U.S. Forest Service · Tahoe National Forest · Nevada City, CA

Salmon Creek

Salmon Creek Campground is located in the North Yuba River area. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, 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 ↗
Salmon CreekSalmon Creek CampgroundSalmon CreekSierra Buttes View
Photos courtesy of TNF · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups24
Tent-only5
Host/management3
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

29 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFires
001StandardBack-in28GravelPartial6 / 2Yes
002Tent onlyBack-in25GravelPartial6 / 2Yes
003Tent onlyBack-in25GravelPartial6 / 2Yes
004Tent onlyBack-in20GravelPartial6 / 2Yes
005Tent onlyBack-in25GravelPartial6 / 2Yes
006StandardBack-in15GravelPartial6 / 2Yes
007StandardBack-in15GravelPartial6 / 2Yes
008StandardBack-in15GravelPartial6 / 2Yes
009StandardBack-in15GravelPartial6 / 2Yes
010StandardBack-in15GravelPartial6 / 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.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length45 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The campground offers 31 single-family sites, including some tent-only sites. Each site has 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

SeasonMay 21 to October 29
ForestTahoe National Forest
BookingThis 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
RulesCamping outside designated campground is prohibited in this area

Tahoe National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Salmon Creek30°40°50°60°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 37.1°F averageFebruary: 37.6°F averageMarch: 39.6°F averageApril: 44.1°F averageMay: 51.9°F averageJune: 60.0°F averageJuly: 68.1°F averageAugust: 67.6°F averageSeptember: 63.7°F averageOctober: 53.9°F averageNovember: 44.1°F averageDecember: 36.9°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Bowman Dam, 12 miles from the campground at 5,385 feet, station USC00041018 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. The shaded span is the published season, May 21 to October 29.

Getting there

From Sierraville, travel south on Highway 49 for 18 miles to Bassetts. Turn right and continue two miles to the campground, which is on the left side of the highway. From Sierra City, travel north on Highway 49 for 5 miles.

Nearest townNevada City, California
Coordinates39.6235° N, 120.6124° 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 stationDump station ↗21.1 mi
Outdoor gearUpcycled Adventures ↗27 mi
RV sales & serviceDeMartini RV Sales ↗36.2 mi

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

Explore

Video

Salmon Creek Campground Tahoe National Forest, CA

Worth a stop

Lakes Basin offers many opportunities for boating, fishing and hiking. Boating, fishing and swimming are available at nearby Sardine Lakes, about a mile to the west. Sardine Lakes Resort offers boat rentals, lodging, and a restaurant. 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 mi
    Packer Lake Snowmobile Tr
    2.9 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 0.5 mi
    Tamarack Connection
    3.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.6 mi
    Sand Pond Interpretive ↗
    0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.2 mi
    Gold Lake Highway ↗
    6 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 1.2 mi
    Fifty-Four Road ↗
    12.7 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 1.3 mi
    Sardine Lake Overlook
    0.2 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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Tahoe National Forest, which overlaps 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 stretches along the banks of Salmon Creek. A forest of cottonwood, lodgepole pine and cedar offers shade. The surrounding area contains an abundance of beautiful high mountain lakes, rugged peaks, and scenic views.

Recreation

A large network of trails is available in the area, including Tamarack Lake and Deer Lake Trails and the Pacific Crest Trail. Boating, fishing and swimming are available at nearby Sardine Lakes, which is a short drive from the campground. Sardine Lakes Resort offers boat rentals.

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 Salmon Creek?

Sites at Salmon Creek 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 Salmon Creek?

$24 per site $5 for extra vehicle

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Salmon Creek?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Salmon Creek have?

32 sites, including 24 standard sites without power and 5 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Salmon Creek?

The longest site here provides 45 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 Salmon Creek?

Yes, pets are allowed at Salmon Creek. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Salmon Creek?

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 Salmon Creek?

A large network of trails is available in the area, including Tamarack Lake and Deer Lake Trails and the Pacific Crest Trail. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Salmon Creek?

Nevada City, California. Lakes Basin offers many opportunities for boating, fishing and hiking.

Source: Getting there

What if Salmon Creek is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Sardine Lake (0.4 mi), Diablo (1.5 mi), and Berger (1.7 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby