Englebright Lake Boat-In Campground
Harry L. Englebright Lake — lakeside, fishing
Location: Smartsville, CA, CA
Price: From $20 per night
Rating: 3.2 out of 5 (9 reviews)
Season: Year-round
Englebright Lake is nestled in the steep Yuba River canyon, of the Sierra Nevada foothills. This location offers a unique boat-in camping experience, several species of sport fish, abundant wildlife, and year round water-based recreational activities for enthusiasts and families alike. Located between Grass Valley and Yuba City off State Route 20.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/englebright-lake-boat-in-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Englebright Lake offers a unique boat-in camping experience in the Sierra Nevada foothills with abundant wildlife, year-round water recreation, and highly-rated amenities. Campers praise it as a peaceful, beautiful, and quiet destination with well-maintained vault toilets and excellent paddleboarding and fishing opportunities.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, American Beaver, Gray Fox, and Columbian Black-tailed Deer present in area
Insider tips for Englebright Lake Boat-In Campground: Arrive early in the morning on weekdays to secure limited waterside parking Small dock available for boat access and water activities Open year-round but operates seasonally — book early as this is a federal campground with high demand
Skip Englebright Lake Boat-In Campground if: You need electrical hookups — no hookups available at most sites; bring self-contained unit or tent camp only. You prefer larger crowds and more developed facilities. You are unable to book well in advance during peak season.
Best time to visit Englebright Lake Boat-In Campground: Weekdays (non-holiday) — Limited parking by water is not a problem first thing in the morning on weekdays; less crowded than weekends.
Nearby campgrounds: Cottage Creek Campground (Ca) (Nevada City, CA), Hornswoggle Group Campground (Nevada City, CA), Garden Point Boat-In Campground (Camptonville, CA), Dark Day Campground (Nevada City, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Englebright Lake Boat-In Campground
Cell signal at Englebright Lake Boat-In Campground (Smartsville, CA): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: AT&T.
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
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.
Englebright Lake is nestled in the steep Yuba River canyon, of the Sierra Nevada foothills. This location offers a unique boat-in camping experience, several species of sport fish, abundant wildlife, and year round water-based recreational activities for enthusiasts and families alike. Located between Grass Valley and Yuba City off State Route 20.
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 entryArrive early in the morning on weekdays to secure limited waterside parking
Small dock available for boat access and water activities
Open year-round but operates seasonally
book early as this is a federal campground with high demand
Limited parking by water is not a problem first thing in the morning on weekdays; less crowded than weekends
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: AT&T.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Sacramento, CA follow I-5 N, CA-99 N and CA 70 N to Lindhurst Ave in Olivehurst. Take exit 18B from CA-70 N. Take Hammonton Smartsville Rd to State Hwy 20 E in Smartsville. Turn right onto State Hwy 20 E. Turn left onto Mooney Flat Rd. Turn Left onto Englebright Dam Rd.
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 — Harry L. Englebright Lake fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Harry L. Englebright Lake before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Englebright Lake Boat-In Campground cost per night?+
What season is Englebright Lake Boat-In Campground open?+
Does Englebright Lake Boat-In Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Englebright Lake Boat-In Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Englebright Lake Boat-In Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Englebright Lake Boat-In Campground?+
What season is Englebright Lake Boat-In Campground 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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