Folsom Lake State Recreation Area provides year-round camping opportunities near Gold Run, California, which sits at 3,415 feet elevation in the Sierra Nevada foothills. During summer months, daytime temperatures often exceed 90°F while winters bring significant snowfall that can affect road access to campgrounds. The area features a mix of established campgrounds and RV parks along the I-80 corridor between Auburn and Truckee.
What to do
Swimming and water activities: South Yuba Campground offers excellent access to the Yuba River with multiple swimming spots. "The 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. Perfect snow melt means August is the prime time," notes Anna R.
Fishing opportunities: French Meadows provides good trout fishing from May through October. Reviewers mention varying water levels affect fishing conditions. "Great trout fishing," states Toby R., adding a practical warning that visitors should be "advised" about "bear country" and "extreme fire danger the summer months."
Hiking trail access: Lake of the Springs RV Resort offers trails with wildlife viewing opportunities. "Great views on first loop and wildlife throughout! Lake is beautiful too," reports Nicole R. The campground features natural surroundings where deer often approach campsites.
What campers like
Private swimming areas: "This is one of the best sites there is. 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," writes J.d. E. about South Yuba Campground.
Seasonal lake activities: Thousand Trails Lake of the Springs offers warm-water swimming during summer months. Nicole G. shares, "We had such a fun time at this campground. Each day a family of deer came thru our site and were so tame they ate fruit right out of the kids' hands. So cool! It was over 100 degrees the wknd we were there so we spent practically the whole wknd in the lake."
Winter camping options: Some rv parks near Gold Run remain open year-round despite seasonal challenges. One camper at Tahoe Valley Campground reports, "We ended up camping in a truck camper after being caught in a snow storm. For a last minute find, it turned out to be an awesome choice. It was the weekend after Thanksgiving and snowing so there were a handful of people at the campground and the entire place was very quiet."
What you should know
Road access limitations: Several Gold Run area campgrounds require navigating challenging roads. One reviewer at French Meadows notes, "Long somewhat treacherous drive to get there," while another adds, "Slightly long to get to on the windy roads at night time, but during the day the drive back wasn't bad."
Seasonal facility limitations: Water availability varies seasonally at many campgrounds. "Water pumps were good in the locations where water was present, but due to lower water levels, the pumps on the higher grounds had no water; had to walk to the lowest pumps," reports Anastasia P.
Cell service gaps: Many campgrounds have limited or no connectivity. At South Yuba Campground, one camper notes, "No cell signal here - speed test is from starlink," while Nicole R. reports about Lake of the Springs: "No cell service in any of the loops and WiFi isn't great."
Tips for camping with families
Group camping facilities: Coyote Group Campground provides large group sites with amenities for families. "Large group camp site with lots of flat places to pitch a tent. Clean pit toilets. 3x Bear food and 4x trash/recycling bins. 2 (or 3?) water spigots. 4 big picnic tables," reports Tyler M.
Swimming safety considerations: Lakes offer safer swimming than rivers for young children. At Lake Francis Resort, a visitor notes, "Nice quiet lake. Good campsites. Good general store and even a little restaurant and ice cream shack." Some Gold Run area campgrounds have designated swimming areas with gradual entries.
Bear-proofing requirements: Most campgrounds require proper food storage. "Bear country be advised," warns Toby R. Another camper at Coyote Group Campground suggests, "There could be an additional bear bin to support as much food/scented items as a group of 25 would need. We ended up using the extra bear-proof trash bins as overflow scented item/food storage."
Tips from RVers
Site spacing variations: RV parks in Gold Run offer different privacy levels. A visitor at Dutch Flat RV Resort notes, "Nestled in the pine forest of the Sierra foothills gold country, this park has the potential for greatness, tempered by a somewhat cluttered and trashy appearance. Our site had several old rugs and leveling Timbers left behind, for example. Most sites are neither flat nor level, but close enough to get level."
Terrain challenges: Many rv parks around Gold Run feature uneven terrain. One camper at French Meadows cautions, "Two thirds of the campsites were on a slope with no where to setup a tent on level ground. We got lucky and reserved a site with a 'decent' spot to place a tent but if you have never been and don't know what sites to pick while making reservations online then you are rolling the dice."
Long-term vs. overnight stays: Some RV parks have both vacation and permanent residents. A Random E. at Dutch Flat RV Resort observed, "I stayed at Dutch Flat RV for a year. It is a nice campground with some beautiful hikes starting at the campground. Good mix of vacation and working residents. Everyone pretty much stays to themselves but are quite friendly."
