Gold Country Camping

Gold Country Camping Overview

California has literally thousands of campgrounds. Below, you'll find campgrounds from Truckee to Coulterville with conveniences like flush toilets and showers, as well as popular and unique campgrounds to help you narrow the choice. These campgrounds include National Parks, State Parks, National Forests, State Forests, County Parks and privately owned resorts. Camping locations in Gold Country include sites within historic mining towns, active mining camps, next to recreational lakes, in the heart of an ancient redwood forest and all along the Sierra foothills. We've included as much detail as possible so you have a better idea of what to expect and whether reservations are required in advance.

PETS: Dogs are allowed at almost all campgrounds but must be kept on a leash, picked up after, and never left unattended. Most beach campgrounds allow dogs in the campground but not on the beach.

BEARS: Metal bear-proof lockers are provided in almost all campsites where bears are a problem. California bears do not attack people and should not be feared, but a great deal of space and respect should be given to a bear. Please visit our Tips page for more information on bears and other precautions to consider.

CAMPING CHECKLIST - download our checklist of camping essentials and you won't forget anything at home.

TIP: Looking for some late night campsite entertainment? Check out www.seasky.org for their celestial calendar including meteor showers.

Gold Country Campgrounds
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Donner Memorial is located between Reno and Sacramento in Truckee. This park marks the site of the Donner party's camp during their fateful trek from the midwest to California in 1846. Donner Lake supports fishing, boating and water-skiing. Other popular activities include camping, picnicking, hiking, cross-country skiing and snoeshoeing. Two museums highlight the Donner party's expedition and emmigration to California during the 1800's. Campground offers a total of 150 campsites for tent or RV. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers.

Donner Memorial
12593 Donner Pass Road
Truckee, California 96161
(530) 582-7892
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Malakoff Diggins State Park is located off Highway 20 northeast of Nevada City. Situated at the site of a historic and controversial hydraulic gold mining operation, Malakoff features a Visitor Center & Museum that detail the living conditions in the old mining town of North Bloomfield. Activities include hiking, fishing and sightseeing. The campground includes 30 sites for tent or RV and 3 primitive cabins. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring and flush toilets. Reservations recommended.

Malakoff Diggins State Park
23579 North Bloomfield Road
Nevada City, CA 95959
(530) 265-2740
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Folsom Lake SRA is located east of Sacramento between Highway 50 and Interstate 80. Activities on this large lake include hiking, biking, running, camping, picnicking, horseback riding, water-skiing, fishing and boating. Three campgrounds offer a total of 70 campsites for tent or RV. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Ranger station, boat rentals and RV dumpstation.

Folsom Lake State Recreation Area
7806 Folsom-Auburn Road Folsom, California 95630
(916) 988-0205

Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Dru Barner is located east of Auburn on Highway 193, off Wentworth Springs Road. Campground is ideal for equestrian use with pull-through spaces and access to trails. The campground has 47 campsites for tent or RV. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring and flush toilets. Lake Walton is nearby. First-come first-served.
Map  |   No Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Coloma Resort is located north of Placerville off Highway 49. The resort is situated directly across the American River from Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, where gold was discovered that sparked the 1849 gold rush. And yes, gold panning is still performed and productive here. Activities include whitewater rafting, kayaking, fishing, swimming, gold panning, ropes challenge course, hiking and mountain biking. Employees are on hand to arrange excursions and teach you how to gold pan. Resort offers cabins, tent cabins, and sites for tent or RV. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring with barbeque, flush toilets and showers. Groceries and RV dumpstation onsite. Reservations recommended.

Coloma Resort
6921 Mt. Murphy Road
Coloma, California 95613
(800) 238-2298

Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Indian Grinding Rocks campground is located just outside the town of Volcano off Pine Grove-Volcano Road. This small 23 site campground is nestled in a thick forest of trees with plenty of shade. Flush toilets and very clean, private showers are available. Tents and small RV's only. Short trails lead from the campground to Indian Grinding Rocks State Park. Nearby attractions include the Masonic Caves, Black Chasm Caverns, Kirkwood Ski Resort and the historic towns of Volcano and Jackson.

Indian Grinding Rocks Campground
14881 Pine Grove-Volcano Road
Pine Grove, CA 95665
(209) 296-7488

Area Map  |   Campground Map  |  No Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Roaring Camp Mining Co. is located east of Jackson off Highway 88 in Pine Grove. The resort is situated at the picturesque location of an old gold mining camp. Visitors are encouraged to pan, sluice, dredge, and dry wash for gold. Activities include hiking, fishing, swimming and gold panning & mining. Employees are on hand to teach you how to find gold. Resort offers cabins and sites for tent only. They are known for their Saturday night steak barbeques. Reservations recommended.

Coloma Resort
Tabeau Road
Pine Grove, California 95665
(209) 296-4100

Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Calaveras Big Trees State Park is located east of Stockton and four miles northeast of Arnold on highway 4. The main campground is adjacent to a giant sequoia forest. Campsites feature picnic tables, bear proof lockers and firepits. Restrooms have flush toilets, running water and showers. A smaller, less crowded campground is located about a mile further into the park. Nearby attractions include Moaning Cavern, Railtown 1897, Columbia State Historic Park, Bear Valley Ski Resort, wineries and the historic towns of Murphys, Angels Camp, Sonora and Jamestown.

Calaveras Big Trees
Arnold, California 95223
(209) 795-2334
Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Pardee Lake is located west of Jackson off Stony Creek Road. Activities include boating and fishing. Two campgrounds offer a total of 141 campsites for tent or RV. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Groceries, marina, coffee shop, laundry, swimming pools and RV dumpstation onsite. Reservations recommended.

Pardee Lake
4900 Stony Creek Road
Ione, California 95640
(209) 772-1472

Map  |   Call for Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

New Hogan Lake is located west of San Andreas off Highway 26 at Hogan Dam Road. Activities include boating, water skiing, hiking, biking, golfing, horseback riding and fishing. Campground offers 128 campsites for tent or RV. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Groceries, marina, amphitheatre and RV dumpstation onsite. Reservations recommended.

Acorn Camp
2713 Hogan Dam Road
Valley Springs, California 95252
(209) 772-1343

Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

New Melones Lake is a large lake located south of Angels Camp and west of Jamestown off Highway 49. Activities on this large lake include boating, water skiing, hiking, biking, houseboating and fishing. 5 campgrounds offer a total of 169 campsites for tent or RV.

• Glory Hole Recreation Area is located out of Angels Camp off Glory Hole Road, on the northeast side of the lake. Two campgrounds offer a total of 144 campsites for tent or RV. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Groceries, marina, amphitheatre and RV dumpstation onsite. Reservations recommended.
  Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas
  
  TIP: The Best Western Cedar Inn & Suites in Angels Camp caters to boaters with a large gravel lot in the rear for guests with boat, truck and trailer.

• Tuttletown Recreation Area is located out of Jamestown off Reynolds Ferry Road, on the eastern side of the lake. Three campgrounds offer a total of 125 campsites for tent or RV. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Groceries, marina, amphitheatre and RV dumpstation onsite. Reservations recommended.
  Map  |   Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Don Pedro Lake is located west of Moccasin and Coulterville off Highway 49. Activities on this large lake include boating, water skiing, hiking, biking, houseboating and fishing. 3 campgrounds offer a total of 383 campsites for tent or RV. Boat-in camping is also allowed throughout the lake. No dogs allowed.

• Fleming Meadows is located west of Coulterville off Highway 132, on the south side of the lake. Campground offers 172 campsites for tent or RV. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Marina, amphitheatre and RV dumpstation onsite. Reservations recommended: (209) 852-2396.
  Map  |   Call for Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

• Moccasin Point is located just north of Moccasin off Highway 49, on the north side of the lake. Campground offers 50 campsites for tent or RV. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Marina and groceries onsite. Reservations recommended: (209) 852-2396.
  Map  |   Call for Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

• Blue Oaks is located west of Coulterville off Highway 132, on the southwest side of the lake. Campground offers 161 campsites for tent or RV. Large group area available. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Boat launch ramp and RV dumpstation onsite. Reservations recommended: (209) 852-2396.
  Map  |   Call for Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Lake McClure / McSwain is located southwest of Coulterville off Highways 49 & 132. Activities on this large lake include boating, water skiing, hiking, biking, houseboating and fishing. 5 campgrounds offer over 600 campsites for tent or RV.

• Horseshoe Bend is located west of Coulterville off Highway 132, on the north side of the lake. Campground offers 132 campsites for tent or RV. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Boat launch, swimming lagoon, groceries and laundry onsite. Reservations recommended: (800) 468-8889.
  Map  |   Call for Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

• Bagby is located south of Coulterville off Highway 49, on the southeast side of the lake. Campground offers 30 campsites for tent or RV. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Boat launch onsite. Reservations recommended: (800) 468-8889.
  Map  |   Call for Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

• Barrett Cove is located west of Coulterville off Highway 132, south on Merced Falls Road on the west side of the lake. This is Lake McClure's largest campground with 275 campsites for tent or RV. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Boat launch, boat rentals, marina, swimming lagoon, groceries and laundry onsite. Reservations recommended: (800) 468-8889.
  Map  |   Call for Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

• McClure Point is located west of Coulterville off Highway 132, south on Merced Falls Road just south of Barrett Cove. Campground offers 100 campsites for tent or RV. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Boat launch, boat rentals, marina, swimming lagoon, groceries and laundry onsite. Reservations recommended: (800) 468-8889.
  Map  |   Call for Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

• Lake McSwain is located east of Merced Falls off Lake McClure Road. Campground is situated on a small narrow lake below the Lake McClure dam (Exchequer Dam). Campground offers 99 campsites for tent or RV. Amenities include a picnic table, fire ring, flush toilets and showers. Boat launch, boat rentals, marina, swimming lagoon, groceries and laundry onsite. Reservations recommended: (800) 468-8889.
  Map  |   Call for Reservations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

ADDITIONAL primitive camps are located throughout the Tahoe National Forest surrounding Lake Tahoe. Most offer a table, fire ring and vault toilets. Many do not have running water.

Tahoe National Forest
631 Coyote Street
Nevada City, California 95959
(530) 265-4531
Website  |   Other Ideas

ADDITIONAL primitive camps are located throughout the El Dorado National Forest on the western side of the Sierras, along the western side of Lake Tahoe. Most offer a table, fire ring and vault toilets. Many do not have running water.

El Dorado National Forest
100 Forni Road
Placerville, California 95667
(530) 622-5061
Website  |   Other Ideas

ADDITIONAL primitive camps are located throughout the Stanislaus National Forest on the western side of the Sierras, from Highway 4 in the north to Yosemite. Most offer a table, fire ring and vault toilets. Many do not have running water.

Stanislaus National Forest
19777 Greenley Road
Sonora, California 95370
(209) 532-3671
Website  |   Other Ideas

ADDITIONAL primitive camps are located throughout the Sierra National Forest on the western side of the Sierras, from Yosemite in the north to Highway 180 to the south. Most offer a table, fire ring and vault toilets. Many do not have running water.

Sierra National Forest
1600 Tollhouse Road
Clovis, California 93611-0532
(559) 297-0706
Website  |   Other Ideas

Camping by Region
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