Sardine Lake
Tahoe National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Nevada City, CA, CA
Price: From $24 per night
Price range: $24–$48 per night
Rating: 4.1 out of 5 (106 reviews)
Season: May through October
Sardine Lake Campground is located in the North Yuba River area, near the beautiful Sardine Lakes. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, 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/sardine-lake to be notified when sites open up.
Sardine Lake Campground offers stunning lake access with excellent amenities including solar-powered vault toilets, picnic tables, and a dish washing sink. Campers praise its cleanliness and proximity to recreational activities like fishing, hiking, and boating at nearby Sardine Lakes.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear present in area — use bear boxes provided. Also expect Long-eared Chipmunk, Douglas' Squirrel, White-headed Woodpecker, and Sierra Garter Snake.
Insider tips for Sardine Lake: Book early — this is a federal campground with high demand. Bring a self-contained RV or plan tent camping; no hookups available. Utilize the dish washing sink at bathrooms to reduce water use at your site. Solar-powered vault toilets provide lighting at night.
Skip Sardine Lake if: You need RV hookups — none are available at most sites.. You require winter camping — seasonal operations end in October.. You need privacy and shade — sites are close together with minimal shade..
Best time to visit Sardine Lake: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only..
Nearby campgrounds: Salmon Creek (Nevada City, CA), Diablo (Nevada City, CA), Packsaddle (Nevada City, CA), Sierra (Nevada City, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Sardine Lake
Cell signal at Sardine Lake (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.
Sardine Lake Campground is located in the North Yuba River area, near the beautiful Sardine Lakes. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, 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 federal campground with high demand.
Bring a self-contained RV or plan tent camping; no hookups available.
Utilize the dish washing sink at bathrooms to reduce water use at your site.
Solar-powered vault toilets provide lighting at night.
Campground operates seasonally May through October 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 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 to Packer Lake Road and turn left. Continue for about 1 mile and turn left into the campground. From Sierraville, travel south on Highway 49 for about 18 miles. Turn right at Bassett Station on Gold Lake Highway and continue just over a mile to Packer Lake Road and turn left. Continue for about 1 mile 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 Sardine Lake cost per night?+
What season is Sardine Lake open?+
Does Sardine Lake have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Sardine Lake?+
How do I make reservations at Sardine Lake?+
What is the cell service like at Sardine Lake?+
What season is Sardine Lake open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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