Best Tent Camping near Goodyears Bar, CA
Tent campsites surrounding Goodyears Bar, California provide access to mountain lakes and forested terrain in Tahoe National Forest. Primitive tent campgrounds like Fiddle Creek and Carlton Flat offer walk-in tent camping near the Yuba River, while Bowman Lake Dispersed camping provides more remote backcountry options for tent campers seeking solitude approximately 15 miles northwest of Nevada City.
Access routes to many tent areas require high-clearance vehicles, particularly at sites like Bowman Lake where visitors frequently encounter rough terrain. Most tent-only sites include fire rings and picnic tables, though fire restrictions often apply during summer and fall months. Bear boxes are available at several tent campgrounds, including Fiddle Creek, where proper food storage is essential. Vault toilets are common at established campgrounds, but dispersed camping areas typically lack facilities. Campers should bring sufficient water supplies, as drinking water is limited to only a few locations such as Loganville Campground. The camping season generally runs from late April through October, with higher elevation sites remaining snow-covered until late spring.
Tent campers at Fiddle Creek enjoy direct river access, though the proximity to Highway 49 creates occasional traffic noise. Walk-in tent sites provide a buffer from parking areas, creating a more natural camping experience. Forested areas offer welcome shade during summer months, particularly at primitive tent sites like those at Carlton Flat. According to one visitor, "Gates are closed but they will open soon, awesome place for bird watching, hanging up your hammock and enjoying nature." The most secluded tent camping options require additional effort to reach, with Bowman Lake demanding careful navigation but rewarding campers with lakeside tent sites. One camper noted that the Bowman Lake area was "a slice of heaven, but only accessible by way of 4x4 with decent clearance."
