Rocky Rest
Rocky Rest Campground is located off of Highway 49, in the North Yuba River area near Downieville. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, white water boating, and gold panning. 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 | 10 |
Site guide
10 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 12 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 002 | Back-in | 15 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 003 | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 004 | Back-in | 9 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 005 | Pull-through | 10 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 006 | Back-in | 15 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 007 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 008 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 009 | Back-in | 15 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 010 | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | 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 several single-family sites. 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 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 |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Downieville, take Highway 49 south for about 11 miles. The campground is on the left side of the highway. From Nevada City, take Highway 49 north for 31 miles. The campground is on the right side of the highway.
| Nearest town | Nevada City, California |
| Coordinates | 39.5135° N, 120.9777° 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 ↗ | 20.5 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 24.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Upcycled Adventures ↗ | 39.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
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Video
Rocky Rest Campground - Tahoe National Forest, CA
Worth a stop
Rocky Rest Campground is located along the Yuba Donner Scenic Byway (Highway 49) near many gold rush era historical sites and old mining towns such as Camptonville, Goodyears Bar, 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. Other attractions include the North Yuba River, Indian Valley Outpost, New Bullards Bar Reservoir, Downieville, and a network of miles of multi use hiking, biking, and motorcycle singletrack.
- 9 miDark Day Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 9.9 miOregon Creek Day Use Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miNorth Yuba ↗15.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.2 miFiddle Creek Ridge ↗5.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle
- 1.8 miCanyon Creek4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 2.3 miCal-Ida Mc ↗17.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 2.3 miHalls Ranch ↗5.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 2.6 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 0.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 0.5 miTahoe National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,181,139 acres
- 2.9 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 · 8.4 mi
- Durgan BridgeStructure · Downieville · 8.5 mi
- Jersey BridgeStructure · Downieville · 8.6 mi
Natural features
The campground is situated on the north bank of the North Yuba River, where a forest of Douglas fir, pine, and oak provides ample shade, but limited privacy between sites.
Recreation
A trailhead for the North Yuba Trail is located within the campground. This 7.5-mile trail is open to hiking and biking. The North Yuba River offers swimming, floating, and rainbow trout fishing. A small rocky beach and swimming hole are situated at the water's edge. The river is a popular destination for seasonal rafting, kayaking and tubing.
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 Rocky Rest?
Sites at Rocky Rest 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 Rocky Rest?
$24 per site $5 for extra vehicle
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Rocky Rest?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Rocky Rest have?
10 sites, including 10 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Rocky Rest?
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 Rocky Rest?
Yes, pets are allowed at Rocky Rest. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Rocky Rest?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Rocky Rest?
A trailhead for the North Yuba Trail is located within the campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Rocky Rest?
Nevada City, California. Rocky Rest Campground is located along the Yuba Donner Scenic Byway (Highway 49) near many gold rush era historical sites and old mining towns such as Camptonville, Goodyears Bar, and Downieville.
Source: Getting there
What if Rocky Rest is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Indian Valley (0.3 mi), Fiddle Creek (0.9 mi), and Cal-Ida (1.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby