Skillman
Skillman Campground has individual sites with enough room for parking trucks with trailers. Some of the sites have horse pens and water troughs for horses. It is located in the Tahoe National Forest near Nevada City and three historic mining towns.
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗



Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 12 |
| Equestrian | 5 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
16 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 02 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 03 | Standard | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 05 | Standard | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 06 | Standard | Partial | 6 / 2 | |||
| 07 | Equestrian | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 08 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 09 | Equestrian | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 10 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
| 11 | Equestrian | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | 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 | 35 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Two horse pens are in sites 3,7,9,11,13, and 15. Water troughs are found in the campground. Site 4 is a double site and has 4 horse pens. Each single site can accommodate up to six people, four horses and two vehicles.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | May 22 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 |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Nevada City, travel east on Highway 20 for 14 miles. Turn right at the Skillman Campground sign and then left at the first road intersection into the campground. From Interstate 80 take exit 161, Highway 20 to Nevada City and drive 13 miles west toward Nevada City.
| Nearest town | Nevada City, California |
| Coordinates | 39.3184° N, 120.7919° 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 station | Dump station ↗ | 10.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | DeMartini RV Sales ↗ | 15.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Upcycled Adventures ↗ | 27 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Skillman Horse Campground, Tahoe National Forest, California Campsite Photos
Worth a stop
Skillman Campground is located on the Yuba Donner Scenic Byway (Highway 20) near many gold rush era historical sites and old mining towns such as Washington and Nevada City. Nevada City, about 14 miles west, is a scenic historical mining town with many historical attractions, top notch restaraunts, various lodging options, shopping, and stores for everything you may need. Other attractions include the South Yuba River, Washintong Scenic Overlook, Alpha and Omega Scenic Overlook and Interpretive Trail, Rock Creek Nature Trail, Chalk Bluff OHV trails, and Grouse Ridge Non-Motorized Area.
- 3.6 miGolden Quartz Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 7.6 miFuller Lake Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 8.6 miEuchre Bar Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 13.1 miSugar Pine Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miHallelujah3.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miSkillman Nordic0.8 mi trail · 4WD, snowshoe, ski
- 0.2 miOmega Overlook Mc Trail ↗4.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.4 miTowle Mill Loop Mc ↗12 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.5 miStanton2.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.6 miBurlington Nordic ↗4.5 mi trail · 4WD, 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
This campground sits inside Tahoe National Forest.
- inTahoe National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,181,139 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
- Davis MillBuilding · Nevada City · 10.7 mi
- Martin Luther Marsh HouseBuilding · Nevada City · 12.2 mi
- Nevada BreweryBuilding · Nevada City · 12.6 mi
Natural features
The campground is situated in a forest of dogwood, cedar and Douglas fir trees, at an elevation of 3,700 feet.
Recreation
The Pioneer Trail stretches 25 miles through the Tahoe National Forest and can be accessed from the campground. The popular trail was designated a National Recreation Trail in 2003. Horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing are favorite activities on this popular 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 Skillman?
Sites at Skillman 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
What time is check-in at Skillman?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Skillman have?
17 sites, including 12 standard sites without power and 5 equestrian sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Skillman?
The longest site here provides 35 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 Skillman?
Yes, pets are allowed at Skillman. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Skillman?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Skillman?
The Pioneer Trail stretches 25 miles through the Tahoe National Forest and can be accessed from the campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Skillman?
Nevada City, California. Skillman Campground is located on the Yuba Donner Scenic Byway (Highway 20) near many gold rush era historical sites and old mining towns such as Washington and Nevada City.
Source: Getting there
What if Skillman is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are White Cloud (2.9 mi), North Fork (7.9 mi), and Tunnel Mills II (8.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby


