Camping options around Big Bar, California range from established campgrounds to lakeside recreation areas throughout the Gold Country region. Acorn Campground provides sites for tents, RVs, and glamping experiences near New Hogan Reservoir, while Lake Camanche offers similar accommodations with lake access about 20 miles northeast of Big Bar. Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park Campground features tent and RV sites with historical significance and natural attractions. Several campgrounds in the area feature water access, picnic tables, fire rings, and basic amenities, making them suitable for family outings and weekend getaways.
Road conditions and campground amenities vary significantly by location and elevation. Many sites require advance reservations, especially during summer months and holiday weekends. Most campgrounds provide toilets, but shower availability is inconsistent across facilities. Drinking water is available at most established sites including Lake Amador Resort and Gold Country Campground Resort, though primitive locations may require bringing your own supplies. Cell service can be limited in canyon areas and around reservoirs. Seasonal water levels affect lake access, particularly during California's drought periods. According to one visitor, "The lake has receded quite a bit that one of the docks is about 100 yards from the actual lake now (California drought). The campsite was well maintained."
Campers report high satisfaction with sites near lakes and rivers, which are particularly popular during warmer months. Wildlife sightings are common, with multiple reviews mentioning deer encounters at campgrounds. Noise levels vary by location, with campgrounds closer to highways experiencing more road noise than more remote sites. Bathroom cleanliness receives positive mentions at several locations including Indian Grinding Rock State Park, where "very clean bathrooms are cleaned and sterilized twice a day according to the ranger." Shade coverage is important during hot summer days, with tree-covered sites being particularly desirable. Several campgrounds, including Jackson Rancheria RV Park and Gold Country Campground Resort, offer full hookups for RVs, while others like Acorn Campground maintain a more rustic atmosphere with basic amenities and proximity to natural features.
$20 / night
"A good clean campground, popular in central California. Reasonably priced $20 per night."
"The lake has receded quite a but that one of the docks is about 100 yards from the actual lake now (California drought). The campsite was well maintained."
$30 / night
"Next to a beautiful state operated historical park with lots of open space, tall ancient oak trees and two easy trails. Open space great for games, frisbee, soccer, or setup a volleyball net."
"So glad we did as it is tucked away on the grounds of an amazing state park! Most of the sites are small with a lot of tree coverage. It was quiet, quaint, and clean. "
$50 / night
"Easy access to the lake. Campground is well maintained. Bathrooms are always clean and with hot water. No shower at this site. But there’s one close by at the Riverview, walking distance."
"I come here with my family every year around 4th of July. I would book way ahead for busy holidays like that.
The water level really varies on the year."
$25 - $45 / night
"Fabulous lakeside camping.... We’ve been in March, May, July and September..... July, just too hot but we love being able to just get up and fish... The lake is stocked with Trout, Bass and Catfish."
"Lake water level was super low at end of summer & lake is hard to access. Unless you got a boat. Saw deer & wild turkeys. This park is huge."
"Staff a very friendly and our site was just a walking distance to the bathrooms."
"We used the spot to not be in the snow but make the trip up to Iron Mountain Sno-Park...a 45 minute drive. The snow looked great for skiing but not so much for snowmen or sledding."
$50 - $70 / night
"We wanted a close to home location with all the hookups to make sure we knew how to use everything. We were shocked at how clean and beautiful this park was!"
"Spacious , clean, very friendly staff, beautiful walking trail around the park. The views are so beautiful we will definitely come back!"
"This campground is located in Lake Pardee. Some sites have a beautiful view of the lake. Lake View also has several RV sites but reservations go quickly. The lake is for fishing and boating only."
$25 - $70 / night
"I think this is my favorite California State Park. It is situated in the Calaveras Big Trees Giant Sequoia Grove."
"It’s beauty and trees are unmatched anywhere in California. It is perfect for hiking, exploring, and nearby fishing."
"There are trees throughout the park and although it is located right on the road, only the sites that back up to the road hear road noise. There is a small pond in the center and we saw some ducks."
"We enjoyed walking around with our pets and getting ice cream. The only annoyance was loud music past curfew, but it was only on the weekend."
"The campsites are spacious and you don't feel over crowded if there is a family next to you. It's pet friendly."
"I pitched a tent in site 43 right next to the lake. Excellent place."
GuideHere in June and is beautiful it's right off the highway 50. I don't mind road noise myself. At night the hwy is quite. There's a fast flowing river that drowned out most road noise. Campsites are big and lots of space. Everyone has been very polite and informative.
ScoutWebsite says Luxurious sites, spacious sites. Our site was extremely narrow, sat on a hillside, unlevel, difficult to hook/unhook a 5th wheel because of the downhill. We booked a site for a 30 foot 5th wheel. After my negative review, they posted that LARGE trailers and 5th wheels might have issues??? 30 foot is not large. Our lawn chairs were literally 6 feet from our neighbors sewer hook up and our picnic table sat at about a 30 degree slope. They also said the staff tried to resolve my issues, which never happened. They have a lot of amenities, laundry, pool, etc. But the sites we saw were pretty much like ours. Make your own decisions, form your own opinions, but we'll never go back, nor will we recommend it to anyone.
GuideWe stayed here in our slide in camper and stayed in our rig in the parking lot. The host told us that a lot of people do that and they don’t care as long as you paid for your site.
ScoutThis campsite was well kept, in a beautiful area not toooo far from stores if you forget anything and a really beautiful creek and river around it. The camp hosts are nice and seem to really care about the property, which I love seeing. There is no electric hookups at least at some of the sites which is fine, just be aware to plan for that if you need any medical devices etc. The mosquitoes are rabid. So come prepared with the best repellent you can get. They keep the potties clean but like of spiders in them that have clearer been left there, one had a small wasps nest that I took care of since it was right by our head in the toilet. I also wouldn’t plan to swim, if it gets warm enough I guess, but the water is literally ice cold. I got in to my ankles and they were red and stinging after about 10 seconds.
While I understand most of their rules the one rule that is THE MOST insisted and on literally all points of booking and checking in is that they don’t allow any music of and level on any speakers. I understand quiet times and having a sound limit but absolutely no music seems extreme to me. Especially for families, my kids love music and it’s a daily part of our lives, and as a place they used to hold literal music festivals it seems a little saddening to me.
But overall it was a nice time.
ScoutThe campgrounds was well kept - grass was mowed - trashes empty. Beautiful little spot if you like to fish the delta. But they have a sign as you enter the property that says “Pay Here” but don’t do that because the prices on the sign are not correct, and the instructions are also incorrect… I guess. I know this because I was told that I got it wrong and if you argue about it, they will threaten to call the sheriff. I like sheriffs.
ScoutIt's been some years since I've been here but just downloaded this app. I wouldn't take my children now because of the river, but if it's just adults I think it's a great spot! Small and quiet!
TravelerI went up for Memorial Day weekend and it was a wonderful experience! I stayed in site M1. There is no visual of the river there, but it is a very short walk to get to the picnic area where you have full view.
The site was very close to the bathrooms and showers which was very convenient. The only downside is that you are right next to the entrance so you see a lot of cars go by, however it never caused an issue during our stay. We also didn’t see much wildlife, but again I think that was because of the proximity to the entrance.
Because you are close to the entrance though, we did have full access to wifi throughout the entire trip! If course we didn’t use it much because the goal was to disconnect, however if having connection is important to you, this is a great site!
ScoutWe stayed here in B loop site 25 over Memorial Day weekend. The site was FHU with a level concrete pad for the RV. Each site has a concrete picnic table and very large concrete fire pit. That’s where all the good things about this campground end.
There are burrs, goose poop and spiders everywhere. Tent campers are allowed to reserve FHU RV sites, and many do. Because the 6 people per site rule is NOT enforced, the tent campers easily infringe on others’ campsites and are constantly walking through others’ campsites. When asked about the tents in RV sites, the staff at the campground entrance shack stated “We do not discriminate”, which clearly contributes to the chaos of the campground. The staff at the entrance shack are rude and incompetent.
There is absolutely NO enforcement of quiet hours. Other campers keep their music loud and the party going all night, every night. They literally never turned it down and were blasting it like they were at the club… 12am, 2am, 4am, 6am… ALL NIGHT. My kids and I couldn’t get a good night sleep because of it. This is not a true family campground. It invites all the wrong elements, because they don’t enforce the rules. Drunken, loud, yelling campers are everywhere at all times.
This is not relaxing camping. It’s just non-stop loud music and partying. I would NEVER recommend this campground to people I actually like, and will never be returning.
TravelerFire swept through. It’s no more :( but it’s still a great spot to stop and fish!
5/26
Camping options near Big Bar, California range from basic tent sites to full-service RV resorts throughout the lower Sierra foothills. Elevations typically range from 700 to 2,500 feet, creating mild spring and fall camping conditions with hot summer days reaching 90-100°F. Winter camping is possible at lower elevations where snow rarely accumulates for long periods.
Disc golf courses: Lake Amador Resort offers multiple disc golf courses popular with campers. According to one visitor, "As disc golfers, of course we love camping here, having 3 courses to choose from. But there is something for everyone in the family here, there is amazing fishing, boating and swimming."
Historical exploration: Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park Campground offers a unique cultural experience. "This little park tucked into the Western Sierras will blow your mind. It is a significant Miwok Native American historical site, with home sites, ancient Oak trees, and literally thousands of grain, and acorn grinding stones located in the central part of the park," writes one camper.
Cave tours: Several campgrounds provide access to nearby cave systems. "Stop by the Black Chasm Cavern nearby. It's a small, but unique cavern about 5 minutes drive from campground and well worth the visit," notes one camper at Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park.
Paddling opportunities: Acorn Campground offers water recreation on New Hogan Reservoir. "We got in our kayaks for an awesome day paddle around the many coves of this reservoir. Since the lake level fluctuates there aren't many good beaches, but you can pull off to have a picnic lunch," reports one visitor.
Off-season tranquility: Many campgrounds are significantly less crowded outside summer months. A visitor to Lake Camanche mentioned, "We camped twice at this campground on the South Shore. We were the only ones camping on Christmas Weekend and we had a few neighbors when we went again in mid January."
Wildlife viewing: Animal sightings enhance the camping experience. At Lake Amador Resort, one camper noted, "The wildlife is RIGHT THERE! We saw a tarantula near the tee box on 2. I woke up with 4 deer casually strolling through our campsite, a huge group of turkeys were cruising around the whole weekend."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds feature swimming areas beyond typical lake access. A visitor to Gold Country Campground Resort shared, "Splash pad was great for the littles, definitely bring chairs down w you. The pool was closed down the day we all tried to get together."
Astronomy viewing: Dark skies allow for stargazing opportunities. At Lake Amador Resort, one camper reported, "It was a meteor shower night and it was amazing. I would recommend this place during the cooler months."
Insect management: Bees can be problematic during certain seasons. A Gold Country Campground Resort visitor warned, "The only and biggest downfall was the meat bees. Absolutely ruined the trip. We had a group of 9 families so we couldn't eat together cuz we all had to escape to our sites and quickly eat. Recommend bringing nets and tents to eat under."
Water level fluctuations: Reservoir levels vary significantly by season and drought conditions. A visitor to Acorn Campground noted, "Early summer is the best time to go for high lake levels. There is boating, fishing, water skiing, jet skiing, swimming etc available in the lake."
Limited connectivity: Cell service and internet are inconsistent. One camper at Gold Country Campground Resort shared, "Only issue was the internet was not working...and our T-Mobile phones didn't have coverage in the area. That's on us though. If you want cell service and reliable internet I don't think you can hold the campground liable for that!"
Site selection strategy: Some campgrounds have significant variation between sites. A camper at Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park advised, "Our site, 18, didn't have a very big tent pad, and our tent barely fit. The site was pretty large, but only one small flat part. Our friends had site 20, which had a couple flat spots, but none very big."
Water play alternatives: North Grove Campground at Calaveras Big Trees State Park offers river access. "This is a super magical park! Giant trees, great visitor center and junior ranger program, and swimming in the Stanislaus river (cold but refreshing!!)," reports one visitor.
Educational opportunities: Several campgrounds include interpretive programs for children. A visitor to Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park noted, "Stop by the free museum. The ranger was very knowledgeable and engaged the kids well covering the history of artifacts."
Outdoor game areas: Gold Country Campground Resort provides multiple recreation options. According to one camper, "Good family place. Nice Splash pad and pool. Nothing fancy but it works. They also have a mini golf course."
Traffic considerations: Some campgrounds feature low-traffic roads ideal for bike riding. A visitor to Gold Country Campground Resort shared, "Little traffic so our kids could ride their bikes with no worries. Definitely worth coming back for the price."
Site layout awareness: Jackson Rancheria RV Park offers premium view sites. "We specifically stayed in spot 24, but any of the spots along the back have a beautiful view of the canyon," advises one RVer.
Hookup availability: Many campgrounds offer varying levels of services. A visitor to Jackson Rancheria RV Park noted, "The grounds are clean, nice level concrete spaces with lots of grass around them. Easy to social distance."
Off-season camping: Winter camping is available with proper preparation. An RVer at Lake Camanche wrote, "We've been camping here for 10 years now. Always 4+ campsites for 4-5 days around July 4th weekend (reserve at least 6months out) to start our year off. And at least once a month thru Sept/Oct."
Extended stay options: Some campgrounds accommodate longer visits. A visitor to 49er Village RV Resort shared, "We stayed here for a little over 2 months while waiting for our home to be built. It felt like we were on vacation every night. Pool is open in the winter with heating and a tent over top."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Big Bar, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Big Bar, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 304 campgrounds and RV parks near Big Bar, CA and 16 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Big Bar, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Big Bar, CA is Acorn Campground with a 3.6-star rating from 28 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Big Bar, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 free dispersed camping spots near Big Bar, CA.
What parks are near Big Bar, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 26 parks near Big Bar, CA that allow camping, notably New Hogan Lake and New Melones Lake.
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