Carlton
Tahoe National Forest — riverside, fishing, hiking
Location: Nevada City, CA, CA
Price: From $24 per night
Rating: 4 out of 5 (49 reviews)
Season: May through October
Carlton Campground is located along the North Yuba River, adjacent to Highway 49 and 13 miles from Downieville. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, hunting, fishing, canoeing and biking. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.The North Yuba River offers swimming, wading and rainbow trout fishing.
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/carlton to be notified when sites open up.
Carlton Campground sits along the North Yuba River with excellent access to fishing, swimming, and a network of hiking trails. The location offers diverse recreational activities including boating, water sports, and hunting in the Tahoe National Forest.
Wildlife alert: North American River Otters and Ringtails present in area. Waterside camping may encounter American Dippers, Wood Ducks, and Common Mergansers. Sierra Garter Snakes and Northern Alligator Lizards also documented within 8km.
Insider tips for Carlton: Book early - this is a popular federal campground with only 17 sites North Yuba River offers rainbow trout fishing and seasonal rafting/kayaking opportunities Bring your own water system - no hookups available, suitable for self-contained RVs only
Skip Carlton if: You need RV hookups - none available at this campground. You're visiting November through April - seasonal closure. You prefer larger campgrounds - only 17 total sites available.
Best time to visit Carlton: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Cal-Ida (Nevada City, CA), Fiddle Creek (Nevada City, CA), Indian Valley (Nevada City, CA), Ramshorn (Nevada City, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Carlton
Cell signal at Carlton (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.
Carlton Campground is located along the North Yuba River, adjacent to Highway 49 and 13 miles from Downieville. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, hunting, fishing, canoeing and biking. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.The North Yuba River offers swimming, wading and rainbow trout fishing.
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 - this is a popular federal campground with only 17 sites
North Yuba River offers rainbow trout fishing and seasonal rafting/kayaking opportunities
Bring your own water system - no hookups available, suitable for self-contained RVs only
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 just over 13 miles. The campground is on the left side of the highway. From Nevada City, travel north on Highway 49 for just under 30 miles. The campground is on the right 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 Carlton cost per night?+
What season is Carlton open?+
Does Carlton have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Carlton?+
How do I make reservations at Carlton?+
What is the cell service like at Carlton?+
What season is Carlton 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.
Nearby Campgrounds
Own a campground nearby?
List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.