Big Bend Group (Yuba River)
Tahoe National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Nevada City, CA, CA
Price: From $95 per night
Rating: 3.7 out of 5 (7 reviews)
Season: May through October
Big Bend Group Campground is located 19 miles west of Truckee, California in the Tahoe National Forest at an elevation of 5,700 feet. Visitors enjoy the area for its fishing and hiking opportunities, as well as its historic significance along the California Emigrant Trail. This campground is operated and maintained by Forest Service staff.This location is unstaffed.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/big-bend-group-yuba-river to be notified when sites open up.
Big Bend Group offers direct access to South Yuba River fishing and swimming at 5,700 feet elevation in Tahoe National Forest, plus proximity to the historic California Emigrant Trail and Loch Leven Trail for hiking.
Wildlife alert: Fox Sparrows and Black-throated Gray Warblers present in area; Old-growth forest habitat (Neotamias senex observed) indicates mature ecosystem.
Insider tips for Big Bend Group (Yuba River): Only 2 sites total (Victory and Lincoln) — book early as noted; this is a small group campground, not a large facility No RV hookups available; only suitable for fully self-contained RVs Located directly off I-80 at Rainbow Road Exit (19 miles west of Truckee) — easy access for day-use activities like gold panning and photography
Skip Big Bend Group (Yuba River) if: You need RV hookups — this campground has none. You're visiting November through April — seasonal closure. You require extensive site availability — only 2 sites total.
Best time to visit Big Bend Group (Yuba River): May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only. Late summer/early fall — South Yuba River rainbow trout fishing opportunities available during season.
Nearby campgrounds: Hampshire Rocks (Nevada City, CA), Indian Springs (Nevada City, CA), North Fork (Ca) (Camptonville, CA), Tunnel Mills Ii (Camptonville, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Big Bend Group (Yuba River)
Cell signal at Big Bend Group (Yuba River) (Nevada City, CA): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage · T-Mobile 5G: 100%
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Big Bend Group Campground is located 19 miles west of Truckee, California in the Tahoe National Forest at an elevation of 5,700 feet. Visitors enjoy the area for its fishing and hiking opportunities, as well as its historic significance along the California Emigrant Trail. This campground is operated and maintained by Forest Service staff.This location is unstaffed.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryOnly 2 sites total (Victory and Lincoln)
book early as noted; this is a small group campground, not a large facility
No RV hookups available; only suitable for fully self-contained RVs
Located directly off I-80 at Rainbow Road Exit (19 miles west of Truckee)
easy access for day-use activities like gold panning and photography
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
South Yuba River rainbow trout fishing opportunities available during season
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Truckee, take I-80 19 miles west to the Rainbow Road Exit. Travel west about 1.5 miles to the Big Bend Ranger Station and Visitor Center. Turn right past the Visitor Center and cross bridge. The campground is on the right. Victory is the first campsite and Lincoln is the second one at the end. From Nevada City, take Highway 20 east for about 26 miles. Travel east on I-80 for 4.5 miles. Take exit 166 for Big Bend, travel about a 1/4 mile on Hampshire Rocks Rd. Turn left before Fire Station a
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Tahoe National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Tahoe National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Big Bend Group (Yuba River) cost per night?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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