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Camping opportunities around Alleghany, California span across the Sierra Nevada foothills with several established campgrounds and dispersed options along the Yuba River. The area includes White Cloud Campground near Camptonville, Bowman Lake Campground near Nevada City, and River Rest Resort, providing tent sites, RV hookups, and some cabin accommodations. Most campgrounds in this region operate seasonally from late spring through early fall, with peak accessibility between June and September when mountain roads are typically clear of snow.
Road access varies significantly throughout the area, with some campgrounds like Gold Lake requiring 4x4 vehicles while others offer standard drive-in sites. The camping season generally runs from May through October, though higher elevation sites may have shorter windows due to snowpack. Several campgrounds including White Cloud and Carlton Flat sit directly adjacent to highways, creating noise considerations for light sleepers. Water access is a prominent feature at many sites, with the Yuba River providing swimming and fishing opportunities. A camper noted, "We stayed at 7A which had zero shade, but did have access to the swimming hole. Our kids loved this campground. The swimming hole was awesome."
The riverside camping experience represents a major draw for visitors to the Alleghany area, with multiple reviews highlighting swimming holes and water access. Campgrounds like River Rest Resort receive consistently high ratings for their river views and swimming opportunities, while Fiddle Creek attracts gold panners. Developed campgrounds typically provide vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Many campers mention the refreshing but cold river waters, particularly during snowmelt season. Sites closer to Nevada City tend to fill quickly on summer weekends. A review mentioned, "The river is cold and refreshing. People pan for gold and some walk up the road to Jackson Hole to float down." Bear-resistant food storage is required at many campgrounds, with some locations providing bear boxes for campers without proper containers.
"The individual sites are distanced enough so it still feels private, bathrooms and water was available. Hiked the pioneer trail and then went swimming in the lake nearby."
"It was only a 20-minute drive from home in Nevada City. We enjoyed hanging around the campground, took a cruise over to Rucker Lake for some exploring."
from $24 - $48 / night
Check Availability"This lake and surrounding are beautiful. The drive in takes a long time over really rocky terrain. I traveled around 10 mph on the way in and out. At least three camps close to the water."
"Awesome spot to camp, fish, off road, launch a kayak or paddle board"
"We stayed at campsite 24, which is right on the river and next to the main river pool access."
"We had the park behind us, and we were right in between the 2 beach access. Kids would get on the top access and tube down to the 2nd one."
"Just know that here on The Dyrt, the location on the map for some reason shows it as being many miles away from Kidder Ct: it’s marked as if it is at Higgins Corner, halfway to Auburn?"
"Super clean and friendly Not congested and close to many hiking trails Easy drive and close to Nevada City.
Especially nice during Christmas Season. Feels like walking back in time."
"Situated out in the Sierra Buttes in California. This bad boy was shown to me by my father. A place to really escape the busy city life, let alone people."
"Warning - this site requires a high clearance vehicle with good off road tires. Low profile tires and trucks modified for street use, you WILL destroy your vehicle."
"We had great time at sardine lake campground. Great place for active families. Gorgeous view of sardine lake and sand pond in walking distance and lots of other lakes around the area."
"Campground was situated nicely with perfect trees for our hammocks and bathrooms were tidy."
from $24 - $48 / night
Check Availability"I love this campground and this area of California. It is not directly situated on the Hwy, and abuts the Yuba River, which is clear and gorgeous and draws a lot of birds and wildlife."
"We were looking for a spot next to the Yuba River and found this gem. Only 17 campsites so it’s not crowded. It’s also away from any road noise."
from $24 - $48 / night
Check Availability"There are trails for hiking or mountain biking. You are minutes from Bullards Bar which is one of the most beautiful lakes around. I definitely suggest a day trip to the lake."
"It’s mixed RV and tent with no RV power so the generators are loud and you’ll be surrounded by them."
from $24 - $48 / night
Check Availability"Site 8 is the access to it, so beware if you don't like people walking through. Great mtn biking, fishing, rafting, floating and swimming."
"We stayed at 7A which had zero shade, but did have access to the swimming hole. Our kids loved this campground. The swimming hole was awesome. This campsite is about 15 minutes from Downieville."
from $24 - $48 / night
Check Availability"This river trail is the best in the state. Clear water, lovely pools. Expect nudity as it is Northern California. The river is beloved by kayakers and swimmers."
"There's hiking access to the river, and almost never anybody at this campground. It's scenic privacy at it's best. Hike up or downstream for some really great swimming holes."
from $15 / night
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LegendThe campsites are on both sides of the forest service road. We were never able to locate site 1 so it must have been eliminated.
If you enjoy camping and OHV riding then this should be on your list of campgrounds to visit.
GuideBoca is a comfortable little USFS campground with nice lake views.
Some of the sites and their trees are oriented a little uncomfortably for me, but I was able to back my trailer in a way that probably wasn't originally intended and open up enough room for my tow vehicle.
They have picnic tables at every site that I've seen and food storage, trash storage, bear lockers at every site.
There's gunfire across the reservoir, but I scarcely even noticed it and I'm very sensitive to it.
The camp hosts seem pretty unobtrusive.
The sites aren't particularly level, but with a few blocks I was able to get mine close enough.
I was in site number four, which is just a stone's throw from the bathrooms and dumpster. I'm self-contained, so I didn't bother looking at the bathrooms.
It's a very quiet campground. In fact, I was feeling guilty about running my generator half the time.
It was completely booked, so I was only able to get a couple of nights here, but I would certainly stay here again. Moderate levels of shade midday in July, but 83F sure beats 108F in the valley! From Site 4 I had a very clear view to the north, so I had great coverage with Starlink, at least 120 megabits; doing work was certainly a reality for me.
Checkout time is noon, and that's coming up quickly. So, thus ends my review for the moment.
[Edit] One more detail worth mentioning: as I was hitching up to leave, a doe and two fawns wandered through the trees right near the site, completely nonchalant. They weren’t begging, approaching, or acting habituated in a bad way, just quietly moving through the forest like I happened to be parked in their campground. It was a lovely little sendoff and exactly the kind of moment that makes a site memorable.
LegendDeanes campground was empty when we visited. There are sites that provide ample space and our 26’ toy hauler would fit in with no trouble.
Vault toilet was clean and most of the camp sites were well maintained.
Of the three campgrounds in this area, Deanes was my favorite.
LegendThis campground is situated between the creek and meadow. At 6100 feet it offers some relief from the valley heat.
When we visited there were three sites, 4-6, which were the nicest of all the sites.
Site 6 is close to the meadow and when we visited this campground there were two deer enjoying the tall grass in the meadow.
Site 5 is closest to the creek and the creek sounds are enjoyable and relaxing.
Site 4 is the largest of all the sites and site 3 is not only small but the road to access the site is in poor condition which makes access difficult.
ScoutWe stayed on a Tuesday night in July and we think there was only one other camper in the campground. We aren’t sure because we arrived at 10:00 pm and didn’t see anyone but then saw them the next morning while touring the entire campground. Paved pads that were somewhat level, concrete picnic tables that were pretty clean, clean bathrooms and showers that required tokens. Pretty nice overall with some campsites arranged for groups of campers while others had good spacing. We stayed in site 28. The fire pit was very tall(36”) and about 75% full of ashes but we did not have a campfire. Mid-July was pretty warm with a low at night of 72. Overall a nice campground that is on the hills and above the lake. Some sites have lake views.
GuideThere’s only a couple of spots to pull off the road, the boat ramp clearly states no camping. I found a spot but every few hours all night long a truck with flashing lights on the roof drove by. Kinda weird
TravelerCampground was nice and quiet despite being adjacent to a casino. Showers lock up at seven except for two to cover the entire large campground. Laundry shuts down at six and opens in the morning at eight. Location was fantastic.
GuideThis appears to be another roadside pullout in the Demonstration Forest area rather than a legal overnight campsite. Based on on-site clarification from CAL FIRE at a nearby listing, overnight camping is not permitted in this Demonstration Forest area. Only the campground run by PG&E is legal.
Guide--- Not a legal campsite: confirmed by CAL FIRE ---
I originally stopped here with an in-progress cargo trailer conversion because this looked like an excellent roadside pullout: large, easy to access, relatively level, and long enough to maneuver a truck and trailer without drama. As a short stop, turnaround, or day-use staging spot, it is genuinely useful. However, this should not be listed or treated as an overnight campsite. While I was on-site, I was contacted by Officer Steve Garcia with CAL FIRE, who advised me that overnight camping is not permitted at this location. I had interpreted the posted seasonal“no parking” signage as suggesting that public use might be allowed outside the snow-removal season, but he clarified that the signage relates to snow removal and does not authorize overnight camping in the Demonstration Forest area. For practical details: the pullout itself is easy to enter and exit, with enough room for a modest trailer rig to get fully out of traffic and turn around. Road noise drops off substantially overnight, though traffic begins again in the morning. The area may be useful for a brief rest stop, equipment check, turnaround, or day-use pause. But as a camping location, the important information is simple: Do not plan to camp here overnight. I’m updating this review so others don’t make the same assumption I did. This is a good pullout, but it is not a legal overnight campsite.
Camping sites near Alleghany, California range across elevations from 2,500 to 6,000 feet throughout the Sierra Nevada foothills, with most sites experiencing cool mornings even in summer months. The region encompasses both developed campgrounds with amenities and remote dispersed sites requiring high-clearance vehicles. Average daytime temperatures range 75-85°F in summer with nighttime lows dropping to 45-55°F.
Mountain biking on Pioneer Trail: Access this trail system directly from White Cloud Campground where riders find moderate terrain suitable for intermediate skills. "Pioneer trail is amazing for mountain biking and hiking," notes camper Deb P., who stayed at White Cloud.
Gold panning in local waterways: Bring basic panning equipment to try your luck at historic gold mining locations. Jordan L. from White Cloud Campground shares, "Hiked the pioneer trail and then went swimming in the lake nearby. Plenty to explore around here, ill definitely be coming back."
Paddling on mountain lakes: Sardine Lake offers calm morning waters perfect for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. "The lake is beautiful and try to hike to the waterfalls at the creek at the end of the lake if you can," recommends David L. who visits regularly.
Hike to Sierra Buttes Lookout: This challenging 5-mile round trip hike climbs 1,800 feet to a fire lookout with 360-degree views. "There are great trails to hike all over Lakes Basin with spectacular views of many different lakes," explains Audrey C., who frequently camps at Gold Lake.
Swimming holes of varying temperatures: Cooler swimming spots exist at higher elevations while lower river areas warm up by late summer. At River Rest Resort, Christina L. notes, "The main river pool gets busy, lots of kids, families etc. but in the early evening and morning it is pretty empty and was a great time to relax."
Morning solitude on lakes: Early risers appreciate the glass-like conditions before day visitors arrive. "Bowman Lake in the winter is amazing. Wait til the snow melts a bit and you can make your way down to the lake. Absolutely beautiful mornings!" shares Austin from Bowman Campground.
Off-grid experience: Many campgrounds offer true disconnection with no cell service. At Gold Lake 4x4 Campground, Rich N. states, "There is absolutely no cell service, so it was the perfect place to unplug and relax. We swam in the lake, it was so clear and the temperature was great."
Fishing in stocked lakes: Several area lakes maintain fish populations appealing to anglers. "Great campsite at the bottom of lower sardine lake. Busy on the weekends. Booking advised. Great fishing in the lower lake," reports Therese L.
Road conditions require planning: Many campgrounds need high-clearance or 4WD vehicles. At Gold Lake 4x4 Campground, Jake R. advises, "The 4x4 campground is great, stayed here a couple times now. The trail in isn't very challenging, the first rock section is a good 'gatekeeper' if you will. My 4runner made it in fine, small lift and 33's."
Bear safety is essential: Proper food storage required at all sites. "We've never had issues with animals or bugs at Bowman Lake," mentions David L., though bear boxes are provided at most established campgrounds.
Seasonal access limitations: Winter and early spring snow often closes roads until late May. For Bowman Lake, Jesse H. warns, "This lake and surrounding are beautiful. The drive in takes a long time over really rocky terrain. I traveled around 10 mph on the way in and out."
Bathroom facilities vary widely: From vault toilets to none at all. A camper at Bowman Campground notes, "Great open sites that are maintained. The Restroom was scary between the spider infestation and wasps, I'd rather nature potty, but there was little to duck behind."
Look for swimming areas with gradual entries: Families with small children prefer beaches with shallow water access. At Inn Town Campground, Hani S. shares, "We spent two nights doing a family and friends reunion. We loved our rv spot, the rest of the group had great tent site and glamping tents. Facilities were super clean and nice. Pool was small but the pool area was really nice."
Reserve early for summer weekends: Family-friendly campgrounds fill quickly between June-August. "This is a great campsite, with lots of amenities. Super family friendly. Lots of kids at this site," reports Christina L. about River Rest Resort.
Pack for temperature fluctuations: Nighttime temperatures can drop 30+ degrees from daytime highs. Christopher L. advises Gold Lake visitors, "Great campsite but hard to get to. Not bad if you have a 4x4 that's lifted with some all terrain tires. Overall nice and remote campground with great views."
Consider glamping options: For families new to camping or with very young children. Nicole G. recommends, "My friends and I did a group trip to Inntown in September. We loved it so much we booked another weekend to go back before we left. The owners are incredibly friendly and helpful."
Choose sites with level parking areas: South Yuba Campground offers limited RV spaces that don't require extensive leveling. John T. notes, "No cell signal here - speed test is from starlink. Note google & garmin routing from Nevada City takes a bridge with a 4 Ton weight restriction."
Water conservation strategies: Many campgrounds lack hookups, so bring adequate water supplies. At River Rest Resort, campers appreciate that "each campsite has water, electricity and full RV hookups. So lots of RV's at this location."
Measure clearance before booking: Low-hanging branches can damage RV roofs and accessories. Amanda M. from Inn Town Campground advises, "We have stayed in one of the glamping tents, and have also brought our RV. The common house has a fully stocked kitchen so you can camp without having to bring supplies!"
Check fire restrictions: Rules vary by season and location, affecting whether propane grills are needed. G H. states simply about Inn Town Campground, "Very nice campground with decent sites and stuff to do. Great area."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Alleghany, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Alleghany, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 378 campgrounds and RV parks near Alleghany, CA and 19 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Alleghany, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Alleghany, CA is White Cloud with a 4.3-star rating from 6 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Alleghany, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 19 free dispersed camping spots near Alleghany, CA.
What parks are near Alleghany, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 21 parks near Alleghany, CA that allow camping, notably Plumas National Forest and Martis Creek Lake.
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