Rocky Rest
Tahoe National Forest — riverside, fishing, hiking
Location: Nevada City, CA, CA
Price: From $24 per night
Rating: 3.9 out of 5 (31 reviews)
Season: May through October
Rocky Rest Campground is located off of Highway 49, in the North Yuba River area near Downieville. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, white water boating, and gold panning. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.This location is unstaffed.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/rocky-rest to be notified when sites open up.
Rocky Rest offers excellent access to the North Yuba River for swimming, fishing, and water activities, with a maintained 7.5-mile trail for hiking and biking right at the campground. Campers praise it as a clean, well-maintained spot with spectacular views and nearby river access.
Wildlife alert: North American River Otter, American Dipper, Wood Duck, and three garter snake species (Sierra, Mountain, and Halsbandnatter) verified in the area.
Insider tips for Rocky Rest: Book early—this is a popular federal campground that fills up. Come fully self-contained; no hookups available and nearby services/supplies are limited. Bring your own heat source; fire restrictions are common in this zone.
Skip Rocky Rest if: You need RV hookups—none are available at most sites.. You visit outside May-October—the campground is closed seasonally.. You require modern bathroom facilities—reviewers note the bathroom is not great..
Best time to visit Rocky Rest: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during this period only..
Nearby campgrounds: Indian Valley (Nevada City, CA), Fiddle Creek (Nevada City, CA), Cal-Ida (Nevada City, CA), Ramshorn (Nevada City, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Rocky Rest
Cell signal at Rocky Rest (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.
Rocky Rest Campground is located off of Highway 49, in the North Yuba River area near Downieville. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, white water boating, and gold panning. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.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
this is a popular federal campground that fills up.
Come fully self-contained; no hookups available and nearby services/supplies are limited.
Bring your own heat source; fire restrictions are common in this zone.
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.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Downieville, take Highway 49 south for about 11 miles. The campground is on the left side of the highway. From Nevada City, take Highway 49 north for 31 miles. The campground is on the right side of the highway.
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 Rocky Rest cost per night?+
What season is Rocky Rest open?+
Does Rocky Rest have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Rocky Rest?+
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What is the cell service like at Rocky Rest?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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