RECREATION
089_Camping_NCG_2016-V3_089_Camping_Recreation_2016 5/8/16 5:53 PM Page 89
R E C R E A T I O N
Locals’ Picks
SLEEP UNDER THE STARS
By Mark Winkler
ple of perfect, lower-elevation campgrounds
for families are Scotts Flat Lake (9 miles
east of Nevada City) and Rollins Lake (off
Hwy. 174, between Grass Valley and Colfax).
Both offer the fun of lake play and the convenience of having stores available on site,
just in case anything was forgotten. In the
Bowman Lake area (off Hwy. 20, east of
Nevada City) you’ll find lake-adjacent camping at the Rucker, Lindsey and Faucherie
Lake campgrounds, which are relatively easy
to get to but remain idyllic. For great lakeside camping farther up the mountain, consider Donner Memorial State Park near
Truckee, as Donner Lake is beautiful!
Another good tip on the Truckee side of the
county is Sagehen Creek Campground,
which offers spectacular wildflower displays
and an abundance of hiking choices. Also in
the Truckee area, Boca Reservoir is a good
place for campers who enjoy boating and
great fishing- it’s on the Little Truckee River
just a short ways east of town and only a
mile north of I-80.
WALK-IN TENT CAMPING: The Bowman
Lake area has lots to offer, including the
Blue Lake walk-in campground, which is
remote and pristine and yet relatively easy to
get to, with the added bonus of nearby petroglyphs for viewing. If you like to hike a bit,
a real treat is Island Lake! It’s only about a
one-mile hike in from Carr Lake, for high
Sierra conditions that are primitive but well
worth it. And there are other campsites and
MOUNTAIN VISTA SITES: There is eye-pop-
ping camping available near the Grouse
Ridge Fire Lookout and there are several
points of access to the Grouse Ridge trails.
The Eagle Lakes trailhead works well and is
reached from Interstate 80 at the Eagle
Lakes exit. Proceed north past the Indian
Springs Campground to get to the Grouse
Ridge Campground. The scenery is fantastic but beware of sneaky, boot-chewing
marmots who know when you are asleep!
GOLD RUSH CABIN CAMPING: There are
unique camping cabins available at
Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park,
which is located outside Nevada City to the
east. The Miner's Cabins usually can be
rented during the months of May through
September. Or you could choose The Chute
Hill Campground at the park and either
way you’d be spending the night in historic
North Bloomfield.
GLAMPING: If the pleasure of being one
step from civilization is enticing, luxury
“glamping” may be perfect for you, mixing
the perks of being practically in Nevada
City with the joys of sleeping out under
lovely Sierra skies. Reservations are being
taken now for RV or tent sites or “glamp”
it in one of the tent cabins, beginning July
2016. inntowncampground.com
KAT ALVES
TENT/RV CAMPING NEAR THE WATER: A cou-
NO RESERVATION? For you
last-minute campers, all is not
lost - check out the Bowman
Lake area! Other than the
group campground areas, the
Bowman Road and Grouse
Ridge Area Campgrounds
are all “no reservation” facilities, so even if you didn’t
make plans in advance you can
still roll in early enough to grab a choice site.
Whatever your choice of accommodations,
we’re confident that Nevada County camping will be just the experience you’ve been
hoping to find. For more detailed campsite
information and a complete calendar of
local events visit: NevadaCountyGold.com
lakes in the area to be explored along the
Crooked Lakes Trail.
View from Grouse
Ridge Campground
GRASS VALLEY RV CAMPING: If you are look-
ing for a great place for “RV Camping” in
your vehicle, the Nevada County
Fairgrounds in Grass Valley offers a great
atmosphere and the handiness of being
right on the edge of this beautiful and historic Gold Rush Era town. Check for special
events at the fairgrounds for added fun but
also competition for sites.
CAMPING WITH HORSES: If you want to
camp with horses, there are horse camps at
Little Lasier Meadow near Truckee and the
Skillman Horse Camp, which is located
on Highway 20 above Nevada City. Either
way, the layout is right for both you and
your extra-large friends.
JULA JULZ
C
AMPING TIPS FROM NEVADA County
locals tend to not include hectic and
overcrowded areas like Lake Tahoe
and Yosemite and are more likely to focus
on the “North of Interstate 80” areas in our
own backyard. Around here it’s possible to
find the right campground for every taste,
as these campgrounds offer everything
from granite clad peaks to pristine remote
lakes to lower-elevation cool, forested sites.
So try Nevada County if you are NOT looking for well-known, over-crowded campgrounds and would prefer something a little
more surprising and memorable.
N E VA D A C O U N T Y G O L D . c o m
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