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A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

Forest Service campground

Salmon Creek

Forest Service campground in Tahoe National Forest, Sierra County, California. 5,717 feet. 15.5 miles from Portola.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Tahoe National Forest
Elevation
5,717 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
29 24 standard non-electric, 5 tent only non-electric
Longest rig
45 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Sierra County

Overview

Salmon Creek Campground is located 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.

Recreation

A large network of trails is available in the area, including Tamarack Lake and Deer Lake Trails and the Pacific Crest Trail. Boating, fishing and swimming are available at nearby Sardine Lakes, which is a short drive from the campground. Sardine Lakes Resort offers boat rentals.

Facilities

The campground offers 31 single-family sites, including some tent-only sites. Each site has a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.

Natural Features

The campground stretches along the banks of Salmon Creek. A forest of cottonwood, lodgepole pine and cedar offers shade. The surrounding area contains an abundance of beautiful high mountain lakes, rugged peaks, and scenic views.

Nearby Attractions

Lakes Basin offers many opportunities for boating, fishing and hiking. Boating, fishing and swimming are available at nearby Sardine Lakes, about a mile to the west. Sardine Lakes Resort offers boat rentals, lodging, and a restaurant. Anglers will find rainbow and brook trout in many of the lakes, streams, and rivers throughout the basin. A more developed boat ramp is located at Gold Lake and accomodates launching of larger boats. Over 30 miles of maintained trails for hiking, mountain biking, and motorcycle singletrack branch out across the area and the Pacific Crest Trail can be accessed at a few spots in the Lakes Basin area. The historic towns of Sierra City and Downieville offer historic and cultural attractions, restaurants, shops, churches, and vistor information.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • boating
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • hotel/lodge/resort privately owned
  • hunting
  • mountain biking
  • non-motorized boating
  • photography
  • scenic drive
  • swimming

The land around Salmon Creek

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated March 11, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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