Wild Plum

Tahoe National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Nevada City, CA, CA

Price: From $24 per night

Price range: $24–$50 per night

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (158 reviews)

Season: May through October

Wild Plum Campground is located on Haypress Creek 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.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/wild-plum to be notified when sites open up.

Wild Plum sits directly on Haypress Creek in a dense Sierra Nevada forest of pines and cedars. The creek runs through the campground — you fall asleep to the sound of water. Only 47 sites so it never feels overcrowded. Primitive enough to feel like real camping, close enough to Sierra City for resupply.

The swimming hole just downstream from the campground where Haypress Creek widens into a pool about 4 feet deep. Locals know it — most camp guests never find it. Walk the creek trail 10 minutes south of the last campsite.

What is new at Wild Plum: Wild Plum is operated by the Tahoe National Forest and reservations are managed through recreation.gov. No recent facility changes reported as of 2025.

Wildlife alert: Black bears are active in the North Yuba corridor. Use bear boxes at every site (provided). Do not leave food in vehicles — bears have learned to break windows. Dogs attract bears — keep food inside and never leave dog food out overnight.

Fire rules: Campfires allowed in provided fire rings only. Tahoe National Forest fire restrictions apply — check fs.usda.gov/tahoe before arrival. Restrictions common July–September.

Things to do near Wild Plum: Haypress Creek swimming hole — 10 min walk downstream, locals’ favorite, bring water shoes. Sierra City (5 miles) — Gold Rush town, good lunch at the Sierra Country Store. North Yuba Trail — trailhead 2 miles from camp, gorgeous ridge hike with creek views. Gold panning — the North Yuba was a major Gold Rush river, still yields color. Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout — 30-min drive, 360° view of Lake Tahoe and beyond.

Insider tips for Wild Plum: Sites 1–12 are closest to the creek — request them when booking on recreation.gov Sierra City General Store (5 mi) has ice, firewood, and basic groceries — stock up there Arrive Friday before noon in summer or you’ll lose the creek-side sites to weekenders

Skip Wild Plum if: You need hookups — no electric, water, or sewer at any site. You need cell service — essentially zero at the campground. You’re in a large RV — access road is narrow with tight turns.

Best time to visit Wild Plum: Jun–Jul — Creek is high and fast from snowmelt. Wildflowers. Cool nights. Best swimming.. Sep–Oct — Crowd drops off after Labor Day. Fall color starts. Creek is lower but warm enough to swim..

Common issues at Wild Plum: No hookups of any kind. Bring a generator if you need power. Solar works well in the open sites. Narrow access road with tight turns. Max recommended RV length is 43ft but 30ft+ is difficult. Scout the last mile before committing. Zero cell service. Download offline maps (Maps.me or Gaia GPS) and save the ranger station number: (530) 288-3231.

What campers say about Wild Plum: "Creek runs right through camp. We slept with the windows open just to hear the water." — Recreation.gov reviewer "Dogs loved the creek. Shallow enough for them to wade, deep enough to swim." — Recreation.gov reviewer "Vault toilets only — bring your own hand sanitizer and don’t expect a shower." — Recreation.gov reviewer

Nearby campgrounds: Loganville (Nevada City, CA), Sardine Lake (Nevada City, CA), Salmon Creek (Nevada City, CA), Packsaddle (Nevada City, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Wild Plum

Cell signal at Wild Plum (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.

CamperWatch

Wild Plum

Tahoe National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Nevada City, CA4.2 (158)
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Why campers choose Wild Plum

Wild Plum sits directly on Haypress Creek in a dense Sierra Nevada forest of pines and cedars. The creek runs through the campground — you fall asleep to the sound of water. Only 47 sites so it never feels overcrowded. Primitive enough to feel like real camping, close enough to Sierra City for resupply.
Sites 1–12 are closest to the creek — request them when booking on recreation.gov
Sierra City General Store (5 mi) has ice, firewood, and basic groceries — stock up there
Federal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.

Check-in

2:00 PM

Check-out

12:00 PM

Season

May through October

Stay limit

14 days

Max RV

43 ft

Hookups

No hookups

Cell signal:

Wild Plum Campground is located on Haypress Creek 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.This location is unstaffed.

Things to do nearby

Tahoe National ForestCreek in the North Yuba RiverGold LakeHaypress Creek swimming hole

Best For

AnglersHikersFamiliesBackpackers

Site Types

TentRV

Amenities

Fire Rings
Picnic Tables
Vault Toilets
Drinking Water
Fishing
Check-in

2:00 PM

Check-out

12:00 PM

Season

May through October

Max/site

6 people

Known Issues

Federal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.

Cancellation Policy

Recreation.gov: full refund if cancelled 7+ days before arrival. $10 cancellation fee applies.

Why campers love Wild Plum

Wild Plum sits directly on Haypress Creek in a dense Sierra Nevada forest of pines and cedars. The creek runs through the campground — you fall asleep to the sound of water. Only 47 sites so it never feels overcrowded. Primitive enough to feel like real camping, close enough to Sierra City for resupply.

What's new in 2026

Wild Plum is operated by the Tahoe National Forest and reservations are managed through recreation.gov. No recent facility changes reported as of 2025.

What campers say about Wild Plum

"Creek runs right through camp. We slept with the windows open just to hear the water."

— Recreation.gov reviewer

"Dogs loved the creek. Shallow enough for them to wade, deep enough to swim."

— Recreation.gov reviewer

"Vault toilets only — bring your own hand sanitizer and don’t expect a shower."

— Recreation.gov reviewer

Not the right fit if…

  • ✕You need hookups — no electric, water, or sewer at any site
  • ✕You need cell service — essentially zero at the campground
  • ✕You’re in a large RV — access road is narrow with tight turns

Frequently asked questions

How much does Wild Plum cost per night?+
Wild Plum costs $24–$50 per night depending on site type and season. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Wild Plum open?+
Wild Plum is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Wild Plum have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Wild Plum?+
Wild Plum can accommodate RVs up to 43 feet long.
How do I make reservations at Wild Plum?+
Wild Plum is a federal campground — reservations open 6 months in advance at Recreation.gov. Sites sell out quickly. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/alerts to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Wild Plum?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Wild Plum is rated no. Note: FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote, mountainous, or heavily forested areas may be weaker. Check camper reports on the page for real-world experience.
How far is Wild Plum from the nearest town?+
Wild Plum is located in Nevada City, CA. Check the map above for distance to nearby services.
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4.2(158)
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