Salmon Creek
Tahoe National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Nevada City, CA, CA
Price: From $24 per night
Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (82 reviews)
Season: May through October
Salmon Creek Campground is located in the North Yuba River area. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, and gold panning. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.A large network of trails is available in the area, including Tamarack Lake and Deer Lake Trails and the Pacific Crest Trail.
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/salmon-creek to be notified when sites open up.
Salmon Creek offers excellent access to North Yuba River recreation with a wide network of trails including the Pacific Crest Trail, plus boating and fishing at nearby Sardine Lakes. Campers praise it as "one of the best spots" with breathtaking scenery and peaceful atmosphere.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, American Mink, Long-eared Chipmunk, Douglas' Squirrel, White-headed Woodpecker, Evening Grosbeak, Sierra Garter Snake, and Common Sagebrush Lizard verified in area.
Insider tips for Salmon Creek: Book early — this is a popular federal campground Fill drinking water at the spring down the road if concerned about water quality RVs need to be self-contained; no hookups available at most sites
Skip Salmon Creek if: You require shower facilities. Your RV needs hookups (water, electric, sewer). You're visiting outside May-October season.
Best time to visit Salmon Creek: May-October — Official operating season for the campground.
Nearby campgrounds: Sardine Lake (Nevada City, CA), Diablo (Nevada City, CA), Packsaddle (Nevada City, CA), Sierra (Nevada City, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Salmon Creek
Cell signal at Salmon Creek (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.
Salmon Creek Campground is located in the North Yuba River area. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, and gold panning. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.A large network of trails is available in the area, including Tamarack Lake and Deer Lake Trails and the Pacific Crest Trail.
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
Fill drinking water at the spring down the road if concerned about water quality
RVs need to be self-contained; no hookups available at most sites
Official operating season for the campground
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 Sierraville, travel south on Highway 49 for 18 miles to Bassetts. Turn right and continue two miles to the campground, which is on the left side of the highway. From Sierra City, travel north on Highway 49 for 5 miles. Turn left at Bassett Station on Gold Lake Highway and continue just over a mile, campground is on the left just past Packer Lake Road.
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 Salmon Creek cost per night?+
What season is Salmon Creek open?+
Does Salmon Creek have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Salmon Creek?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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