Gold Lake 4 X 4 Campground
Gold Lake 4x4 campground in northeast Plumas County, CA lies at 6,400 feet in elevation within the Plumas National Forest. The mountains, forest and lake setting provide a picturesque landscape for relaxation, adventure and exploration. A popular location with access to the backcountry, visitors should carefully review what this facility provides. This is a rustic campground with no utilities, water, hookups, trash service, or restroom facilities. Campers must pack out all their sanitation and trash. Families may decide one of the other campgrounds nearby is better suited to meet their needs and expectations.
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 13 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
13 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Shade | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 3 | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 4 | Partial | No / – | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 5 | Partial | No / – | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 8 | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 9 | Partial | No / – | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 10 | Partial | No / – | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 11 | Partial | No / – | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 12 | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 13 | Partial | No / – | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
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 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
A boulder strewn OHV road is the primary access to this campground. Experienced drivers that can self-extricate or make emergency repairs may be needed. Passenger or sport utility vehicles are not recommended. Alternatively, boat campers may access the campground from the boat launch facility on the east side of the lake. However, there are no boat facilities at the 4x4 campground. Boaters should be aware that strong, gusty afternoon winds are common and can hinder small watercraft. Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring and bear locker for food storage. Our bears love your food, toothpaste and scented lip balm more than you do. If you don't want to share your supplies, we recommend you use the bear locker. The popularity of this facility combined with a broken, unserviceable restroom have resulted in resource damage and unhealthy, unsafe conditions. The dilapidated restrooms have been removed.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Reno, NV, take US 395 north. At Halleluiah Junction go west 32 miles on Highway 70 to Blairsden. Take the Highway 89 turnoff south 3.5 miles to Gold Lake Highway. Proceed southwest on Gold Lake Highway, 9.1 miles to Gold Lake Campground Road.
| Coordinates | 39.6690° N, 120.6624° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- This campground is not a luxury destination and may not meet your comfort level.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 24.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Upcycled Adventures ↗ | 31.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | DeMartini RV Sales ↗ | 37.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
4x4 Camping at Gold Lake | Four Wheel Pop-up Camper
Worth a stop
Though in a remote location, Gold Lake 4X4 Campground is near several attractions worth visiting. Mills Peak Fire Lookout is manned during fire season and welcomes visitors. Mills Peak Trail, a premier mountain bike trail, descends from the lookout towards the community of Graeagle. Pan for gold and explore the hard rock mining history or attend one of the other interpretive activities at Plumas Eureka State Park. Try not to miss the spectacular views of and from the Sierra Buttes and its lookout. All aboard! Take a ride on the rails while checking out the Railroad Museum in Portola. The Reid Cattle Company can offer cowboys and cowgirls trail rides at the outlet of Gold Lake or from their Graeagle location.
- 1.1 miSalmon Lake -Boat Ramp Boating Site ↗Boat launch
- 3.2 miPacker Lake - Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 6.1 miSierra Valley Shooting Range ↗OHV / range
- 7.2 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miLittle Gold Lake0.1 mi trail
- 0.5 miDamalusung Lake0.7 mi trail
- 0.9 miOakland Pond1.2 mi trail
- 0.9 miGold Lake 4x42.8 mi trail
- 1.1 miRound Lake Trail2.5 mi trail
- 1.1 miUpper Salmon Lake1.7 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
This campground sits inside Tahoe National Forest, which overlaps Plumas National Forest.
- inTahoe National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,181,139 acres
- inPlumas 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
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Sierra City SchoolBuilding · Sierra City · 7.3 mi
- Hospital BridgeStructure · Downieville · 10.9 mi
- Hansen BridgeStructure · Downieville · 11.3 mi
Natural features
As the Lakes Basin Recreation Area name implies, the region has many crystal clear alpine lakes to explore. Glacial carved granite peaks and ridges, sunrises and sunsets reflected in the waters over Gold Lake, the whisper of pines rustling in the wind or a glimpse of a shy doe will leave an indelible memory and entice you to return again and again. The region is rich in history that includes Native American use, gold discovery, westward migration, forestry, railroads, grazing, and agriculture. You may even find evidence of those that travelled here decades or centuries before you.
Recreation
Visitors often use this campground as a home base to enjoy water sports, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, hunting and a host of other activities. The OHV access road continues beyond the campground and onto the adjacent Tahoe National Forest. From here, other roads lead north toward "A-Tree", LaPorte and Plumas Eureka State Park, southwest towards Downieville and Sierra City and south toward Packer Lake and Sardine Lakes. Make sure to take a suitable vehicle, a map, and extra food and water.
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 Gold Lake 4 X 4 Campground?
Sites at Gold Lake 4 X 4 Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Gold Lake 4 X 4 Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Gold Lake 4 X 4 Campground have?
14 sites, including 13 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Gold Lake 4 X 4 Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Gold Lake 4 X 4 Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Gold Lake 4 X 4 Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Gold Lake 4 X 4 Campground?
Visitors often use this campground as a home base to enjoy water sports, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, hunting and a host of other activities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Gold Lake 4 X 4 Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Lakes Basin (0.3 mi, partly first-come), Gold Lake Campground (1 mi), and Goose Lake Campground (1.5 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby