Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground
Tahoe National Forest — riverside, fishing
Location: Nevada City, CA, CA
Price: From $24 per night
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 (2 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): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/madrone-cove-boat-in-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Boat-in campground on Bullards Bar Reservoir with 10 tent sites offering fishing, boating, and water sports access. Located at 2,000 feet elevation on the North Yuba River with over 60 miles of shoreline.
Wildlife alert: Mountain Lion, American Black Bear, Western Gray Squirrel, Humboldt's Flying Squirrel, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Calliope Hummingbird, American Robin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, California King Snake
Insider tips for Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground: Book early as this is a federal campground with only 10 sites Visit early in the season (May-July) when water levels are higher to avoid steep uphill walks High-clearance vehicle recommended; roads to the campground are overgrown with low clearance
Skip Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground if: You need hookups - no hookups available. You're visiting late season (August-September) when water levels drop significantly. You have low-clearance vehicles - access roads have tight clearance.
Best time to visit Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground: May-October — Federal campground operates seasonally May through October only. Early season (May-July) — Water levels are higher; late season (August-September) results in low water levels requiring 200+ foot walks uphill to access.
Nearby campgrounds: Garden Point Boat-In Campground (Camptonville, CA), Dark Day Campground (Nevada City, CA), Schoolhouse Campground (Ca) (Nevada City, CA), Cottage Creek Campground (Ca) (Nevada City, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground
Cell signal at Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground (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.
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 as this is a federal campground with only 10 sites
Visit early in the season (May-July) when water levels are higher to avoid steep uphill walks
High-clearance vehicle recommended; roads to the campground are overgrown with low clearance
Federal campground operates seasonally May through October only
Water levels are higher; late season (August-September) results in low water levels requiring 200+ foot walks uphill to access
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 Nevada City, travel approximately 20 miles on Highway 49 to Marysville Road. Turn left onto Marysville Road travel approximately 3 miles to the Dark Day Boat Launch ramp for launching or travel approximately 7 miles to Emerald Cove Marina and launch at the boat ramp there.
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 Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground cost per night?+
What season is Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground open?+
Does Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground?+
What season is Madrone Cove Boat-In Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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