Cal-Ida
Tahoe National Forest — riverside, fishing, hiking
Location: Nevada City, CA, CA
Price: From $24 per night
Rating: 3.4 out of 5 (23 reviews)
Season: May through October
Cal-Ida Campground is located on Highway 49, across the road from the North Yuba River and 13 miles from Downieville. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, fishing, biking and enjoying the cool waters of the North Yuba River. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cal-ida to be notified when sites open up.
Cal-Ida offers riverside access to the North Yuba River with recreational activities including fishing, swimming, and hiking. The campground is operated by Tahoe National Forest and located on Highway 49, 13 miles from Downieville.
Wildlife alert: North American River Otter and ringtail mammals present in area; American Dipper, Wood Duck, and Common Merganser birds documented within 8km.
Insider tips for Cal-Ida: Book early as this is a federal campground with limited availability North Yuba River offers rainbow trout fishing and seasonal rafting/kayaking opportunities Only 12 sites total; suitable for self-contained RVs only with no hookups available
Skip Cal-Ida if: You need RV hookups - no hookups available at most sites. You plan to visit November through April - seasonal closure. You prefer larger campgrounds - only 12 sites available.
Best time to visit Cal-Ida: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Carlton (Nevada City, CA), Fiddle Creek (Nevada City, CA), Indian Valley (Nevada City, CA), Ramshorn (Nevada City, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Cal-Ida
Cell signal at Cal-Ida (Nevada City, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.
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.
Cal-Ida Campground is located on Highway 49, across the road from the North Yuba River and 13 miles from Downieville. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, fishing, biking and enjoying the cool waters of the North Yuba River. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.
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 entryBook early as this is a federal campground with limited availability
North Yuba River offers rainbow trout fishing and seasonal rafting/kayaking opportunities
Only 12 sites total; suitable for self-contained RVs only with no hookups available
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Downieville, travel south on Highway 49 for about 13 miles. The campground is on the right side of the highway. From Nevada City, travel north on Highway 49 for about 31 miles. The campground is on the left side of the highway.
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 Cal-Ida cost per night?+
What season is Cal-Ida open?+
Does Cal-Ida have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Cal-Ida?+
How do I make reservations at Cal-Ida?+
What is the cell service like at Cal-Ida?+
What season is Cal-Ida open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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