Indian Springs
Tahoe National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Nevada City, CA, CA
Price: From $24 per night
Rating: 3.3 out of 5 (59 reviews)
Season: May through October
Indian Springs Campground is located in the Tahoe National Forest along Interstate 80 the South Yuba River. It is about three miles west of Big Bend and 23 miles west of Truckee. Visitors enjoy the area for its swimming, fishing, and trail opportunities, as well as its historic significance along the California Emigrant Trail.This location is unstaffed.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. 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/indian-springs to be notified when sites open up.
Indian Springs offers excellent fishing and swimming opportunities along the South Yuba River in Tahoe National Forest, with scenic trail access and historic California Emigrant Trail significance. Campers praise it as a family-friendly destination with good shade at many sites.
Wildlife alert: Mountain Garter Snake, Western Fence Lizard, Southern Alligator Lizard, and various bird species including Black-throated Gray Warbler and Canada Goose present in the area.
Insider tips for Indian Springs: Book early as a popular federal campground with high demand. Sites 29-35 are walk-in sites requiring a 100-foot downhill walk over rocky ground with good shade. Swimming hole and rainbow trout fishing available directly at the South Yuba River adjacent to campground. Nearby dirt bike riding opportunities on roads near the area.
Skip Indian Springs if: You need RV hookups — campground has no hookups, suitable only for self-contained RVs.. You are sensitive to train and traffic noise from nearby Interstate 80.. You visit outside May through October — seasonal operations only..
Best time to visit Indian Springs: May through October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only..
Nearby campgrounds: Big Bend Group (Yuba River) (Nevada City, CA), Hampshire Rocks (Nevada City, CA), North Fork (Ca) (Camptonville, CA), Tunnel Mills Ii (Camptonville, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Indian Springs
Cell signal at Indian Springs (Nevada City, CA): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: AT&T.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage · AT&T 5G: 100%
- T-Mobile 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.
Indian Springs Campground is located in the Tahoe National Forest along Interstate 80 the South Yuba River. It is about three miles west of Big Bend and 23 miles west of Truckee. Visitors enjoy the area for its swimming, fishing, and trail opportunities, as well as its historic significance along the California Emigrant Trail.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 entryBook early as a popular federal campground with high demand.
Sites 29-35 are walk-in sites requiring a 100-foot downhill walk over rocky ground with good shade.
Swimming hole and rainbow trout fishing available directly at the South Yuba River adjacent to campground.
Nearby dirt bike riding opportunities on roads near the area.
Campground operates seasonally during these months 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: AT&T.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From either east bound or west bound Interstate 80, take exit 164 for Eagle Lakes Road. Turn north onto Eagle Lakes Road. Follow the road as it turns west and turn left into the 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 Indian Springs cost per night?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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