Best Campgrounds near Twin Bridges, CA

The staff here gets the first shout out. Lana Banana and Mary at the front create a real pleasant atmosphere as you roll in. I camped here twice already this year and once a while back. The rest of the staff (shout out Martin) and the rangers who advise on bears like Cinnamon* are all great.

Pros:

• Camp store has some basics like ice, firewood, and s'mores stuff.
• The sites have bear boxes and even though they are very close to each other with little separation, they are big sites with lots of tall trees.
• Flush bathrooms and showers dispersed throughout camp.
• Hiking trails right out of camp.
• Rushing river to the west.
• You can walk or ride a bike across the street to Lake Tahoe, but you are separated from the chaos of the lake, and a bit more insulated from the storms.
• The lake (see below).
• Cell service is unlikely.
• Sites have nice bear boxes, are very well maintained by the hosts (multiple hosts per loop), newer firepits that aren't too tall, and picnic tables.
• Plenty of ground wood to collect to help with the campfire. Make sure you have a a CA fire permit. Takes 4m online and is free.

Cons:

• You really need to pay attention to your food. Bears are not just possible here, they are likely.
• It is hard to get a site. Be ready. Set alerts.
• Traffic getting in and out can be a bit of a pain in the busy season.
• Even in the summer it can snow...BE WEATHER AWARE.
• The store doesn't sell propane.

The lake, oh my, maybe the most beautiful lake in the entire Tahoe region. It isn't as big, but it is flat like glass, deep, and crystal clear. It is cold as an icicle–colder. Cold as a frozen heifers nose. That's probably a saying somewhere. Either way, bring a hammock. Bring a paddleboard (which will get checked for invasives), and bring yourself ready to relax.

Great hiking. Chill vibes. I can't recommend this spot enough. Compared to the parking lot style campgrounds or resorts throughout Tahoe-region, this is really camping and the rates are low comparatively, though not low, actually. $48/night. There are a few yurts if you go for that sort of thing.

First of all, this campground is so beautiful, and has so much potential to be a great place to stay. Or, if you love chaos, public intoxication, public displays of domestic violence, riffraff, and grumpy rangers, then maybe it already is a great place to stay. The last night I stayed here happened to be the last night that I was unhoused before I moved to Yosemite for a seasonal job, and I had the creepiest experience of all time. But first let me explain the campground. It's divided into two main parts. The six sites near the river stay open year round. These are the worst sites. They're tiny, stacked on top of each other, are right next to the highway, and offer zero shade. In my opinion, this whole area would be better off turned into two group sites. The better section of the campground are the back twelve sites which are only open from April to October. Snagging one of these creekside sites during the off season would be ideal. All of the campsites are within 100 yards of the North Fork American River. One of my favorite hiking trails of all time, Stevens Trail in Colfax, is just a few miles away. This is a moderately difficult hike 4 miles down to the river and then back up with fantastic views, waterfalls, and wildflowers. There is also a waterfall across the street from the Mineral Bar campground behind the boat launch. Bears are common in this area and I've personally seen a few crossing the road on my way to and from the campground. There are bear lockers provided for food and scented items. There are four vault toilets which are power washed daily. There is only space for one car per site but there is extra parking across the road. There are lots of hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and off road vehicle sites nearby. Your overnight camping fee includes day use at any CA state park the next day. The downside to camping here is that the clientele are some of the wildest riffraff of all time. This has been one of the quietest but also the noisest place I've ever camped. Last time I was here I kept hearing a pipe clinking right outside my tent at 3am. I was the only one there besides a huge family 5 sites away. I heard someone walk away, back a car up next to my site, walk back to my site, and start smoking again. It freaked me out so much I ended up blinding him with my flashlight while bolting to my car. I slept at a friend's house in Folsom and came back for my things the next day. So there are some weirdos around here for sure but the environment is very pretty.