This group campground sits at the base of the Sierra Buttes in a wet meadow dotted with lodgepole pine. The Lakes Basin spreads out from your doorstep with over 30 miles of trails, plus Sardine Lakes less than a mile west for swimming and fishing.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 💵Fee per Night
- $20
- 📍GPS
- 39.61969, -120.61716
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- (530)478-6253
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Camp
Sardine Lake Campground offers several single-family sites plus one double site, each with the standard setup: picnic table, fire ring, and bear box. The lodgepole pine forest provides partial shade over the wet meadow setting. Vault toilets and drinking water keep things civilized, but this is an unstaffed facility — you're on your own once you arrive.
The Sierra Buttes loom directly above camp, giving the setting a proper mountain feel without the alpine exposure. The meadow location means you'll likely encounter moisture, especially early in the season.
What to Know
At $20 per night, it's reasonably priced for the location. Since it's unstaffed, the no-show policy is more relaxed than at managed campgrounds — everyone gets automatically checked in on arrival date. Still worth calling the main office at (530) 265-4531 for current conditions or general questions before heading up.
Nearby
The Lakes Basin delivers on its name. Sardine Lakes sit less than a mile west with swimming, fishing for rainbow and brook trout, and boat rentals available at Sardine Lakes Resort. Sand Pond offers another water option nearby. For bigger boats, Gold Lake has a developed ramp that can handle larger craft.
Trail access is extensive — over 30 miles of maintained paths branch out from the basin for hiking, mountain biking, and motorcycle use. The Deer Lake and Tamarack Lakes trails start locally, and you can pick up the Pacific Crest Trail at several access points throughout the basin. Sierra City and Downieville are within reach for supplies, meals, and a taste of Gold Rush history.