Carlton stretches along the North Yuba River where Highway 49 cuts through forest 13 miles from Downieville. It's the kind of roadside camp that works when you want river access without the fuss — picnic tables under mixed conifers, vault toilets, and the sound of water running past your tent all night.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 💵Fee per Night
- $20
- 📍GPS
- 39.51917, -120.99972
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- (530)478-6253
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Camp
Sites accommodate both tents and trailers under a canopy of cedar, ponderosa pine, and oak that provides afternoon shade. Each spot comes with the basics: picnic table, fire ring, and access to vault toilets and drinking water. The campground runs parallel to the river, so you're never far from the water.
Highway 49 runs adjacent to the property, which means easy access but also road noise. This isn't a wilderness experience — it's a functional base camp for exploring the North Yuba drainage.
What to Know
The facility operates unstaffed, so don't expect on-site management. For questions, call the main Tahoe National Forest office at (530) 265-5431. No-shows get hit with a $20 fee and forfeit the first night's fee, though enforcement may be spotty at unstaffed locations.
Nearby
The North Yuba River offers rainbow trout fishing, swimming holes for hot afternoons, and seasonal rafting when flows cooperate. The Rocky Rest trailhead sits nearby, providing access to the North Yuba River Trail and a network of paths suitable for hiking, biking, and OHV use.
Downieville, 13 miles south, serves as the area's hub with supplies and the famous Downieville Downhill mountain bike race course. The location puts you in range of serious Sierra Nevada country while keeping you connected to civilization.