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

Wild Plum

Wild Plum Campground is located on Haypress Creek 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 ↗
Sierra Buttes from Wild PlumView of Sierra Buttes from Wild Plum CampgroundHaypress CreekSierra Buttes
Photos courtesy of TNF · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups24
Tent-only23
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.

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

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFires
001StandardBack-in25PavedPartialRiverfront6 / 2Yes
002StandardBack-in27PavedPartial6 / 2Yes
003StandardBack-in21PavedPartial6 / 2Yes
004Tent onlyBack-in21PavedPartialRiverfront6 / 2Yes
005Tent onlyBack-in34PavedPartial6 / 2Yes
006StandardBack-in15PavedPartial6 / 2Yes
007StandardBack-in20PavedPartialRiverfront6 / 2Yes
008StandardBack-in20PavedPartial6 / 2Yes
009StandardBack-in20PavedPartial6 / 2Yes
010StandardBack-in30PavedPartial6 / 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 length43 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The campground offers several single-family sites, many of which are designated for tent camping only. Each site has a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. The campground's two smaller loops have paved roads and parking spurs; the larger upper loop has a gravel road and spurs.

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

Season & status

SeasonMay 20 to October 15
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. No cell service. Sometimes there is cell service in Downieville

Tahoe National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Wild Plum30°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, 8 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 20 to October 15.

Getting there

From Sierra City travel north (east) on Highway 49 for about a half a mile, turn right onto Wild Plum Rd and continue for another 1.5 miles. You will arrive at Wild Plum Campground after crossing the Haypress Creek bridge.

Nearest townNevada City, California
Coordinates39.5668° N, 120.6028° 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 ↗17.2 mi
Outdoor gearUpcycled Adventures ↗23.8 mi
RV sales & serviceDeMartini RV Sales ↗33.7 mi

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

Explore

Video

Wild Plum Campground - Tahoe National Forest, CA

Worth a stop

Wild Plum Campground is located about 1 mile east of historic Sierra City which is on the Yuba Donner Scenic Byway (Highway 49) near many gold rush era historical sites and scenic mountain vistas. Gold Lakes Basin offers boating, fishing, biking, and hiking. Boating, fishing, and swimming are available at nearby Sardine Lakes, about 7 miles north 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. 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 from with in the campground as well as at a few spots in the Lakes Basin area. The historic town of Sierra City offers historic and cultural attractions, restaurants, shops, churches, and vistor information.

  • 0.2 mi
    Wild Plum PCT Access
    1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.2 mi
    Wild Plum Loop
    0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.6 mi
    Haypress Creek ↗
    4.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.2 mi
    Sierra Buttes OHV
    4.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 3.4 mi
    Sierra Buttes
    3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.5 mi
    Gold Lake Highway ↗
    6 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski

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.

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 situated on the banks of Haypress Creek. A forest of hardwood and pine trees covers the area, offering pleasant shade. Many rocks, from early gold dredging activity, cover the forest floor. Several sites overlook the creek.

Recreation

Wild Plum Loop Trail can be accessed from the campground. The 2.5-mile trail is open to hiking and horseback riding and provides access to the Pacific Crest Trail and Haypress Trail. The scenic and historic town of Sierra City is just two miles from the campground. A variety of lodging and dining options are 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 Wild Plum?

Sites at Wild Plum 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 Wild Plum?

$24 per site $5 for extra vehicle

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Wild Plum?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Wild Plum have?

47 sites, including 24 standard sites without power and 23 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Wild Plum?

The longest site here provides 43 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 Wild Plum?

Yes, pets are allowed at Wild Plum. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Wild Plum?

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 Wild Plum?

Wild Plum Loop Trail can be accessed from the campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Wild Plum?

Nevada City, California. Wild Plum Campground is located about 1 mile east of historic Sierra City which is on the Yuba Donner Scenic Byway (Highway 49) near many gold rush era historical sites and scenic mountain vistas.

Source: Getting there

What if Wild Plum is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Loganville (3.1 mi), Sardine Lake (3.7 mi), and Salmon Creek (4 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby