Dark Day Campground

Dark Day Campground

Part of Tahoe National Forest

Overview

Bullards Bar Reservoir is located on the North Yuba River at an elevation of 2000 feet. It is located approximately 21 miles north of Nevada City, California. It has a maximum surface area of 4,760 acres and a length of over 16 miles and shoreline of more than 60 miles.

Facilities

Public access for boating and recreation is limited to 2 developed and 1 undeveloped boat launches: the Cottage Creek Boat Launch ramp at Emerald Cove Marina, the Dark Day Boat Launch ramp, and the undeveloped site at the end of Moran Road. The area includes 5 campgrounds, 2 picnic areas, 2 boat launch ramps, 1 marina, 1 overlook, 1 day use area and several developed hiking trails.  

Natural Features

The sides of the reservoir are generally steep and public access for boating and recreation is limited. The reservoir is surrounded by both conifer and hardwood forests with numerous brush spieces. There is plenty of shade at the campsites

Recreation

Activities include wildlife viewing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, boating, water skiing, and other water sports. Swimming opportunities are limited because of the steep slopes; however boaters will find numerous opportunities for swimming in various locations around the reservoir. The reservoir provides yearlong fishing opportunities for both warm and cold water fish species. Supplies are available at the marina as well as the nearby communities of Camptonville, North San Juan, and Dobbins.

Nearby Attractions

There is a beautiful non- motorized trail system in the area, with 5 different trails to choose from. Bullards Bar Trailhead is 14 miles, 7 Ball Trial is 1 mile, 8 Ball Trail is 3.8 miles, Rebel Ridge Trail is 1.6 miles and Schoolhouse Trail is 0.7 miles. Maps are available at the North Yuba Ranger Station just a couple miles east of the reservoir on Marysville Road.

Contact Info

This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (530) 265-4531.

Important Notices

  • The facility opens April 15 and closes October 15 each year.

  • Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.

  • Utility hookups and showers are not available

  • Bears frequent the area; all food must be kept in approved containers

  • food lockers are about 4' wide by 2' deep by 4' high

  • There is no dump station at this facility

  • We have added orange cones at the parking area for each site to keep your parking site from being used by a "day use vehicle by someone else". When you arrive, just move the cone and park and place the cone in front of your vehicle.  

  • No Show Policy

    A no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date (or for day-use facilities, by check-in time the day of arrival). 

    * No-show customers are only recorded at staffed facilities. At most remote facilities, all customers are noted as automatically checked-in on the date of arrival.

    * It is recommended that staffed facilities hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date.

    * It is recommended that staffed facilities hold group day-use facilities until check-in time on the arrival date.

    There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation if the change includes dates from the original reservation. If they choose to depart early, they may forfeit some or all of the recreation fees. 

    There is no change fee if the customer changes campsites that are the same price and on the same reservation dates in the same campground. If the campsite the customer is changing to has a price difference, the customer will be responsible for any additional fees or be provided with a refund, based on the price difference. 

    Where recorded, no-show customers are assessed a $20.00 no-show fee and forfeit the first night's recreation fee for a campsite or forfeit the entire day-use recreation fee for a day-use facility. We recommend customers contact the facility if they are en route to their reservation but cannot make it by the check-in date. In these cases, no refund will be issued, but the facility can ensure that a "no-show" fee is not assessed.

Available Activities

  • Biking - Biking
  • Boating - Boating
  • Camping - Camping
  • Canoeing - Canoeing
  • Day Use Area - Day Use Area
  • Fishing - Fishing
  • Kayaking - Kayaking
  • Motor Boat - Motor Boat
  • Non-Motorized Boating - Non-Motorized Boating
  • Paddling - Paddling
  • Picnicking - Picnicking
  • Ranger Station - Ranger Station
  • Swimming - Swimming
  • Water Access - Water Access
  • Water Activities - Water Activities
  • Water Sports - Water Sports
  • Water Skiing - Water Skiing
  • Wildlife Viewing - Wildlife Viewing

Directions

<p>From Nevada City, travel north on Higway 49 for approximately 20 miles to Maryville Road , turn left onto Maryville Road and travel west approximatley 3 </p> <p>miles to the Dark Day Campground.</p>

Cancellation Policy

<p><strong>No Show Policy</strong></p> <p>A no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date (or for day-use facilities, by check-in time the day of arrival). </p> <p>* No-show customers are only recorded at staffed facilities. At most remote facilities, all customers are noted as automatically checked-in on the date of arrival.</p> <p>* It is recommended that staffed facilities hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date.</p> <p>* It is recommended that staffed facilities hold group day-use facilities until check-in time on the arrival date.</p> <p>There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation if the change includes dates from the original reservation. If they choose to depart early, they may forfeit some or all of the recreation fees. </p> <p>There is no change fee if the customer changes campsites that are the same price and on the same reservation dates in the same campground. If the campsite the customer is changing to has a price difference, the customer will be responsible for any additional fees or be provided with a refund, based on the price difference. </p> <p>Where recorded, no-show customers are assessed a $20.00 no-show fee and forfeit the first night's recreation fee for a campsite or forfeit the entire day-use recreation fee for a day-use facility. We recommend customers contact the facility if they are en route to their reservation but cannot make it by the check-in date. In these cases, no refund will be issued, but the facility can ensure that a "no-show" fee is not assessed.</p>

Contact Information

Phone: 530-478-6253

Yuba River Ranger Station
This is the Ranger Staion address. Not the campground address
631 Coyote Street
Nevada City, CA 95959
3 miles west of the Yuba River Ranger Station on Marysville Road
Camptonville, CA 95922

Rental Options

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Available Campsites

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