trout.

With nearly 100 boat-in campsites, you can choose to be near the ski-zone action or in a secluded spot perfect for fishing or swimming. Campsites come with campfire rings and picnic tables. Sites cost $20 a night and can be booked at Recreation.gov.

Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Utah

With a whopping 360 miles of shoreline, the Flaming Gorge Reservoir has long been a popular destination with Utah boaters looking to beat the summer heat. The cool waters make for excellent fish habitat. Flaming Gorge Reservoir is known for trophy-size lake trout and also has populations of rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee salmon, and smallmouth bass.

The reservoir boasts three full-service marinas, nine boat ramps, and four boat-only campgrounds — Jarvies Canyon (eight sites), Gooseneck (six sites), Kingfisher Island (eight sites), and Hideout Canyon (18 sites). The latter was named for a hiding spot used by Butch Cassidy and his gang. The sites are forested with pinyon pine and juniper and have scenic partial or full views of the reservoir and surrounding red cliffs for which the reservoir was named. Amenities vary from site to site and include sheltered cabanas and picnic tables, campfire rings, private docks, flush toilets, and water hydrants. Standard family sites are $24 a night and can be booked at Recreation.gov.

Indian Lake, New York

Indian Lake offers some of the best boating and wilderness camping in the Adirondacks. Powerboats, rowboats, and canoes, ply the waters of this 14-mile lake. Anglers will find lake trout, rock bass, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, and brown trout among other species.

Indian Lake Islands campground has 55 boat-in sites on the island and lakeshore. All of the generously-sized campsites are forested and offer ample privacy. Amenities include fire rings, picnic tables, and pit toilets. Sites cost $20 per night and can be booked at ReserveAmerica.com. If you forget camping supplies or run out of beer, The Lake Store in Sabael offers all the necessities.

Lake Jocassee, South Carolina

The cool, clear waters of spring-fed Lake Jocassee in Devils Fork State Park beckon to boaters and anglers alike. The 7,500-acre reservoir in Oconee County is 6 miles from Salem, South Carolina. Take-in beautiful waterfalls on an afternoon cruise or cast a line in some of South Carolina's best trout fishing waters.

The newly renovated and expanded Double Springs boat-in campground has 25 boat-in campsites that have been spaced out around a bay for a more secluded experience. Each site includes a tent pad and fire ring and costs $40 per night. Reserve by calling (866) 345-7275.