The Loma Rica area sits at an elevation of around 1,700 feet in the western Sierra Nevada foothills. Camping options near Loma Rica, California typically experience hot, dry summers with temperatures reaching into the 90s while winter brings cooler temperatures and occasional rainfall. Most RV campgrounds near Loma Rica remain accessible year-round with dirt and gravel roads that can become dusty during summer months.
What to do
River activities: South Yuba River offers prime swimming spots during warmer months. "This river trail is the best in the state. Clear water, lovely pools," notes Anna R., who adds, "The river is beloved by kayakers and swimmers. Perfect snow melt means August is the prime time."
Fishing: Lake Minden provides stocked fishing opportunities for anglers. "Last trip we caught 3 bass and 12 bluegills. This trip we caught a personal record size bass. Great place for fishing all day," shares Jon F. The lake is accessible with multiple fishing spots along the shoreline.
Wildlife viewing: Thousand Trails Lake of the Springs offers natural encounters with local animals. "Great views on first loop and wildlife throughout! Lake is beautiful too," writes Nicole R. Another camper, Nicole G., mentions, "Each day a family of deer came thru our site and were so tame they ate fruit right out of the kids' hands."
What campers like
Waterfront campsites: Several campgrounds offer sites with river and lake access. Chris &. from Sycamore Ranch RV Park shares, "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. I took advantage of the water and after getting shuttled up to the bridge kayaked down the Yuba and up dry creek all the way to our campsite!"
Shaded locations: Tree cover provides essential relief during hot months. "The campground itself is pretty standard, sites are decent size, and lots of shade. There is a path down to the Yuba River, where you can get in the water or float on a tube," notes Julie D. about Loganville Campground.
Clean facilities: Many campers value well-maintained bathrooms and showers. "Bathrooms are pretty clean and you have to pay for showers (which we didn't use)," mentions Suzanne S. Another camper at South Yuba Campground stated, "There's hiking access to the river, and almost never anybody at this campground. It's scenic privacy at its best."
What you should know
Cell service: Connectivity varies dramatically throughout the region. "Very nice campground, but cell coverage is nonexistent outside of one small area," reports Pamela H. about Lake of the Springs. Similarly, Nicole R. notes, "No cell service in any of the loops and WiFi isn't great."
Electrical reliability: Some campgrounds experience power issues during peak season. Eric P. at Lake of the Springs observed, "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."
Seasonal closures: Not all campgrounds operate year-round. Loganville Campground is available only from "April 25 to October 18," according to official listings, with one visitor reporting, "The weather was perfect in early October! It was not busy, there was one other occupied campsite not too close to where we were."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming areas: Look for campgrounds with designated swimming spots. At Thousand Trails Ponderosa, one camper notes, "It really moved along and was fun to float down in a tube," while another mentions, "Great for kids that want to ride bikes around the sites- but be careful of the river, it's swift."
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer play structures for children. Kelly G. at Lake Minden observed, "Nice playground for kids," though she also warned about potential maintenance issues with, "Gravel spots & picnic tables. Only had 30amp service & the outlet moved around a bit."
Wildlife education: Turn deer sightings into learning experiences. Nicole G. reported her experience at Lake of the Springs: "We had such a fun time at this campground. Our site was in Section A on a dry creek bed. Dry in August at least. 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!"
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Many sites in the region require additional equipment. Tod S. at Dutch Flat RV Resort noted, "Most sites are neither flat nor level, but close enough to get level. The setting is magnificent."
Spacing considerations: RV sites vary greatly in size and proximity. Angela C. warns about Thousand Trails Ponderosa: "The sites are so, so small you can't even extend your awning all the way," adding "They don't have sewer so you can dump it yourself at a dump area on the campground or have a service come to you and do it for $25."
Shade availability: Plan for extreme summer heat with limited coverage. Kate A. advises, "One downside- it can be hot. Not a lot of tree cover for the RV sites- make sure you bring shade with you. Luckily, there's a nice cool river to swim in!"