U.S. Forest Service · Plumas National Forest · Oroville, CA

Red Feather California

Red Feather Campground is located on the eastern shore of Little Grass Valley Reservoir, providing visitors with ample opportunity to fish, swim, boat, and enjoy nature. It is one of eight campgrounds in the area, providing access to a beautiful mountain lake and various hiking trails that meander through the scenic hills and valleys.

Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

More like this: first-come in California · reservable in California · pets allowed in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Red Feather CaliforniaRed Feather Site #45 Photo 1Red Feather Site #17 Photo 2Red Feather Site #59 Photo 3
Photos courtesy of Feather River Ranger District, L. MELIS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups59
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served. For the first-come sites, arrive early on a weekday and take what is open. The booking page shows which of the reservable sites are open. The first-come playbook

Site guide

59 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFires
001LP1Back-in42PavedFull6 / 2Yes
002LP1Back-in42PavedFull6 / 2Yes
003LP1Back-in40PavedPartial6 / 2Yes
004LP1Back-in35PavedNone6 / 2Yes
005LP1Back-in52PavedFull6 / 2Yes
006LP1Back-in48PavedPartialLakefront6 / 2Yes
007LP1Back-in40PavedFull6 / 2Yes
008LP1Back-in40PavedPartialLakefront6 / 2Yes
009LP1Back-in48PavedFullLakefront6 / 2Yes
010LP1Back-in37PavedFull6 / 2Yes

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.

Campground map of Red Feather California
Campground map published by U.S. Forest Service on Recreation.gov, credited to Feather River Ranger District. Open the image for full size.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length20 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesStandard site: $36/site

The campground offers dozens of single-family campsites, available for tent and RV camping. More than a handful of the sites overlook the beautiful lake, while others are surrounded by characteristic mixed-conifer forest and alpine meadows. The Maidu boat launch ramp is located nearby, adjacent to Little Beaver Campground and the Maidu Amphitheater. Campsites are equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided. Utility hookups are not available. All sites have paved parking spurs. Bear-resistant trash collection bins are located throughout the campground.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
ForestPlumas National Forest
BookingSites can be reserved by calling 1-877-444-6777 or online at www.Recreation.gov The campground has about half reservation and half first come first serve.
Fees$23 per site $25 Prime Lakeside sites
Rules• 14 day limit • 6 people per campsite and • 2 vehicles per campsite • 14 day camping limit, • OHV riding is not allowed in the campground, • Bear Awareness

Plumas National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Red Feather California30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 11.26 inches of precipitation, 6.4 inches of snowFebruary: 10.73 inches of precipitation, 7.9 inches of snowMarch: 10.00 inches of precipitation, 4.2 inches of snowApril: 5.34 inches of precipitation, 1.2 inches of snowMay: 3.65 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowJune: 1.07 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.06 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.19 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.66 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 3.34 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowNovember: 6.81 inches of precipitation, 1.2 inches of snowDecember: 11.81 inches of precipitation, 5.1 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 39.0°F averageFebruary: 41.5°F averageMarch: 45.3°F averageApril: 49.5°F averageMay: 57.0°F averageJune: 63.8°F averageJuly: 70.2°F averageAugust: 69.3°F averageSeptember: 64.7°F averageOctober: 55.4°F averageNovember: 44.3°F averageDecember: 37.7°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Downieville, 14 miles from the campground at 2,915 feet, station USC00042500 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 65 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 26 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Oroville, California, travel east on Highway 162 to Olive Highway. Turn right and continue 5 miles to Forbestown Road. Turn right and go 16 miles to La Porte Road. Turn left and travel 27 miles to La Porte, then 2 miles to signs for the recreation area. Turn right and continue just over 2 miles to the campground.

Nearest townOroville, California
Coordinates39.7353° N, 120.9531° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗34.3 mi
RV sales & serviceDeMartini RV Sales ↗35.9 mi
Outdoor gearREI ↗45.4 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Red Feather Campground, Plumas National Forest, California Campsite Photos

  • 1.2 mi
    Bald Mountain Trail
    2.2 mi trail
  • 1.2 mi
    Lakeshore Trail ↗
    14.3 mi trail
  • 1.3 mi
    Wallace
    1.6 mi trail
  • 1.8 mi
    Gibson
    1 mi trail
  • 2 mi
    Bald Mountain PCT Tie
    1.2 mi trail
  • 2.2 mi
    East Branch Ridge
    2.1 mi trail

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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Plumas National Forest.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campground is located in the Northern Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern California at an elevation of about 5,100 feet. It is on the eastern shore of the Little Grass Valley Reservoir, which was formed by dam construction and subsequent flooding of the valley in the 1960s. The campground and the lake are surrounded by thick stands of pine and fir trees. Several public campgrounds are located around the lake, as well as private cabins on the south side.

Recreation

The 1,615-acre lake provides ample opportunities for visitors to fish, boat, swim, and water ski. Anglers can expect a catch of a variety of trout and kokanee salmon, among other species of fish. Fishing licenses are required. The Lakeshore Trail, which loops 13.5 miles around the lake, is available for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The trail connects to the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which stretches from 2,650 miles, across three states from Canada to Mexico. The Lakeshore Trail is popular among day hikers.

Nearby

About 12 miles northeast of the lake at an elevation of 5,446 feet lies a small, natural lily pond, called Fowler Lake. This beautiful site is perfect for day hikes and picnics.

Guidebooks for California

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Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Red Feather California?

For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Red Feather California?

Standard site: $36/site

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Red Feather California?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Red Feather California open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Red Feather California have?

59 sites, including 59 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Red Feather California?

The longest site here provides 20 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are there showers or a dump station at Red Feather California?

Flush toilets and drinking water are provided.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Red Feather California?

Yes, pets are allowed at Red Feather California. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Red Feather California?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. • 14 day limit • 6 people per campsite and • 2 vehicles per campsite • 14 day camping limit, • OHV riding is not allowed in the campground, • Bear Awareness

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Red Feather California?

The 1,615-acre lake provides ample opportunities for visitors to fish, boat, swim, and water ski. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Red Feather California?

Oroville, California. About 12 miles northeast of the lake at an elevation of 5,446 feet lies a small, natural lily pond, called Fowler Lake.

Source: Getting there

What if Red Feather California is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Running Deer Campground (under 0.1 mi, partly first-come), Horse Campground (under 0.1 mi), and Little Grass Valley Recreation Area (1.9 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby