Cal-Ida
Cal-Ida Campground is located on Highway 49, across the road from the North Yuba River and 13 miles from Downieville. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, fishing, biking and enjoying the cool waters of the North Yuba River. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 7 |
| Tent-only | 5 |
| RV, no hookups | 1 |
| Host/management | 6 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 28 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
13 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tent only | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 001 | Standard | Back-in | 12 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 002 | Tent only | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 003 | RV | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 004 | Tent only | Back-in | 15 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 005 | Tent only | Back-in | 10 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 006 | Tent only | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 007 | Standard | Back-in | 12 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 008 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | 18 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 4 | 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 | 30 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground offers single-family campsites, some of which are designated for tent camping only. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | April 17 to October 13 |
| 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 Downieville, travel south on Highway 49 for about 13 miles. The campground is on the right side of the highway. From Nevada City, travel north on Highway 49 for about 31 miles. The campground is on the left side of the highway.
| Nearest town | Nevada City, California |
| Coordinates | 39.5200° N, 120.9967° 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 ↗ | 20.8 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 25.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Upcycled Adventures ↗ | 40.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Cal-Ida Campground - Tahoe National Forest, CA
Worth a stop
- 8.5 miDark Day Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 9.8 miOregon Creek Day Use Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miFiddle Creek Ridge ↗5.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle
- 0.8 miCanyon Creek4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 1.1 miNorth Yuba ↗15.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.8 miYoung'S ATV2.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2 miBrandy City OHV0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 2.2 miCherokee ATV3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 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
Tahoe National Forest begins about 1.6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 1.6 miTahoe National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,181,139 acres
- 2.7 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
- Sierra County Sheriff's GallowsStructure · Downieville · 9.2 mi
- Durgan BridgeStructure · Downieville · 9.3 mi
- Jersey BridgeStructure · Downieville · 9.4 mi
Natural features
The campground lies across the highway from the North Yuba River. Oak, maple and locust trees are scattered throughout the campground, offering some shade.
Recreation
The North Yuba River offers swimming, wading and rainbow trout fishing. Seasonal rafting, and kayaking are popular water activities. A network of trails is located within the surrounding area including the nearby North Yuba River Trail.
Guidebooks for California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Cal-Ida?
Sites at Cal-Ida 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 Cal-Ida?
$24 per site $5 for extra vehicle
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Cal-Ida?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Cal-Ida have?
19 sites, including 7 standard sites without power, 5 tent-only sites, and 1 RV site without hookups.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Cal-Ida?
The longest site here provides 30 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 Cal-Ida?
Yes, pets are allowed at Cal-Ida. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Cal-Ida?
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 Cal-Ida?
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 Cal-Ida?
Nevada City, California.
Source: Getting there
What if Cal-Ida is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Carlton (0.2 mi), Fiddle Creek (0.3 mi), and Indian Valley (0.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby