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

White Cloud

Forest Service campground in Tahoe National Forest, Nevada County, California. About 4,200 feet. 10.8 miles from Nevada City.

Managed by
Forest Service Tahoe National Forest
Elevation
About 4,200 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
44 36 standard non-electric, 8 tent only non-electric
Longest rig
40 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Nevada County

Overview

White Cloud Campground is located right off of Hwy 20 in a nice wooded area. Scotts Flat Resevoir is 6 miles from White Cloud Campsite. Adjacent to the campground is Pioneer Trail used by hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. Campground is available for both RV and tent camping (however, there are NO RV hookups or amenities, size restrictions on RV may apply).

Recreation

The Pioneer Trail stretches 25 miles through the Tahoe National Forest and can be accessed from the campground. The popular path was designated a National Recreation Trail in 2003. Horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing are favorite activities on this popular trail.

Facilities

The campground offers several single-family sites, a few of which are designated for tent camping only as well as one double site. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Drinking water is provided.

Natural Features

The campground is situated in a forest of cedar, pine, and Douglas fir trees, at an elevation of 4,200 feet.

Nearby Attractions

White Cloud Campground is located on the Highway 20 portion of the Yuba Donner Scenic Byway near many gold rush era historical sites and old mining towns such as Washington and Nevada City. Nevada City, about 14 miles west, is a scenic historical mining town with many historical attractions, top notch restaraunts, various lodging options, shopping, and stores for everything you may need. Other attractions include the Pioneer Trail, South Yuba River, Washintong Scenic Overlook, Alpha and Omega Scenic Overlook and Interpretive Trail, Rock Creek Nature Trail, Chalk Bluff OHV trails, and Grouse Ridge Non-Motorized Area.

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

What people do here

  • camping
  • hiking
  • mountain biking
  • scenic drive

The land around White Cloud

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

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

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.

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.