Packsaddle
Tahoe National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Nevada City, CA, CA
Price: From $24 per night
Rating: 3.6 out of 5 (46 reviews)
Season: May through October
Packsaddle Campground is located in the Packer Lake area near the Sierra Buttes, north of the Yuba River. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, canoeing and gold panning. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.Lakes Basin offers many opportunities for boating, fishing and hiking.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/packsaddle to be notified when sites open up.
Packsaddle offers 16 spacious sites near Packer Lake with excellent access to hiking, mountain biking, and fishing in the Sierra Buttes area. Google reviewers praise the big sites, proximity to amazing trails and lakes, and location near Downieville.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear present in area — use bear boxes. Also: American Mink, Long-eared Chipmunk, Mountain Bluebird, White-headed Woodpecker, Evening Grosbeak, Common Sagebrush Lizard, Sierra Garter Snake.
Insider tips for Packsaddle: Book early — this is a popular federal campground that fills quickly Bring your own water containers; only one water spout serves the entire campground Equestrian sites available near horse stalls if you're bringing horses Check bear box condition before settling in; some reported as rundown
Skip Packsaddle if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at sites. You require modern facilities — only vault toilets and one water spout for all 16 sites. You're visiting outside May-October — campground closed seasonally. You have a non-self-contained RV — only suitable for self-contained vehicles.
Best time to visit Packsaddle: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only. Summer — Peak season for hiking, mountain biking, and fishing activities.
Nearby campgrounds: Berger (Camptonville, CA), Sardine Lake (Nevada City, CA), Salmon Creek (Nevada City, CA), Lakes Basin (BLAIRSDEN, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Packsaddle
Cell signal at Packsaddle (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.
Packsaddle Campground is located in the Packer Lake area near the Sierra Buttes, north of the Yuba River. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, canoeing and gold panning. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.Lakes Basin offers many opportunities for boating, fishing and hiking.
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 that fills quickly
Bring your own water containers; only one water spout serves the entire campground
Equestrian sites available near horse stalls if you're bringing horses
Check bear box condition before settling in; some reported as rundown
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Peak season for hiking, mountain biking, and fishing activities
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 Sierra City, travel north (east) on Highway 49 for 5 miles. Turn left at Bassett Station on Gold Lake Highway and continue just over a mile to Packer Lake Road and turn left. Go less than a mile and turn right on Packer Lake Road. Continue for about 2.5 miles and turn left into the campground. From Sierraville, travel south (west) on Highway 49 for about 17 miles. Turn left at Bassett Station on Gold Lake Highway and continue just over a mile to Packer Lake Road and turn left. Go less than
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 Packsaddle cost per night?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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