Union Flat
Union Flat Campground is located on the North Yuba River, near Highway 49. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, hunting, fishing, canoeing and gold panning.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 7 |
| Tent-only | 3 |
| Walk-in | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
11 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Tent only | Pull-through | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 002 | Standard | Pull-through | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 003 | Standard | Pull-through | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 004 | Standard | Pull-through | 20 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 005 | Tent only | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Partial | 12 / 4 | Yes | |
| 006 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 007 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 008 | Standard | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 009 | Tent only | 27 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 010 | Standard | Back-in | 15 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | 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
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 50 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground offers several single-family campsites and one double site. Some sites are designated for tent camping only. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets are provided.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | May 20 to October 15 |
| 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 per site $5 for extra vehicle |
| Rules | Recreational mining is hands and pans only. Mining claims are in surrounding area. Be aware of claim markers for existing mining claims. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Downieville, take Highway 49 north about 6 miles. The campground is on the right side of the highway.
| Nearest town | Nevada City, California |
| Coordinates | 39.5681° N, 120.7450° 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
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 18.9 mi |
| RV sales & service | DeMartini RV Sales ↗ | 28.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Upcycled Adventures ↗ | 29.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
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Video
Union Flat Campground - Tahoe National Forest, CA
Worth a stop
Union Flat Campground is located on the Yuba Donner Scenic Byway (Highway 49) near many gold rush era historical sites and old mining towns such as Goodyears Bar, Sierra City, and Downieville. Many points of interest lie along Highway 49 and are part of the 49 miles of Highway 49 driving tour; look for interpretive signs and other historical sites along this tour route. Gold Lakes Basin offers boating, fishing, biking, and hiking. Boating, fishing and swimming are available at nearby Sardine Lakes, about 14 miles east of the campground. Sardine Lakes Resort offers boat rentals, lodging, and a restaurant. On the water, visitors enjoy boating and fishing. Anglers will find rainbow and brook trout in many of the lakes, streams, and rivers throughout the basin. Over 30 miles of maintained trails for hiking, mountain biking, and motorcycle singletrack branch out across the area and the Pacific Crest Trail can be accessed at a few spots east of Sierra City and in the Gold Lakes Basin area. The historic towns of Sierra City and Downieville offer historic and cultural attractions, restaurants, shops, churches, and vistor information.
- 4.6 mi
- 6.2 miPacker Lake - Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 8.1 miSalmon Lake -Boat Ramp Boating Site ↗Boat launch
- 10.9 miSierra Valley Shooting Range ↗OHV / range
Trails nearby
- 3 miSecond Divide ↗5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 3 miThird Divide3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 3 miButcher Ranch ↗6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 3 miBig Boulder ↗5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 3.2 miSoverign OHV Trl1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 3.5 miFirst Divide3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
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
- Hospital BridgeStructure · Downieville · 4.1 mi
- Hansen BridgeStructure · Downieville · 4.3 mi
- Durgan BridgeStructure · Downieville · 4.5 mi
Natural features
The campground stretches along the north bank of the North Yuba River. A tumbled rock wall from early gold dredging activity separates campsites from the river. A forest of pine, fir, maple and oak trees covers the area, offering shade in many sites.
Recreation
The North Yuba River offers swimming, wading and rainbow trout fishing. Seasonal rafting, tubing and kayaking is available.
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 Union Flat?
Sites at Union Flat 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 Union Flat?
$24 per site $5 for extra vehicle
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Union Flat?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Union Flat have?
11 sites, including 7 standard sites without power, 3 tent-only sites, and 1 walk-in site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Union Flat?
The longest site here provides 50 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 pets allowed at Union Flat?
Yes, pets are allowed at Union Flat. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Union Flat?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Recreational mining is hands and pans only.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Union Flat?
The North Yuba River offers swimming, wading and rainbow trout fishing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Union Flat?
Nevada City, California. Union Flat Campground is located on the Yuba Donner Scenic Byway (Highway 49) near many gold rush era historical sites and old mining towns such as Goodyears Bar, Sierra City, and Downieville.
Source: Getting there
What if Union Flat is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Loganville (4.5 mi), Packsaddle (6.4 mi), and Berger (6.7 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby