The best camping near South Yuba River State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next South Yuba River State Park adventure.

Enjoy swimming holes, rugged canyons, trails, and historic sites at this scenic river corridor park.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near South Yuba River State Park

Top-rated campgrounds near South Yuba River State Park

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TerraSol

2 sites · Lodging40 acres · Nevada City, CA

I’ve had the pleasure to be the “caretaker” of this special land once inhabited by the Maidu Indians for the past 43 years. This is SPECIAL ground here and I’m sure you will feel the MAGIC!!! This 40 acres sits on the Yuba River Ridgetop. At the "Platform of Pleasure" you will enjoy 100,000+ acre views of protected land looking North to the High Sierra, minutes away from downtown Nevada City and 8-10 miles from Yuba River Trailheads. Firewood bundles are $15 per bundle (2+ hours of campfire when campfires 🔥 are allowed). There is a $10.00 dog fee per dog/per stay. On our property like anywhere in the woods there are mosquitos, so you should bring bug spray. We offer a tent platform, as well as a canvas tent listing. Guests love staying here: "From the moment we arrived Chris was nothing but amazing. He helped us get settled in and even recommended some beautiful spots to hike/sight see. They are both so generous! The campsite beautiful and they did a very nice job supplying us with any materials we may need. Definitely coming back during the summer!"

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Rough And Ready Sunset Ranch

2 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Rough And Ready, CA

Welcome to our rustic spot nestled amidst woods, boulders, and a serene creek! Here, you'll share 10 acres with a few fellow campers and be greeted by the company of many deer. With beautiful blue skies above, tranquility and privacy abound as you immerse yourself in the towering oaks, pines, and majestic Manzanitas that surround you. Conveniently located, you're just 10 minutes away from downtown Grass Valley and a mere 15-minute drive to downtown Nevada City. Here, you'll discover exceptional wine, craft beer, and delectable cuisine in both charming old mining towns. Come experience the beauty and charm of our slice of wilderness, while still being close to the delights of these historic communities!

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Windsong Ridge Village

5 sites · RVs, Tents25 acres · North San Juan, CA

Welcome to Windsong Ridge, an evolving homestead on 25 acres of oak, pine, and manzanita woodland about 30 minutes outside of the historic gold rush towns of Grass Valley and Nevada City in Nevada County, CA. The property overlooks the iconic South Yuba River canyon and is 100% solar-powered and off grid with excellent cell coverage (Verizon and T-Mobile). Come be serenaded by the wind chimes throughout the property. Enjoy sitting by a fire and you may hear the coyotes in the distance after a day of swimming, hiking, paddling, site-seeing or attending one of the many festivals held throughout the year in town. We are at 1800 feet, therefore the summers are hot (sometimes in the triple digits), and winters are mild (snow is a surprising event at this elevation). We have developed an RV/tent site called Manzanita Rock Meadow (includes a wood-burning chiminea, composting toilet, trash, grill, and tables), with a pad for a van, RV and/or tent and plenty of room to spread out and set up camp. Hike the adjacent trails on public lands or enjoy hiking trails in the state park along the Yuba River. Bring your kayak or paddle board to Englebright Lake at any time of year. In less than two hours, you can visit Truckee, Lake Tahoe, or the Sierra Buttes/Lakes Basin areas and much more. In town you will find a variety excellent restaurants, farmers markets, live entertainment and wildly popular events throughout the year. We’ll be happy to help you plan your visit! (Start by checking out https://www.nevadacountygold.com/) We keep bags of instant light charcoal available for sale if you need it for $5. A bundle of firewood is available for $5 as well.

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In Town Camping

1 site · RV2 acres · Grass Valley, CA

Enjoy a nice nature spot close to town. The property is minutes away from Downtown Grass Valley. It’s a great spot to spent the night after a show in town, or to explore the area for a few days. If you need water and electric hookups it’s best to park near or on the cement pad. Otherwise feel free to park anywhere in the back yard. There is a small creek which is an NID ditch and chairs set up there for relaxing. For being close to town the spot has a lot of beautiful nature! It's an easy 15 minute drive to multiple lakes and river spots of Nevada County. Enjoy the beautiful nature of this area while being close to town!

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Finnon Lake Recreation Area

39 sites · RVs, Tents140 acres · Placerville, CA

*BOOK EARLY* **NO FIREWORKS OF ANY KIND ALLOWED***** DINER CLOSED EFFECTIVE JULY 5TH*** **TRAILERS AND RVs MUST USE ROCK CREEK ROAD** From Sacramento on Hwy 50: At the second stop light, Spring St./Hwy 49, turn left, heading north about 1 block to the stop sign. Turn left, staying on Hwy 49, approximately 1 mile. Turn right on Hwy 193. Travel approximately 3.1 miles to Rock Creek Road. Turn right onto Rock Creek Road and travel 8.9 miles to Finnon Lake/Frank's Diner on the Left. The campground is behind the Diner. The DINER IS CLOSED. Traveling West on 50 from Tahoe: make a right on HWY 49 traveling north. Follow the above instructions. Welcome to Finnon Lake Recreation Area! Our lovely lake offers serenity in a beautifully unique setting, nestled deep into the forest. Enjoy the scenic and exhilarating drive to our hidden gem along the South Fork of the American River- this is all for you to discover. The night skies above Finnon Lake will reveal stars unseen in most parts of California. Enjoy searching for bullfrogs, and watch the flock of Canadian Geese fly in right at sunset as the horizon blends into the watercolor sky. This private lake supports the fire protection efforts of the Mosquito Fire Protection District and the firefighters of this community. The lake is managed by volunteers of the community for the benefit of the residents The primary funding source for the Finnon Lake Restoration is the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, which was signed into law in 2004 with a mission to support “efforts that improve the environmental, economic and social well-being of the Sierra Nevada Region, its communities and the residents of California,” according to its Website. Finnon Lake is also home to a popular 18-hole disc golf course and Mosquito’s only restaurant, Frank's Diner. Enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, paddling, hiking, or biking during your stay. Potable water, picnic tables, campfire rings, and toilets on site. The property can not accommodate horses. 2 dogs per site limit. Our property is located in Placerville, California. Placerville is a charming California gold rush town named after the placer gold deposits found in its riverbeds and hills in the late 1840s. PLEASE NOTE, there is construction on the Mosquito Bridge. Expect delays, RVs/trailers must use Rock Creek Road (even if your GPS says Mosquito Road). Please message me with any questions. Please see our website: finnonrecreationarea.com for full directions. NO FIREWORKS OF ANY KIND ARE ALLOWED. Smoking is only allowed in an enclosed vehicle.

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Tranquillity Base Ranch

1 site · Lodging10 acres · Nevada City, CA

Escape the busyness of the world at our own little sanctuary conveniently located in between Grass Valley and Nevada City. Our 25ft yurt is nestled away on our 10acre ranch offering the ideal location for your next getaway to Nevada County. We are 10 min from downtown Grass Valley, 12 minutes from historic downtown Nevada City and only 15 min from the Yuba River! While enjoying some decompression on our land feel free to take a hot or cold bath outside by the sauna (great for stargazing at night) or even fire up the wood burning sauna for some relaxing and invigorating self care. You can choose to shower outside by the sauna or use the private shower next door to the yurt. Our toilet is a traditional indoor composting toilet located right outside the door from the yurt as well. -Feel like going on a stroll? Feel free to wander down to our NID where you can take a leisurely stroll on a path along the waterside. Woolman lane is also a great little stroll as well. It is a very quiet road and with friendly neighbors. The driveway to the yurt has a separate entrance so no worries about coming in too late or too early. -Our yurt has a full kitchen for all your culinary needs, including a full oven/stove. There’s a table for eating or work, chairs and shelving for any of your clothes, accessories etc. -Windows all around the yurt give tons of sunlight along with an opening skylight up top complete with a ceiling fan. -The yurt is heated by an indoor wood burning stove with wood and kindling provided. -Summer days can get very hot so be prepared by bringing an extra mister or take a dip in the Yuba only 15 min away. -Enjoy sitting outside on the patio furniture. Take a nap or read a book on the hammock while you relax in a peaceful and serene environment. -We also provide organic coffee, tea, sugar and honey. An outdoor table and a hammock will be waiting for you, too. -Plenty of parking! -No pets allowed on the land unless we pre-approve your pet first!! -This is luxury GLAMPING, not a luxury hotel. We welcome all friends from all races, religions, gender identities and backgrounds. *Quiet hours are from 12am - 7am.

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Green Mountain Farm and Campground

1 site · Lodging18 acres · Oregon House, CA

Green Mountain Farm is in Dobbins ca nestled in the pines at the treeline. Surrounded by 7 lakes and several creeks and rivers recreation is always abound. Fishing, kayaking, gold panning, wake boarding even house boat rentals are all in the neighborhood. Our pet freindly facility inclide 18 gorgeous private acres with a creek, bbq's, horseshoes, kids play area, hiking trails, and free firewood. We host Rv'ers, tent campers, van lifer's, and other travelin folk. Every Friday evening is music circle and most Saturdays is bonfire (seasonal). There are wineries, resorts and museums in the area and we are rich in gold history. Come on out and get next to nature. Wildlife is know to frequent the grounds.

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Peace in the Pines

1 site · Lodging15 acres · Nevada City, CA

Peace in the Pines is a quiet oasis located 5 minutes from Nevada City and less than 10 minutes from the Yuba River. The pictures speak for themselves. We have one campsite that includes a place for a tent, and there's an outside shower, the trailer has a stove, refrigerator, cooking equipment, a bed and flush toilet. If you're looking for a place to escape and relax with beautiful views, this is the place for you.

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Camp Watanda at Lake Vera

9 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Nevada City, CA

Camp Watanda is a retired resident camp that we have converted to a vacation rental. We have 10 acres of wooded property, with the 4 camping kiosks close to the waterfront and 1 RV site on the waterfront. The camping kiosk all have 8-10 mattresses, grilling table, picnic table, cooler, smoke alarms, rake, broom and fire extinguishers. Tents can be pitched on the elevated decks. Our waterfront has a large fire ring, 2-covered pergolas, canoes, kayaks, life jackets and charcoal grill. Lots of fish in the lake, since this is a private lake, no license is required. There is also a bathhouse (very primitive and in serious need of remodel) close by with 3 showers, 3 toilets and 3 sinks. Up by the lodge is a cell phone charging station and Wi-Fi, while we do have Wi-Fi, is not guaranteed, we are in the mountains with inconsistent connection. Lodge is not available to campers as this is rented separately. NOTE: Lake levels begin to drop in August and can be quite low in drought years. RV CAMPING: Because of the steep driveway and blind curve, we limit the vehicle length to 25 overall length. Our driveway is more suitable for RV's and Camper Vans and not Travel Trailers being towed. If you rent a kiosk, all campers must be on the same kiosk unless you rent a second kiosk. If you have a camping van and plan on using the van and the kiosk, then that is a second site. You cannot tailgate on a reservation just because the party only has 2 people on the kiosk, and you have 2 in the Van to make 4 people. These are tents sites on a Kiosk, there is parking for cars or trucks at the kiosk, not suitable for RV or Travel Trailers. Those vehicles will have to park at the waterfront parking lot. There are no refunds for cancellations within 72 hours of arrival. Camp Watanda is private property, campers assume all liability for being on site. There is no lifeguard present. This is a natural habitat for woodland animals, there is an associated risk for camping in their home. Slips, trips and falls can occur on trails, camping structures and waterfront.

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Sierra Sol Camp

11 sites · Lodging18 acres · Camptonville, CA

Welcome to Sierra Sol Camp! We have 9 different sites available to book as well as the option to book the entire property. Please scroll down to see all of the available options. Here are the sites we offer: -Sierra Sol Diva Den (cabin) -Water Tower (cabin) -Daisy Belle (canvas tent) -Rise and Shine (canvas tent) -Sierra Sol Camp Lotus (cabin) -Sierra Sol Vintage Trailer (onsite trailer) -Sierra Shipping Container Retreat (cabin) -Sierra Sol Main Cabin (cabin) -Sierra Sol Camp Whole Property (all sites) The Sierra Sol Camp project has been hosting community events and friend gathering for years. We take great pride in extending a warm and welcoming space for all our visitors and extending the invitation to campers was a great next step. We have listings ranging from yurts to shipping containers, an old water tower converted to a mini suit to a vintage trailer and canvas tents. The diva den was my old music studio and the main cabin is our family cabin. This is a magical and sacred space filled with a ton of memories please come join our community and nook in the sierras and make some more. We are based in between the middle fork of the Yuba river right where it meets up with Oregon Creek. If you like a long walk it is 2.5 miles down the dirt road to Oregon Creek and the middle fork of the Yuba. Driving takes 5 to 10 mins. The other direction is the largest lake in our county Bullards Bar Reservoir and Emerald Cove Marina. We are 1 mile down Marysville Rd. from a launch called dark day. There is a trailhead at the top of overflow boat parking for a public swimming hole on the lake. On our property, we have a main house with its own private facilities such as a kitchen, shower, and bath. On the land, we have 9 total unique cabin and canvas tent structures converted into boutique-like campsites. We have an epic outdoor entertaining kitchen and patio with an outdoor pizza oven and a little dog rinse behind the outdoor shower. The bathhouse is right across the way and provides a private but shared guest shower house, tub and sink. The sauna and fenced-in dog area are near the shipping container site. The sauna has just been remodelled with a shower and bathtub right outside the sauna house. Like anywhere in the woods there is an hour at sunset when you may have mosquitoes down near the sites in the spring and some of the summers depending on the year. We have a natural spray for that or fans in the kitchen. Off the path, you may find poison oak in the thick of the woods. So please stay on the marked trails.

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Inn Town Campground

69 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents15 acres · Nevada City, CA

We are located just minutes from downtown Nevada City, California! Dan and Erin Thiem have brought Nevada City a vibrant camping experience with tents, glamping, and RV sites. The campground is located on a historic 15-acre site, just two miles from downtown Nevada City. A communal building full of comfortable amenities: ◉ Camp store ◉ Beer, Wine, Ice, Ice Cream, S’mores fixings, and more ◉ BBQ area ◉ Communal Kitchen and dining area ◉ Laundry ◉ WiFi ◉ Showers ◉ Swimming pool ◉ Outdoor Dishwashing Stations

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Your private Yurt in the woods

2 sites · Lodging10 acres · Nevada City, CA

Your private Yurt in the woods -2 miles to town! Come experience the Beauty of the Sierra foothills and the Yuba river in our Yurt tucked into the forest just 2 miles from downtown Nevada city. With a natural creek right outside your door and hiking trails right off the deck, this serene and beautiful yurt retreat awaits you. Claw foot bath tub, fire pit and large deck to relax on. Wood fired stove inside with plenty of wood stacked to keep you warm. Small functional kitchen with a hot plate, toaster oven, micro sink and fridge. We have a wood fired hot tub on-site. It requires a fire to be lit and maintained to keep it hot. During the winter the yurt is heated with a wood fired stove. It takes a few hours to warm up, and needs to be maintained during your stay to keep the place toasty. There is a lovely wood stove and plenty of firewood for you to use! The Queen bed has a heating blanket to help keep you cozy throughout the night. The hot tub Is wonderful in the winter, it is wood fired and takes several hours to heat as well.

The best camping near South Yuba River State Park guide

Overview

About

Stretching for 20 miles along the South Yuba River Canyon, this scenic park offers water and land based recreation, nature, and plenty of historic sites. While camping isn’t allowed inside the park, camping options can be found at nearby Malakoff Diggins State Park and on BLM land in the South Yuba Recreation Area along the river. Natural swimming holes are a big draw, as are seasonal wildflowers, birdwatching, and miles of hiking trails, including the wheelchair-accessible Independence Trail wilderness trail. Visitors can also explore the area’s rich history at historic river crossings and bridges, including the Bridgeport Covered Bridge, and gold mining sites, or try their hand at gold panning.

When to go

The park’s swimming holes are popular in the summer for visitors looking to escape the heat. Swimming is best, and safest, from mid summer through the fall. Visit in the spring to see wildflowers, with guided wildflower walks available on spring weekends. Guided history and gold-panning tours are available over the summer, while guided bird walks are available in the spring and fall. Fishing is only allowed upstream of the Highway 49 Crossing from late April through mid November, and year-round downstream of the crossing.

Know before you go

Fire, alcohol, and glass are not permitted anywhere inside the park.
Diving is prohibited and jumping from rocks is discouraged. The river may not be safe for swimming in spring and early summer, and anywhere with even a moderate current. There are no lifeguards on duty.
Fishing licenses are required for anyone aged 16 and over.
Sturdy shoes and protective clothing are recommended for steep, rocky trails and poison oak. Sunscreen and insect repellent are also a good idea.
Gold panning is permitted using pans and hands only.
Dogs on leashes are allowed everywhere except the Family Beach next to the Bridgeport Covered Bridge.