Hornswoggle Group Campground
Tahoe National Forest — riverside, fishing, hiking
Location: Nevada City, CA, CA
Price: From $88 per night
Price range: $88–$155 per night
Rating: 3.6 out of 5 (10 reviews)
Season: May through October
Bullards Bar Reservoir is located on the North Yuba River at an elevation of 2000 feet. It is located approximately 21 miles north of Nevada City, California. It has a maximum surface area of 4,760 acres and a length of over 16 miles and shoreline of more than 60 miles.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/hornswoggle-group-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Hornswoggle is a great spot for group camping with spacious sites and nearby amenities like bear boxes and picnic tables. Located on Bullards Bar Reservoir with access to fishing, boating, hiking, and mountain biking activities across 4,760 acres.
Wildlife alert: Mountain lions, California ground squirrels, hairy woodpeckers, ruby-crowned kinglets, red-breasted nuthatches, mountain garter snakes, valley garter snakes, and coralbelly ringneck snakes are documented in the area.
Insider tips for Hornswoggle Group Campground: Book early — this is a popular federal campground with only 6 sites Group camping works well here with multiple sites close together and plenty of table space Note that the campground is on the opposite side of Highway 49 from the lake
Skip Hornswoggle Group Campground if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available, suitable only for self-contained RVs. You expect pristine facilities — reviews mention inadequate toilet cleaning and trash left by previous campers. You want a quiet, spaced-out camping experience — sites are close together.
Best time to visit Hornswoggle Group Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during this period only..
Nearby campgrounds: Schoolhouse Campground (Ca) (Nevada City, CA), Dark Day Campground (Nevada City, CA), Garden Point Boat-In Campground (Camptonville, CA), Cottage Creek Campground (Ca) (Nevada City, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Hornswoggle Group Campground
Cell signal at Hornswoggle Group Campground (Nevada City, CA): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 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.
Bullards Bar Reservoir is located on the North Yuba River at an elevation of 2000 feet. It is located approximately 21 miles north of Nevada City, California. It has a maximum surface area of 4,760 acres and a length of over 16 miles and shoreline of more than 60 miles.
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 6 sites
Group camping works well here with multiple sites close together and plenty of table space
Note that the campground is on the opposite side of Highway 49 from the lake
Campground operates seasonally during this period only.
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 Nevada City, California, travel approximately 20 miles on Highway 49 to Marysville Road. Take a left on Marysville Road and travel approximately 4 miles to Hornswoggle Campground.
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 Hornswoggle Group Campground cost per night?+
What season is Hornswoggle Group Campground open?+
Does Hornswoggle Group Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Hornswoggle Group Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Hornswoggle Group Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Hornswoggle Group Campground?+
What season is Hornswoggle Group Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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