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Plumas National Forest surrounds Portola, California, providing a range of camping experiences from developed sites to remote backcountry options. Grasshopper Flat campground offers lakeside camping with decent-sized sites and proximity to town, while Gold Lake 4x4 Campground requires high-clearance vehicles but rewards visitors with stunning views of the Sierra Buttes. Several RV parks operate in the area, including Clio's Rivers Edge, Little Bear, and Movin' West, all offering full hookups and seasonal operation from spring through fall. Plumas-Eureka State Park Campground provides both tent and RV sites with amenities like showers and a camp store. The region's camping options typically operate between April and October, with most facilities closing during winter months.
Road conditions vary significantly throughout the area, with some campgrounds requiring careful navigation on rough forest roads. As one camper noted about Gold Lake 4x4 Campground, "This site requires a high clearance vehicle with good off-road tires. We saw a truck that ripped their entire exhaust system out from the rocks." Most campgrounds in the region have limited or no cell service, particularly in more remote locations. Bear activity necessitates proper food storage, with some sites providing bear boxes. Fire restrictions are common during summer and fall, with regulations varying by location and season. Temperatures can drop significantly at night even during summer months due to the higher elevation, requiring appropriate gear for comfort.
Lakeside camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors, with several mentioning the peaceful settings and mountain views. One camper at Grasshopper Flat noted it was "terrific proximity to lake and decent sized camping sites. Nearby Portola, and easy drive from the Reno area." Sites with more privacy tend to be located farther from main roads, though they often require more challenging access. Generator noise can be an issue at some campgrounds, particularly for tent campers, though most locations enforce quiet hours. Wildlife sightings are common, with visitors reporting bears, deer, and various bird species. Weekday visits typically offer more solitude, while weekends see higher occupancy rates, especially during summer months when reservations are strongly recommended for the more popular sites.
"It’s a cute RV park, it’s clean and close to a little town the bad thing is that every space is so close to each other, you have next to you their services and it’s impossible to access your storage without"
"Secured large dog area with running creek within walking distance. A number of lower RV spaces within walking pathways to creek. Most were 30 amps and upper level had some 50 amps."
"Had a great time here - terrific proximity to lake & decent sized camping sites. Nearby Portola, & easy drive from the Reno area."
"Super easy access to the lake from this site where you can paddle board and kayak in peace."
from $38 - $100 / night
Check Availability"Situated out in the Sierra Buttes in California. This bad boy was shown to me by my father. A place to really escape the busy city life, let alone people."
"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."
"Close to Graeagle, Ca. Lakes and fishing nearby."
"It’s right on the Feather river, with a refreshing swimming hole walking distance from the campground. Plumas Eureka state park offers a number of hikes that even little ones can manage."
from $39 - $47 / night
Check Availability"It was a great RV park to stay at in Graeagle, California. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The atmosphere is great. The town is only 1 mile from the RV park and you can easily walk there."
"Short walk to town for a morning of mini golf. Even though the park is close to the road, I didn't hear anything. Memorial day weekend George hosted camp-wide dinner of BBQ tri-tip and kielbasa."
"My all Time favorite spot maybe because I grew up in the area and there are lots of wonderful hikes lakes and waterfalls. This park is nice well taken care of lots of redwood trees."
"Went to Wade's Lake in Plumas NF on July 5th & 6th. Easy to moderate climb; one from the trailhead at Jaimison Mine and the second to get up to Wade's."
from $35 - $250 / night
Check Availability"We had great time at sardine lake campground. Great place for active families. Gorgeous view of sardine lake and sand pond in walking distance and lots of other lakes around the area."
"Campground was situated nicely with perfect trees for our hammocks and bathrooms were tidy."
from $24 - $48 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful meadow that goea for miles right next to the campground. Crocker Meadow."
from $15 / night
RangerWe got a full hookup 50 amp back in site next to the trout pond. Sites are level and the park is easy to navigate. Park has laundry, showers and a dump station with water fill. Walking distance to grocery and dining. Access to hike/bike trails. Although close to highway the back of the campground was pretty quiet.
TravelerA peaceful and small campground near Lake Tahoe!
ScoutTakes a good hour plus to get from 80 to the French Meadows area. Very windy drive, road a bit rough, watch out for rocks. Campground is very quiet. Great hiking trails and gets nice and dark at night. Seems to be a good camp for fishermen. No hooks up, but a dump station up the road. Site size is typically much smaller that stated. May be tough for longer campers and trucks. Rangers are very relax. Will be back.
ScoutWe paid for 5 nights, and left after four. The first day we were immediately approached by the host who rudely lectured about us leaving a phone number off of the pay envelope. The envelope had no designated spot for a phone number. She then handed us a list off rules: No dogs of leash, no generator off the blacktop, no outdoor showers, no chainsaw, and on and on. We were the only ones who kept our dog on a leash. She sold us two bundles of pine firewood the first night then proceeded to tell us the next day the water would be off and we couldn’t have a campfire. Friday night comes around and starting at 11 pm a woman is screaming and our tent is lit up by spotlights. She continues her drunken screams until 12:30 which we figure out she is calling a dog. The spotlights stayed on until 2am. The host lives way above the campground and there is no possible way she can hear the goings on at night. We also have no way of contacting her. Saturday morning we are told the water will be off and this time we are not allowed to use our stove or lanterns. We were forced to cut our trip short because we had no way to cook our meals or have adequate lighting once it got dark. I initially planned to stop payment on the check I wrote but felt that wouldn’t be right because we had a few good days. I contacted them and was told we were not forced to leave left on our own so we wouldn’t be getting a refund. The host was very overbearing she even knocked on our neighbors camper door accusing him of leaving the toilet seat up in the outhouse. Our vacation was ruined
ScoutExcellent staff and facilities. Quite. Well located and laid out.
TravelerSAFETY HAZARDS: So many trees cut down with branches and debris left over and not picked up by the contractor or the USFS that could cause injury or death. Imagine tripping or falling in a hole and being punctured by pointy branches. I am sure this was not inspected after the contractor left or prior to departure.
HEALTH: Womens bathroom was open on Saturday 12 Sep 26, but then it was locked on Sunday 13 Sep 26. Water spigots were also turned off outside. The RV dump station down the street was also closed too. Not sure what happening here as it is not the end of the season yet.
SITES: Images online are not current/out-of-date, don't trust it. Many sites including mine had a lot of trees and now it has 1 or 2, with many stumps and debris left behind. Many sites have zero trees now. Our 20ft campervan barely fit on the asphalt pad and many were only about 10-15 feet long and then others were over 50. I guess you take a chance on what is real and what is not.
SIDEBAR: Over at the North campground, I saw cleanup crews with chainsaws doing work within 10-15 feet of a family who was camping and eating breakfast at the table. I would think this would be a not only a noise issue but also flying debris issue. I guess the USFS does not care about safety of the paying public.
OVERALL: I understand fire prevention, but when you cut down living trees and leave behind the branches and such to dry out, now that is a new fire hazard along with the safety hazard. So sad to see such nice campgrounds being turned into such eyesores and hazards. If you have small children, senior citizens or pets, I would strongly urge you not to make a reservation here. If you just need to a place to park your camper(not tent) then it would be okay as long as you are away during the day as there is very limited shade now. Oh, I forget to say my parents raised me here and they lived here after I went in the Navy and this is an embarrassment to the Almanor Ranger District in Chester.
TravelerWe were able to get a spot on a Saturday evening thanks to some no-shows! Large space for our rpod.
GuideLots of sites available midweek. Summer weekends may be all about dirt bikes. $20 cash/night self check-in no reservations. No campfires or outdoor charcoal fires are allowed in August. Bear containers. Tables. Lake views and access.
GuideWe got here around midnight and were the only ones here. GPS took us right here. The roads were wide and well maintained. I couldn’t hear the noise from the road and it was very peaceful. It also had a nice 360° view. There were bathrooms, picnic tables, fire pits, and grills. Plenty of room for a bigger rig.
Camping options near Portola, California range from lakeside sites to high-elevation forest retreats at 4,500-5,000 feet. The region experiences significant temperature variations with summer days reaching 85°F and nighttime temperatures dropping to 40-45°F even in July and August. Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from late spring through mid-fall, with limited winter access due to snow conditions.
Hiking to alpine lakes: From Sardine Lake campground, access trails leading to scenic destinations. "There's a bar/shack on the water at the resort which is so cute and fun too. It's not open but for like a couple hours before each dinner seating but it's still fun none the less," notes one camper. Another mentions "Trail to the upper lake is a nice steady incline. About an hour there and back. Little shade so wear a hat."
Bird watching: The meadows and lakes provide excellent opportunities for spotting diverse bird species. At Grasshopper Flat, one visitor reported "AWESOME for birding - Bald Eagles 🦅, Pelicans, woodpeckers, chickadees & ravens - this is the Sierra after all." Another camper at Gold Lake mentioned seeing "a Bald Eagle dive and grab a fish."
Swimming in clear mountain waters: Sand Pond near Sardine Lake offers excellent swimming opportunities. "Sand Pond is great for swimming," reports a camper. Grasshopper Flat provides "easy access to the lake from this site where you can paddle board and kayak in peace," according to a recent visitor.
Spacious camping areas: Many campsites provide ample room for equipment and activities. A Grasshopper Flat visitor noted they had a "large area to spread gear out in, easy walk to semi-private cove on lake." Another mentioned, "Site 23 was shorter than expected which upped the parking challenge but squeezed in okay."
Clean facilities: Plumas-Eureka State Park Campground maintains well-kept amenities. "Our campsite (52) was towards the back, so it felt like we had a good amount of privacy even though there were many other campers," reports one visitor. Another noted, "At the campground, there are flushing toilets, water spigots, showers, and dumpsters."
Peaceful environment: The remote location provides quiet camping experiences. A visitor to Crocker Campground observed, "It is quiet with a couple pit toilets. There was only one other camper when I was there so we had most the place to ourselves." Plumas-Eureka campers appreciate that "Campground was full but very quiet."
Vehicle requirements: Access to some campgrounds requires appropriate vehicles. At Gold Lake 4x4 Campground, "The trail in isn't very challenging, the first rock section is a good 'gatekeeper' if you will. My 4runner made it in fine, small lift and 33's. Never touched sliders, but the wheels & skids got some new scratches."
Cell service limitations: Connectivity is minimal throughout the region. One camper at Plumas-Eureka State Park highlighted "the best..no cell phone coverage!!" This makes the area ideal for disconnecting but requires advance planning for navigation and emergencies.
Weather preparedness: Mountain weather can change rapidly. A camper at Grasshopper Flat noted their visit included both perfect conditions and challenging weather, recommending layered clothing and rain gear even in summer.
Kid-friendly water activities: Clio's Rivers Edge RV Park offers options for families with children. "Kid friendly with activities and play areas. Pet park for off leash play! Clean and friendly staff!" one camper reports. Another notes "The kids scootered and rode bikes along the camp roads, and drivers were cautious and patient."
Weekday visits recommended: For quieter experiences and better site selection, avoid weekends during peak season. A Sardine Lake camper noted, "Busy on the weekends. Booking advised." Gold Lake 4x4 Campground visitors suggested "if you get there on a weekend get there early because sites fill up fast."
Educational opportunities: Plumas-Eureka State Park offers historical learning experiences. "There's a museum on site at the check-in area," notes one visitor, making it an excellent option for families looking to combine outdoor recreation with educational activities.
Site positioning considerations: At Movin' West RV Park, RVers should consider privacy factors. "It would be even better if there was more space between each RV spot. It feels like your neighbor is right there in your business all the time. They put up fences to give some semblance of privacy but it doesn't really help because they are only partial fences," reports one camper.
Dump station access: Several RV parks in the area offer full hookups, but not all have dump stations. Little Bear RV Park visitors appreciate that "the bathroom/shower was closed and I wish there had been easier access to the river but other than that it was a great place to stay."
Level site availability: Many campgrounds feature level pads that simplify setup. A Clio's Rivers Edge visitor noted "The sites are level and the scenery is breathtaking," while another mentioned "Check in was super easy with the host George escorting us to our site."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Portola, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Portola, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 310 campgrounds and RV parks near Portola, CA and 29 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Portola, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Portola, CA is Clio's Rivers Edge RV Park with a 4.7-star rating from 12 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Portola, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 29 free dispersed camping spots near Portola, CA.
What parks are near Portola, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 19 parks near Portola, CA that allow camping, notably Plumas National Forest and Martis Creek Lake.
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