Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground
Bullards Bar Reservoir is located on the North Yuba River at an elevation of 2000 feet. It is located approximately 21 miles north of Nevada City, California. It has a maximum surface area of 4,760 acres and a length of over 16 miles and shoreline of more than 60 miles.
More like this: reservable in California · tent only in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Boat-in | 10 |
Site guide
10 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Partial | 6 / – | Yes |
| 2 | Partial | 6 / – | Yes |
| 3 | Partial | 6 / – | Yes |
| 4 | Partial | 6 / – | Yes |
| 5 | Partial | 6 / – | Yes |
| 6 | Partial | 6 / – | Yes |
| 7 | Partial | 6 / – | Yes |
| 8 | Partial | 6 / – | Yes |
| 9 | Partial | 6 / – | Yes |
| 10 | Partial | 6 / – | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Public access for boating and recreation is limited to 2 developed and 1 undeveloped boat launches: the Cottage Creek Boat Launch ramp at Emerald Cove Marina (aprox. 6 miles from campground by boat), the Dark Day Boat Launch ramp (aprox. 5 miles from campground by boat), and the undeveloped site at the end of Moran Road. The area includes 5 campgrounds, 2 picnic areas, 2 boat launch ramps, 1 marina, 1 overlook, 1 day use area and several developed hiking trails.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Tahoe National Forest |
| Booking | This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777), or on-line at www.recreation.gov |
| Fees | $24/Night |
| Rules | Boat in only |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Nevada City, travel approximately 20 miles on Highway 49 to Marysville Road. Turn left onto Marysville Road travel approximately 3 miles to the Dark Day Boat Launch ramp for launching or travel approximately 7 miles to Emerald Cove Marina and launch at the boat ramp there.
| Coordinates | 39.4692° N, 121.1642° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
No Show Policy A no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date (or for day-use facilities, by check-in time the day of arrival). No-show customers are only recorded at staffed facilities. At most remote facilities, all customers are noted as automatically checked-in on the date of arrival. It is recommended that staffed facilities hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. It is recommended that staffed facilities hold group day-use facilities until check-in time on the arrival date. There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation if the change includes dates from the original reservation. If they choose to depart early, they may forfeit some or all of the recreation fees. There is no change fee if the customer changes campsites that are the same price and on the same reservation dates in the same campground. If the campsite the customer is changing to has a price difference, the customer will be responsible for any additional fees or be provided with a refund, based on the price difference.
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | DeMartini RV Sales ↗ | 18.2 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 21.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Turner's Outdoorsman ↗ | 33.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Bullards Bar | Boat-in Camping Trip 2020
Worth a stop
There is a beautiful non- motorized trail system in the area, with 5 different trails to choose from. Bullards Bar Trailhead is 14 miles, 7 Ball Trial is 1 mile, 8 Ball Trail is 3.8 miles, Rebel Ridge Trail is 1.6 miles and Schoolhouse Trail is 0.7 miles. Maps are available at the North Yuba Ranger Station just a couple miles east of the reservoir on Marysville Road.
- 4 miDark Day Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 6.6 miOregon Creek Day Use Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 3.9 miSchoolhouse0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.3 miSeven Ball1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.4 miRebel Ridge1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.6 miEight Ball3.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.6 miWillow Creek ↗2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Tahoe National Forest begins about 9.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 9.5 miTahoe National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,181,139 acres
- 9.5 miPlumas National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,431,953 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Woodleaf HotelBuilding · Woodleaf · 3.7 mi
- Oregon Creek Covered BridgeStructure · North San Juan · 6.7 mi
Natural features
The sides of the reservoir are generally steep and public access for boating and recreation is limited. The reservoir is surrounded by both conifer and hardwood forests with numerous brush species. There is plenty of shade at the campsites
Recreation
Activities include wildlife viewing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, boating, water skiing, and other water sports. Swimming opportunities are limited because of the steep slopes; however boaters will find numerous opportunities for swimming in various locations around the reservoir. The reservoir provides yearlong fishing opportunities for both warm and cold water fish species. Supplies are available at the marina as well as the nearby communities of Camptonville, North San Juan, and Dobbins.
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground?
Sites at Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777), or on-line at www.recreation.gov Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground?
$24/Night
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground have?
10 sites, including 10 boat-in sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground?
Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Boat in only
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground?
Activities include wildlife viewing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, boating, water skiing, and other water sports. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Frenchy Point Campground (1 mi, first-come), Garden Point Boat-In Campground (3.3 mi), and Dark Day Campground (4.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby