Packsaddle
Packsaddle Campground is located in the Packer Lake area near the Sierra Buttes, north of the Yuba River. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, canoeing and gold panning. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 16 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 100 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
16 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 002 | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 003 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 004 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 005 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 006 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 007 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 008 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 009 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 010 | Pull-through | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 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 | 100 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
The campground offers single-family campsites and two equestrian sites for campers with horses. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. The equestrian sites share a corral and have ample space for stock trailers. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | June 13 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 | Camping outside designated campground is prohibited in this area |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Sierra City, travel north (east) on Highway 49 for 5 miles. Turn left at Bassett Station on Gold Lake Highway and continue just over a mile to Packer Lake Road and turn left. Go less than a mile and turn right on Packer Lake Road. Continue for about 2.5 miles and turn left into the campground.
| Nearest town | Nevada City, California |
| Coordinates | 39.6247° N, 120.6499° 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 ↗ | 21.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Upcycled Adventures ↗ | 28.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | DeMartini RV Sales ↗ | 35 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
A Photographic Tour of Packsaddle Campground on the St Joe River
Worth a stop
Lakes Basin offers many opportunities for boating, fishing and hiking. Boating, fishing and swimming are available at nearby Packer Lake less than a mile to the west and Sardine Lakes, about three miles south of the campground. Sardine Lakes Resort offers boat rentals. Anglers will find rainbow and brook trout in many of the lakes, streams, and rivers throughout the basin. A more developed boat ramp is located at Gold Lake and accomodates launching of larger boats. 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 in the Lakes Basin area. The historic towns of Sierra City and Downieville offer historic and cultural attractions, restaurants, shops, churches, and vistor information.
- 0.2 miPacker Lake - Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 2.3 miSalmon Lake -Boat Ramp Boating Site ↗Boat launch
- 4.1 mi
- 4.9 miSierra Valley Shooting Range ↗OHV / range
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miGold Vly Marked Snomobile Tr ↗12.5 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 0.2 miPacker Lake Picnic0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miTamarack Lake0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 1 miSierra Buttes3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miTamarack Connection3.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miGold Valley Rim Mc Trail ↗5.3 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
- Sierra City SchoolBuilding · Sierra City · 4.2 mi
- Hospital BridgeStructure · Downieville · 10 mi
- Hansen BridgeStructure · Downieville · 10.3 mi
Natural features
The campground is split into two loops. The first is more open but is shaded by towering Jeffrey pine and fir trees. The second is located on a forested hillside above the first loop. Some sites have views of the open, wildflower-dotted meadow, while others overlook a ravine and mountain peaks beyond it.
Recreation
A large network of trails is available in the area, including Deer Lake Trail. This 2.9-mile trail is open to hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. The Pacific Crest Trail can easily be accessed nearby. Many lakes in the area offer fishing. Canoeing and paddeling is available on nearby Packer Lake.
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 Packsaddle?
Sites at Packsaddle 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 Packsaddle?
$24 per site $5 for extra vehicle
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Packsaddle?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Packsaddle have?
18 sites, including 16 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Packsaddle?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Packsaddle?
Yes, pets are allowed at Packsaddle. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Packsaddle?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Camping outside designated campground is prohibited in this area
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Packsaddle?
A large network of trails is available in the area, including Deer Lake Trail. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Packsaddle?
Nevada City, California. Lakes Basin offers many opportunities for boating, fishing and hiking.
Source: Getting there
What if Packsaddle is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Berger (0.3 mi), Diablo (0.9 mi), and Sardine Lake (1.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby