Recreation Activities: Yuba River (South) District
Summer Fun!
Fuller Lake, about three miles north of SR 20 on the Bowman Road (road 18), is regularly stocked with trout by the California Department of Fish & Game. It's a great place for people who love fishing, both young and not-so-young.
Camping | Day Use | Non-motorized Trails | Special Events
Camping
Interstate 80 corridor
Name |
Status |
# of sites |
Fee |
Water |
Toilets |
Elev. |
Remarks |
|
Closed |
31 |
$20.00 |
piped |
vault |
5,900' |
$5.00 extra vehicle fee |
Big Bend Group |
Closed |
Two 25 person sites |
$90.00 |
piped |
vault |
5,780' |
"Lincoln" and "Victory" sites available. |
|
|
Closed |
35 |
$20.00 |
piped |
vault |
5,600' |
$5.00 extra vehicle fee |
Sterling Lake
(PG&E) |
Closed |
6 |
none |
lake- boil |
vault |
6,500' |
|
Woodchuck |
Open |
8 |
none |
stream-boil |
vault |
6,300' |
Accessible until closed by snow |
PG&E Operates Lodgepole Campground at Lake Valley reservoir, accessed from Yuba Gap exit off of Interstate 80. For information about PG&E recreation sites in this area, please call 916-386-5164 or visit the PG&E website at www.pge.com/about_us/environment/recreational_areas/donnersummit/.
The privately owned Cisco Grove campground is open year-round and usually has sites available. Exit Interstate 80 at Cisco Grove. Fore more information, please call them at 530-426-1600 or visit their website at www.ciscogrove.com/. This business has campsites, RV sites, showers and other amenities.
Grouse Ridge/Bowman Lake Area
Name |
Status |
# of sites |
Fee |
Water |
Toilets |
Elev. |
Remarks |
Blue Lake (PG&E) |
Closed |
2 |
none |
lake- boil |
vault |
5,920' |
|
Rucker Lake |
Closed |
5 |
none |
lake- boil |
vault |
5,452' |
|
Bear Valley Group (PG&E) |
Closed |
22 |
call for info |
piped |
vault |
|
call 916-386-5164 for reservations |
Grouse Ridge |
Open |
9 |
none |
none |
vault |
7,400' |
accessible until closed by snow |
Bowman Lake
(NID)
|
Open |
7 |
none |
lake- boil |
vault |
5,585' |
accessible until closed by snow |
Jackson Creek
|
Open |
14 |
none |
stream- boil |
vault |
5,600' |
accessible until closed by snow |
Canyon Creek |
Open |
20 |
none |
stream- boil |
vault |
6,000' |
accessible until closed by snow |
|
Closed |
2 for 25 |
$50.00 |
lake- boil |
vault |
6,000' |
|
Carr Lake (PG&E) |
Closed |
5 |
|
lake- boil |
vault |
5,900' |
|
Lindsey Lake (PG&E) |
Closed |
7 |
|
lake- boil |
vault |
5,900' |
|
PG&E operates Spaulding Campground and Boat Ramp at Spaulding reservoir, accessed from SR 20 a few miles west of Interstate 80. Their fees are $20.00 for camping, with launch, day use, and overflow fees.
For additional information about PG&E sites in this area, please call 916-386-5164 or visit the PG&E website at www.pge.com/about_us/environment/recreational_areas/donner_summit/
Highway 20 Corridor
Name |
Status |
# of sites |
Fee |
Water |
Toilets |
Elev. |
Remarks |
|
Closed
|
46 |
$20.00 |
piped |
flush/vault |
4,500' |
$5.00 extra vehicle fee
|
Skillman Group/Equestrian Sites
(make reservation) |
Closed |
see fees |
Single sites: $20.00
|
not potable |
vault |
4,800' |
Occupancy by reservation only
|
Day Use
Day Use Areas
Site Name |
Status |
Amenities |
Remarks |
Rock Creek (Hwy 20) |
Open |
Interpretive trail, vault toilet, tables, pedestal stoves |
mosquitoes in mid-summer |
White Cloud (Hwy 20) |
Closed |
piped water, flush toilets, tables, stoves |
campground across Hwy 20 |
Golden Quartz (S. Yuba river near Washington) |
Open |
tables, vault toilets |
|
Omega Rest Area (Hwy 20) |
Open |
interpretive trail, scenic view, vault toilets |
no water |
Fuller Lake (Bowman Rd. 4.5 miles from Hwy 20) |
Closed |
Picnic tables, vault toilet, lake access, fishing, boat ramp |
Operated by PG&E
|
Big Bend (Behind Big Bend Visitor Center, I-80 at Big Bend exit) |
Closed |
Three picnic sites along South Yuba River behind Big Bend Visitor Center, vault toilets, river access, fishing. Group campground adjacent. |
Limited parking.
|
Gould Park (I-80 at Cisco Grove) |
Open |
Picnic sites, South Yuba river access, historic ruins |
Operated by Placer County. Open until closed by snow. |
Non-Motorized Trails
Trail |
Length |
Degree of Difficulty |
Trailhead location(s) |
Season of Use |
Amount of Use |
Remarks |
|
25 mi. |
Easiest-More Difficult |
Along SR 20: Harmony Ridge Market; Lone Grave; White Cloud; Skillman Flat; Upper Burlington Ridge; Omega Rest Area; Bear Valley; Lang Crossing |
year round |
heavy |
|
South Yuba |
9 miles on NF lands; 6 miles on BLM, connectors to Humbug Ridge and Missouri Bar trails |
Most Difficult |
(East terminus) From Washington, north across bridge. Bear left, turn on Relief Hill rd (36). Trailhead is 0.1 mi beyond end of pavement.
(West terminus) From North Bloomfield road at Edwards Crossing, drive one mi to S. Yuba Campground |
year round |
moderate |
Hikers, mountain bikes, equestrians. Watch for poison oak on this trail.
Connecting trails to Malakoff SP and Missouri Bar |
|
2.25 mi |
Most difficult |
Feely Lake CG; via Bowman rd and Carr-Feely rd. |
June-October (weather permitting) |
Heavy |
Bears in area |
|
3.5 mi |
More difficult |
Lindsey Lake CG, via Bowman rd and Carr-Feely rd. |
June-October (weather permitting) |
Moderate |
Hikers, equestrians, mountain bikes. Best fishing is Culbertson Lk.
Bears in area |
|
2.25 mi |
More difficult |
North terminus- Lindsey Lakes tr. |
June-October (weather permitting) |
Moderate |
Bears in area |
|
6.25 mi |
More difficult |
North terminus- From SR 89 north, take Jackson Mdws road to road 86. Turn south on 86 to Meadow Lake.
South terminus- Eagle Lakes T/H, I-80 at Indian Springs exit. |
June-October (weather permitting) |
Moderate |
Hiking, mountain bikes, equestrians.
Bears in area |
|
3.5-5 mi |
More difficult |
I-80 at Big Bend/Rainbow rd exit |
June-November (weather permitting) |
Heavy on weekends |
Bears in area |
|
|
