Big Bend Group
Big Bend Group Campground is located 19 miles west of Truckee, California in the Tahoe National Forest at an elevation of 5,700 feet. Visitors enjoy the area for its fishing and hiking opportunities, as well as its historic significance along the California Emigrant Trail. This campground is operated and maintained by Forest Service staff.
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group sites | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 25 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
2 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | Back-in | 22 | Paved | Partial | Riverfront | 25 / 5 | Yes |
| Victory | Back-in | 25 | Paved | Partial | Riverfront | 25 / 5 | 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 | 22 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground offers two accessible group sites, Lincoln and Victory, which can accommodate up to 25 people and five vehicles each. Picnic tables, grills and large campfire rings are provided, as well as vault toilets and drinking water.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | October 31 |
| 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 | $99 per site |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Truckee, take I-80 19 miles west to the Rainbow Road Exit. Travel west about 1.5 miles to the Big Bend Ranger Station and Visitor Center. Turn right past the Visitor Center and cross bridge. The campground is on the right. Victory is the first campsite and Lincoln is the second one at the end.
| Nearest town | Nevada City, California |
| Coordinates | 39.3064° N, 120.5194° 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.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedTmu Rx Support
39 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 4.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Upcycled Adventures ↗ | 12.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | DeMartini RV Sales ↗ | 28.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
BIG BEND National Park Camping | Hiking | Chisos Basin Campground
Worth a stop
Donner Lake is located 15 miles east via historic Route 40/Lincoln Highway, the nation's first transcontinental highway. Many points of interest lie along Route 40, including China Wall, Rainbow Bridge, Sugar Bowl, Lake Van Norden and Ice Lakes.
- 7.8 miFuller Lake Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 9.8 mi
- 13.7 miMcguire Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 14.4 miFrench Meadows Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miBig Bend Interpretive ↗0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miLoch Leven4.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miRattlesnake ↗9.4 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 1.5 miSalmon Lake Tie Trail0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.7 miSalmon Lake Trail1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.9 miCherry Point3.1 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
This campground sits inside Tahoe National Forest.
- inTahoe National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,181,139 acres
- 12.4 miGranite Chief Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 28,374 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
- Webber Lake HotelBuilding · Sierraville · 13.2 mi
Natural features
The campground lies along the gentle South Yuba River; just behind and across the river from the Big Bend Fire Station. Stands of pine and fir covers the area, offering pleasant shade at the group sites.
Recreation
The South Yuba River offers swimming and rainbow trout fishing. The historic California Emigrant Trail and Loch Leven Trail are located nearby. The surrounding area offers many additional hiking, biking and off-road vehicle trails.
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 Big Bend Group?
Sites at Big Bend Group 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 Big Bend Group?
$99 per site
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Big Bend Group?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Big Bend Group have?
2 sites, including 2 group sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Big Bend Group?
The longest site here provides 22 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 Big Bend Group?
Yes, pets are allowed at Big Bend Group. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Big Bend Group?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Big Bend Group?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Big Bend Group?
The South Yuba River offers swimming and rainbow trout fishing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Big Bend Group?
Nevada City, California. Donner Lake is located 15 miles east via historic Route 40/Lincoln Highway, the nation's first transcontinental highway.
Source: Getting there
What if Big Bend Group is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Hampshire Rocks (1.1 mi), Indian Springs (3.1 mi), and Grouse Ridge Campground (7.5 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby