377 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Forest Knolls, California cluster primarily in the Sierra Nevada foothills and around Nevada City, with options ranging from developed sites to more primitive camping areas. The Inn Town Campground in Nevada City provides tent and RV camping with amenities including showers, toilets, and picnic tables, while Collins Lake Recreation Area offers a broader range of accommodation types including cabins and glamping options. Most campgrounds in the region maintain facilities for both tent and RV camping, with varying levels of hookups and services depending on the specific location.
Road conditions and accessibility vary significantly across camping areas in the region, with some sites requiring high-clearance vehicles for access. Many campgrounds operate seasonally, with several open only from late spring through early fall. Giant Gap Campground, for example, operates from May 14 to October 20, while White Cloud Campground is available from June 20 to September 27. Reservations are recommended for most developed campgrounds, especially during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. As one visitor noted about Gold Lake 4x4 Campground, "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."
Campers consistently highlight the natural beauty and water access available at many sites in the region. Several campgrounds provide direct access to lakes or rivers, offering opportunities for swimming, fishing, and boating. The proximity to hiking trails represents another commonly mentioned benefit, with many campgrounds serving as convenient baselines for day hikes. A visitor to Wild Plum Campground described it as "a beautiful campground close to the Yuba on Haypress Creek. Large campsites in the pine forest with lots of privacy at most sites." Campgrounds closer to Nevada City and Grass Valley provide more amenities and easier access to services, while those farther into the Sierra Nevada mountains offer greater seclusion but typically fewer facilities. Bear activity is common throughout the region, with most developed campgrounds providing bear-resistant food storage options.
"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."
"This campground is above Marysville California."
"They were both lake front campsites, which meant the water or shoreline was right at our "front door" from our 27' travel trailer."
"This is a smaller but nice lake. It hasn’t ever been over crowded when I’ve gone. The reason I like this spot is because campsites C3-C10 have the most shade you can hope for!"
"They have a convenience store that is walkable distance to get supplies, food, candy from. You should reserve a spot right on the lake. If you have a boat you can anchor it right in front."
from $42 - $53 / night
Check Availability"The site was spacious and a short walk to the reservoir and trail. We hiked around the entire reservoir and it was gorgeous."
"The campsites are all very nice but 23 and 24 can’t be beat with the best access to the water ( you will have a lot of people walking by to get there also though)."
from $24 - $48 / night
Check Availability"Very peaceful and the fairgrounds are open during the day to walk around."
"Really nice with the lake and quiet woods feeling. No hassle booking and really reasonable price. Huge sites like 150x18 or there abouts."
"Reserved 2 campsites next to each other for 10 family members for Father’s Day weekend 2019. Sites were large and not too close to each other so plenty of room to spread out. "
"Price is a bit steep IMO but the site was nice, a quick walk to the lake to cool off."
from $39 - $51 / 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
Check Availability"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"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"It was quiet and private, but close to the hosts so they visited when I had questions about the best spots for swimming and hiking nearby."
"Had a fire in the fire pit and enjoyed the quiet(except for the coyotes in the distance!). Galen, our host, was always available to answer questions and to bring extra firewood."
from $55 / night
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.
LegendGeneral: Beals Point is one of two locations on Folsom Lake for camping. Large campground with a mix of electric and non-electric campsites plus some group sites.
Site Quality: Drives are paved and mostly level. We camped in a little “cul-de-sac” with just four sites. While these sites back up to the American River Bike Trail (aka Jedediah Smith Recreation Trail), it was overgrown, and I did not see direct access to the trail as we did the last time we were here.
Bath/Shower: Typical CA state park layout– all-gender units with toilet and sink (but no soap, towels, or dryers) and showers. Unlike other CA state parks, these take quarters instead of tokens. The units could use a little TLC, but what was most disheartening was how other campers had trashed them– toilet paper (and worse) scattered all over the insides. Obviously not the fault of the campground.
Activities/Amenities: Folsom Lake is the draw, and people were fishing, kayaking, and swimming. The 32-mile paved multi-use American River Bike Trail is easily accessible. There is a snack bar/concession stand for beach rentals, but it was not open when we were there.
Our stay here this time was over a weekend; it was completely full, and it reminded us once again that we prefer to camp during the week and shoulder seasons when campgrounds are less crowded!
LegendI invite you to take a look at the pictures. This is a simple gravel parking lot with hookups. There's nothing special about this location.
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
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.
Camping sites near Forest Knolls, California range from developed campgrounds to more secluded options within the Sierra Nevada foothills. Elevations typically vary between 2,000 and 4,000 feet, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during the day and dropping to 50-60°F at night. Most campgrounds in this region experience seasonal closures due to snow conditions at higher elevations.
Swimming in natural waters: Collins Lake Recreation Area offers excellent swimming opportunities in a clean, well-maintained lake environment. "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. Great location for swimming in the Yuba river!" noted Hani S.
Fishing access: At Giant Gap Campground, visitors can enjoy fishing at the adjacent reservoir. One camper reported, "Such a beautiful lake for paddleboarding as there are no motor boats. Quiet, secluded, flat campsites. There is a great trail that goes entirely around the lake."
Trail exploration: The White Cloud Campground provides access to the Pioneer Trail, ideal for both hiking and mountain biking. A visitor commented, "So fun and quiet for the most part. Traffic noise from 20 was the only drawback so next time will choose a campsite on the back side. Pioneer trail is amazing for mountain biking and hiking."
Private, spacious sites: Inn Town Campground offers well-separated campsites that create a sense of privacy despite proximity to Nevada City. Nicole G. shared, "The campsites are well maintained, there is water nearby all sites and they drive thru the campground once a day to pick up trash in case you don't want to haul it to the dumpster. They have dish washing stations and the absolute nicest, cleanest bathrooms/showers I've ever seen in a campground."
Lake views: Many campers appreciate the waterfront sites at Rollins Lake, particularly in the Greenhorn Campground area. Ed S. mentioned, "This is a smaller but nice lake. It hasn't ever been over crowded when I've gone. The reason I like this spot is because campsites C3-C10 have the most shade you can hope for! There is a little waterfall and creek running behind the campsites so you get the trickling water sound."
Common facilities: Several campgrounds provide community spaces that enhance the camping experience. At Inn Town Campground, Amanda M. found, "The common house has a fully stocked kitchen so you can camp without having to bring supplies! The campground is exceptionally clean and meticulously maintained. We even had a heated mattress pad in our glamping tent to keep warm."
Road access considerations: Some campgrounds have difficult access roads requiring specific vehicles. Stephanie C. warns about Giant Gap Campground: "Be warned though, Google maps will suggest driving up Iowa Hill. DO NOT. Follow the directions of the campground, that road is not for the faint of heart. And NOT for RVs or trailers."
Noise levels: Proximity to highways affects some campgrounds. At White Cloud Campground, Rory R. noted, "Awesome spots to camp, it's just insanely close to the 20 so you'll hear non-stop traffic."
Site spacing: Campground density varies significantly in the region. At Nevada County Fairgrounds, David C. observed, "Very very small sites. Hardly enough space to put out the awning and set up some chairs. Just can't recommend based on the very cramped conditions. Sites are not very level either. I needed to raise my front end 6 inches to get level."
Kid-friendly amenities: Collins Lake Recreation Area offers multiple activities for children. Coleen C. shared, "Had a great site big enough for a couple of tents. Nice clean site near lake. Hubby enjoyed fishing. Kids loved canoeing out onto the lake. Amazed to watch a bald eagle grab a fish and fly away."
Playground access: Some campgrounds feature dedicated play areas for children. Rachel noted about Scotts Flat Lake, "Showers are HOT, and there is a playground for kids. Never had issues with noise or people partying too late!"
Swimming safety: When camping with children, select sites with calm water access. Julie B. mentioned about Collins Lake, "The only good thing it has is the lake. You can just play in the water all day and it is right there. If you want to be close to the water and don't mind people then this is the place for you."
Site leveling: When selecting an RV site, check for level conditions. At Nevada County Fairgrounds, James B. reported, "Had spot in rear of facility. Lots of room uneven grass surface but auto leveled no problem. Small pond for kids only fishing. Easy freeway access can get to town on surface streets. Overall was quiet clean safe."
Hookup availability: RV campers should confirm which services are available. At Nevada County Fairgrounds, marcus K. noted, "Hookup campsites are demarcated by white powder on the ground. If you dont need hookups looks like you can go anywhere."
Lakefront RV sites: For RVers wanting lake views, Collins Lake offers premium waterfront options. Ed E. shared, "Both campsites, #66 and #116 had power, water and sewage. They were both lake front campsites, which meant the water or shoreline was right at our 'front door' from our 27' travel trailer."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Forest Knolls, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Forest Knolls, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 377 campgrounds and RV parks near Forest Knolls, CA and 18 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Forest Knolls, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Forest Knolls, CA is Inn Town Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 13 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Forest Knolls, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 free dispersed camping spots near Forest Knolls, CA.
What parks are near Forest Knolls, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 21 parks near Forest Knolls, CA that allow camping, notably Plumas National Forest and Martis Creek Lake.
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