Grass Valley sits at approximately 2,500 feet elevation in California's Gold Country, where pine forests meet oak woodlands. Summers reach 90°F while winter temperatures often drop below freezing with occasional snow. Campgrounds in this region typically operate year-round with limited services during winter months.
What to do
Hike through gold rush history: At Coloma Resort, visitors can explore nearby historic sites. "This place is north east of Sacramento... You can pan for gold, relax, or bike, hike along the river, and kids can play along several playgrounds for kids of different ages," notes camper Rosina A.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Sycamore Ranch offers excellent bird watching. "My favorite thing about this campground is the birds! I use the Merlin app to identify the birds here and so far this place holds my record of around 18 birds not including the more silent ones we saw. There are turtles and otters in the creek to check out as well," shares camper B. Douglas J.
Water recreation: Multiple lakes provide paddling options. "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. Great location for swimming in the Yuba river!" says Hani S. about Inn Town Campground.
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Sycamore Ranch RV Park offers well-maintained sites. "Shaded grassy sites along the banks of Dry Creek (which was full of water when we visited) just above its confluence with the Yuba River. We were tent camping, but each site had a nice, flat, paved parking pad and hookups," reports Chris &.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain high standards. "The bathrooms are spotless and they offer a lot of amenities for families. We are two single adults and to no fault of their own there was a lot of children running around, riding bikes and it seemed like everyone had a dog," Susan S. mentions about Coloma Resort.
Yurt camping options: Grass Valley, California features multiple yurt accommodations. High Camp offers premium yurt camping with modern amenities. "Jake here from the Dyrt! I had the opportunity to talk with Bonnie about her yurt and the great camping experience she hopes to provide for everyone who stops by," notes Jake C.
What you should know
Water levels vary seasonally: Lake access changes throughout the year. "Just an FYI, in the Spring, the water level is much higher so the water line is closer to the campsites, especially #66. In the fall, pre-winter, the water level is much lower. It was about a 50 yard walk down to the water from #116 camp site," explains Ed E. from Collins Lake Recreation Area.
Fire restrictions: Many campgrounds limit open fires. "They do not allow wood burning fires, but you can use a gas fire ring or rent one from the campground. It's just outside Nevada City but you feel completely in nature thanks to all the big redwoods in camp," Nicole G. shares about Inn Town Campground.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely. "A bit out in middle of no where! But once inside park it's really nice if you can get a full hook up spot.... those are limited!" warns Betty K. about Lake of the Springs. Another camper, Pamela H., adds "Very nice campground, but cell coverage is nonexistent outside of one small area."
Tips for camping with families
Wildlife encounters: Lake of the Springs RV Resort offers unique animal sightings. "We had such a fun time at this campground. Our site was in Section A on a dry creek bed. Each day a family of deer came thru our site and were so tame they ate fruit right out of the kids' hands," Nicole G. shares.
Swimming options: Multiple water features cater to different ages. "The pool goes from 3.5' ft to 5' back to 3.5' ft," explains Gina C. about Lake Francis Resort, adding "There is also a small game room with a pool table, a baseball field, paddle boats, and kayaks to rent."
Campground layouts: Consider site proximity when booking. "The sun shade provided in the tent sites came in handy when we had a short moment of rain. It was also much appreciated during the sunny weather," notes Karen T. about Coloma Resort, but cautions "The sites are very close to each other but they are spacious."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. "Had a standard Hookup-RV-Spot. Was very uneven, couldn't get the RV level," reports Sebastian M. about Auburn Gold Country RV Park.
Electrical availability: Check for potential issues. "There wasn't a single day when some campsite didn't have electrical issues, in fact they turned a lot of their RV sites into Tent Sites because of electrical issues," warns Eric P. about Lake of the Springs RV Resort.
Hookup options: Facilities vary between campgrounds. "They do have a nice dump station row just outside the camping sites, so it is not necessary to have RV sewage at your campsite, which saves you a few $," notes Ed E. about Collins Lake Recreation Area.
