Lake Clementine Boat In, near Auburn, California, is a charming campground that offers a peaceful escape right by the North Fork of the American River. With designated sites that are perfect for tent camping, it’s a great place to unwind and soak in the sounds of nature.

The campground features picnic tables and fire pits, making it easy to enjoy meals outdoors and gather around the fire at night. Visitors have noted the cleanliness of the facilities, including the vault toilets, which are well-maintained. One camper mentioned, “The vault toilet was very clean,” highlighting the attention to hygiene in this rustic setting.

For those who love water activities, the river is a major draw. It’s a popular spot for rafters during the season, with a launch and takeout area conveniently located near the campsites. The crystal-clear water is perfect for a refreshing dip or just relaxing by the shore. As one reviewer put it, “The river was crystal clear and beautiful.”

Accessing the campground involves navigating a winding road, which adds to the adventure. While the sites can feel a bit close together, the overall atmosphere is friendly and laid-back, making it a great choice for a weekend getaway. Whether you’re looking to relax by the water or explore the surrounding area, Lake Clementine Boat In has plenty to offer.

Lake Clementine Boat In — Auburn State Recreation Area

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First come first serve campsites, i went for a solo camp trip and loved it. I came in on a Thursday afternoon and snagged campsite #5. (Useful tip, BRING A PEN AND EXACT CASH) Upon arrival, scope out the place and and claim your spot by filling out the envelope with your name and vehicle information and how many days your plan on staying. Place the cash ($28 a night) in the envelope and put it in the post that’s on the parking entrance. Depending on what time you arrive, rangers will issue you a pass on your campsite post the day of or the day after. 

No showers or running water....there are only toilets available. Bring your own water to drink, wash dishes and pans, or wash yourselves. The nearest store is about 2 miles back to the main road if you need to re-up on anything. 

Overall, the campsite area is nice, it’s close proximity to the river, depending on which site you chose, sites 1-6 offer little shade to none, the rest of the sites offer a good amount of shade. and your neighbors are kinda close. The river is extremely clean and clear with good temperature. The rangers are there everyday (I think). Very friendly folks. It can get pretty busy during the weekend with a lot of folks coming in for day-use. I love the campsite and will be back in the future. Just stay prepared and ready. 

Beautiful place

We stayed there for a weekend in late March and it was gorgeous! The only thing is most of the good spots were closed off. There was only one really good spot with shade that was more secluded than the others so I would suggest getting there early

Beautiful and green but some spots are better than others

Came to Mineral Bar in late September and loved it. It's only about an hour from Sacramento, including that windy road down into the canyon. The river was VERY low, but it was still fun to play around and float away the hot early fall afternoon. 

  

The sites are fairly small and the campground has a funky layout. Squeezing two cars in most sites looked impossible. There is also no water, so be sure to bring enough for yourself.

Charming primitive campground!

Boat in only. No services except ice and gas


Clem lake

We camped during the off season (November) so we had our pick of the campsites, which was a great considering the spots are right next to each other. Using hand warmers and a tent warmer we did fine with the cold nights. Really nice site right by the water. No potable water or flushable toilets, so be prepared! 

Enjoyed staying in the first come first served campground!

**General:** Normally, there are 18 designated sites that are reservable only from May 1– October 15. What we didn’t know until we arrived was that only Sites 1-7 were open after this date; fortunately, only two other sites were occupied when we arrived at 5:30 pm on a Monday in late October. The access road is about six miles of curvy, hilly, and narrow (sometimes only one lane) pavement. There is a sign prohibiting trailers; our 18-foot camper van did fine but anything much larger would definitely be challenged. 

  

**Site Quality:** Many of the sites are more suitable for tent campers. The parking area is at the top of the hill, and you set up your tent below. Most of the sites that have a “driveway” were not level, except for Sites 5 and 6. We lucked out with Site 6 – it was large and level and directly across from the vault toilets. A fire pit/grill, large concrete picnic table, and bear box complete the site (although there was a fire ban in effect).

  

**Bath:** Only one vault toilet was open, and it was very clean. It was cleaned again the next morning. 

  

**Activities:** This campground is located on the North Fork of the American River. In season, this campground would be very popular with rafters; there is a raft launch and takeout area close to the campsites. The river was crystal clear and beautiful.

  

This was a small but beautiful campground. We were surprised that we had a semi-decent cell signal ranging from 1 to 2 bars (Verizon).

Off-season peaceful stay

I’ve been here about 8-10 times and every time I love my stay, it’s a quiet getaway around 45 mins away from me and the sound of the river is amazing. I’ve only been talked to once by a ranger who didn’t see my ticket but otherwise not many people usually there and they mostly leave by dark. Say hi if you see me I frequent sometimes!

Photos of Lake Clementine Boat In — Auburn State Recreation Area

Real photos from real campers