Equestrian camping near Nevada City, California offers access to Sierra Nevada foothills terrain with elevations ranging from 1,500-4,000 feet. The region experiences hot, dry summers with temperatures often reaching 90°F and cool winters with occasional snow at higher elevations. Most campgrounds open from mid-May through mid-September, though seasonal closures vary based on weather conditions.
What to do
Trail riding opportunities: Dru Barner Campground in Eldorado National Forest provides direct trail access for equestrians. "Must visit for horse lovers!" notes camper Maxim B. The nearby Otter Creek Trail offers "a nice day hike though a bit of switch backing elevation to get down to the creek," according to another visitor.
Gold panning: Ruck-A-Chucky Campground at Auburn State Recreation Area sits along the American River where gold panning is possible. "If you're lucky and know how to read the river, gold panning is a must!" shares Jason A., who adds "The current is much faster than years past due to excellent winter."
Water sports: Loon Lake offers clear water for swimming and fishing. "Warm, clear water with sandy/grassy beaches all around," reports Jordyn A. The lake allows boating with proper safety equipment, as one visitor notes: "You are required to have life jackets with you on the water."
What campers like
Secluded settings: Mumford Bar Trail Campground provides isolation from crowds. "This is a small but free camp site. Each camp site is spacious and has a metal firepit, picnic table," writes Cathy H., who adds "this is definitely bear country... my first night i heard a bear."
Wildlife viewing: The forested areas around these campgrounds support diverse wildlife. At Dru Barner Campground, a camper observed "Lots of wild turkeys, deer, and birds." Another notes the campground is "a lovely quiet spot midweek" with excellent opportunities for nature watching.
Cell service availability: Unlike many remote camping areas, some locations maintain decent connectivity. At Dru Barner Campground, "The Verizon connection was strong," according to Cheri S. Another camper mentions "I used my WeBoost and was able to teach online and even stream some TV."
What you should know
Road conditions: Access to some campgrounds requires navigating unpaved roads. At Ruck-A-Chucky Campground, expect a "long scenic trek down the easily accessible maintained dirt road" though "small cars made it down there without difficulty." One visitor cautions to "bring extra cash in case you need a tow out of there. (Happened to me. Was $100 to get my rig out of there)."
Water availability: Several campgrounds have water access issues. At Dru Barner Campground, "Bring water as there is none available due to poor quality," advises one camper. Another notes they're "hopefully they get water or lack thereof figured out soon."
Bug presence: Insect activity varies by season and location. A visitor to Dru Barner Campground simply states: "It was great besides the bugs and all the wasps." At Loon Lake, a camper reports cutting their trip short "due to meat bees (Labor Day weekend, 2016). There were TONS of them!"
Tips for camping with families
Beach access: Bidwell Canyon Campground at Lake Oroville offers family-friendly water access. One visitor shares, "Super clean camp grounds, with an amazing view when near the water." However, another camper notes, "The lake is not walking distance."
Spacious sites: East Meadow Campground features generous camping spaces. "So remote and private but everything you need at the campground with water access within walking distance," writes Aliona C. Another camper appreciates the "beautiful campgrounds with access to sandy beaches from your tenting spots."
Safety considerations: Beals Point Campground at Folsom Lake offers a designated swimming area. "Easy trails to take your four legged friend on and of course the beach," mentions Cheyenne O. Another visitor advises families to "stay on the main beach with the provided lifejacket area if with children as the other rock areas near the beach suddenly can drop off underwater very deep."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Bidwell Canyon Campground presents some terrain difficulties. "The campsites aren't huge or very level, but the fact that it has full hookups for $45/night, is small, and on the lake made up for that fact," one RVer reports. Another visitor mentions that "a lot of the sites are very uneven, ours was almost terraced."
Site selection: At Loon Lake, careful site selection matters. "We drove past it the first time," mentions one camper about finding the location. Another notes, "Don't stay at site #25 if using more than one medium tent."
Hookup availability: RV campers should note varying amenities across campgrounds. At Beals Point Campground, a visitor reports "Coin operated shower very nice and clean bathroom clean showers" and another confirms "Price was very reasonable for dry spot 28$."
