Skillman
Tahoe National Forest — riverside, hiking
Location: Nevada City, CA, CA
Price: From $18 per night
Price range: $18–$36 per night
Rating: 3.9 out of 5 (40 reviews)
Season: May through October
Skillman Campground has individual sites with enough room for parking trucks with trailers. Some of the sites have horse pens and water troughs for horses. It is located in the Tahoe National Forest near Nevada City and three historic mining towns.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/skillman to be notified when sites open up.
Skillman offers excellent trail access with 25 miles of single-track hiking, biking, and horseback riding loops through Tahoe National Forest, plus convenient proximity to Nevada City and historic mining towns. Campers consistently praise the trail system and give it a 4.5/5 rating.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Great Gray Owl, and California Mountain Kingsnake present in area.
Insider tips for Skillman: Book early — it's a popular federal campground. Horse camping available with water troughs and pens; dispose of manure in designated dumpsters. Located near Interstate 80 exit 1 for convenient freeway access, though expect occasional truck noise at night.
Skip Skillman if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites; only suitable for self-contained RVs.. You require full-service amenities — only fire rings and picnic tables provided, pit toilets available.. You're visiting outside May-October — campground is seasonal..
Best time to visit Skillman: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only..
Nearby campgrounds: White Cloud (Camptonville, CA), North Fork (Ca) (Camptonville, CA), Tunnel Mills Ii (Camptonville, CA), Indian Springs (Nevada City, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Skillman
Cell signal at Skillman (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.
Skillman Campground has individual sites with enough room for parking trucks with trailers. Some of the sites have horse pens and water troughs for horses. It is located in the Tahoe National Forest near Nevada City and three historic mining towns.
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
it's a popular federal campground.
Horse camping available with water troughs and pens; dispose of manure in designated dumpsters.
Located near Interstate 80 exit 1 for convenient freeway access, though expect occasional truck noise at night.
Campground operates seasonally during these months 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 Nevada City, travel east on Highway 20 for 14 miles. Turn right at the Skillman Campground sign and then left at the first road intersection into the campground. From Interstate 80 take exit 161, Highway 20 to Nevada City and drive 13 miles west toward Nevada City. Turn left at the Skillman Campground sign and then turn left at the first road intersection 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 Skillman cost per night?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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