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

Indian Springs

Indian Springs Campground is located in the Tahoe National Forest along Interstate 80 the South Yuba River. It is about three miles west of Big Bend and 23 miles west of Truckee. Visitors enjoy the area for its swimming, fishing, and trail opportunities, as well as its historic significance along the California Emigrant Trail.

More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
South Yuba RiverIndian Springs EntranceIndian Springs CampgroundSouth Yuba River
Photos courtesy of TNF · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups27
Walk-in7
Host/management2
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 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

34 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFires
02LOWERStandardBack-in22PavedPartial6 / 2Yes
03LOWERStandardBack-in19PavedPartial6 / 2Yes
04LOWERStandardBack-in22PavedPartialRiverfront6 / 2Yes
05LOWERStandardBack-in18PavedPartial6 / 2Yes
06LOWERStandardBack-in23PavedPartialRiverfront6 / 2Yes
07LOWERStandardBack-in20PavedPartial6 / 2Yes
08LOWERStandardBack-in18PavedPartial6 / 2Yes
09LOWERStandardBack-in18PavedPartial6 / 2Yes
10LOWERStandardBack-in20PavedPartial6 / 2Yes
11LOWERStandardBack-in20PavedPartial6 / 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 length35 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Tent padsYes

The campground offers single-family campsites, a few of which are designated as walk-to sites for tent camping only. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided.

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

Season & status

SeasonMay 21 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 www.recreation.gov
Fees$24 per site $5 for extra vehicle

Tahoe National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Indian Springs30°40°50°60°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 34.5°F averageFebruary: 36.0°F averageMarch: 38.9°F averageApril: 43.2°F averageMay: 50.5°F averageJune: 58.8°F averageJuly: 65.2°F averageAugust: 64.3°F averageSeptember: 60.1°F averageOctober: 50.8°F averageNovember: 40.4°F averageDecember: 34.0°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Lake Spaulding, 4 miles from the campground at 5,156 feet, station USC00044713 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. The shaded span is the published season, May 21 to October 15.

Getting there

From either east bound or west bound Interstate 80, take exit 164 for Eagle Lakes Road. Turn north onto Eagle Lakes Road. Follow the road as it turns west and turn left into the campground.

Nearest townNevada City, California
Coordinates39.3293° N, 120.5694° 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

  • Prescribed
    Tmu Rx Support

    42 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 stationDump station ↗1.9 mi
Outdoor gearUpcycled Adventures ↗15.1 mi
RV sales & serviceDeMartini RV Sales ↗26.6 mi

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

Explore

Video

Indian Springs State Park Campground: Site by Site Tour and Review

Worth a stop

Donner Lake is located 19 miles east via Interstate 80 and historic Route 40, which is also known as the 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. Other attractions include Donner Summit PCT, Loch Leven, and Castle Peak Trailheads, Alpha and Omega Scenic Overlook and Interpretive Trail, Chalk Bluff OHV trails, and Grouse Ridge Non-Motorized Area.

  • 0.2 mi
    Signal Peak
    4.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 0.3 mi
    Fordyce Jeep Trail ↗
    12 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 0.7 mi
    Pierce OHV Connector
    1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 1.1 mi
    Signal Peak Lookout Loop
    0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 1.1 mi
    Pierce OHV
    2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 1.2 mi
    Pierce OHV Spur A
    0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 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

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 north bank of the South Yuba River in a scenic forest of mature cedar and pine trees, which offer ample shade. The elevation is 5,600 feet.

Recreation

The South Yuba River offers rainbow trout fishing and a popular swimming hole is located alongside the campground in the South Yuba River. The Indian Springs OHV Staging Area is adjacent to the campground and offers access to many OHV trails including the popular Fordyce 4x4 jeep trail. The historic California Emigrant Trail passes nearby. Many additional hiking, biking and off-road vehicle trails are in the surrounding area, including the Indian Springs OHV Trailhead.

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 Indian Springs?

Sites at Indian Springs 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 www.recreation.gov Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Indian Springs?

$24 per site $5 for extra vehicle

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Indian Springs?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Indian Springs have?

36 sites, including 27 standard sites without power and 7 walk-in sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Indian Springs?

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 Indian Springs?

Yes, pets are allowed at Indian Springs. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Indian Springs?

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 Indian Springs?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Indian Springs?

The South Yuba River offers rainbow trout fishing and a popular swimming hole is located alongside the campground in the South Yuba River. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Indian Springs?

Nevada City, California. Donner Lake is located 19 miles east via Interstate 80 and historic Route 40, which is also known as the Lincoln Highway, the nation's first transcontinental highway.

Source: Getting there

What if Indian Springs is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Big Bend Group (3.1 mi), Hampshire Rocks (3.9 mi), and Grouse Ridge Campground (4.7 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby