Big Bend Group (Yuba River)

BIG BEND GROUP (YUBA RIVER)

Part of Tahoe National Forest

Overview

Big Bend Group Campground is located 19 miles west of Truckee, California in the Tahoe National Forest at an elevation of 5,700 feet. Visitors enjoy the area for its fishing and hiking opportunities, as well as its historic significance along the California Emigrant Trail.  This campground is operated and maintained by Forest Service staff.

Facilities

The campground offers two accessible group sites, Lincoln and Victory, which can accommodate up to 25 people and five vehicles each. Picnic tables, grills and large campfire rings are provided, as well as vault toilets and drinking water.

Natural Features

The campground lies along the gentle South Yuba River; just behind and across the river from the Big Bend Fire Station. Stands of pine and fir covers the area, offering pleasant shade at the group sites.

Recreation

The South Yuba River offers swimming and rainbow trout fishing. The historic California Emigrant Trail and Loch Leven Trail are located nearby. The surrounding area offers many additional hiking, biking and off-road vehicle trails.

Nearby Attractions

Donner Lake is located 15 miles east via historic Route 40/Lincoln Highway, the nation's first transcontinental highway. Many points of interest lie along Route 40, including China Wall, Rainbow Bridge, Sugar Bowl, Lake Van Norden and Ice Lakes.

Contact Info

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

Important Notices

  • Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed. For current fire conditions or weather closures contact the Yuba River Ranger District (530) 288-3231 (voice), (530) 288-3656 (TDD).
  • Click here for more information on the Tahoe National Forest
  • 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.
  • Flatten the Curve

    Maintaining social distance of 6ft or more when walking, hiking, jogging or biking.

    • Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people.

    • Do not gather in groups.

    • Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings.

    Remember to bring soap & hand sanitizer.

    • Clean your hands often. 

    • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

    • If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.

    STAY HOME IF YOU’RE SICK.

    Wear a cloth face covering in public.

    Cover coughs and sneezes.

    Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. 

    Before traveling please check for local advisories:

    https://www.placer.ca.gov/

    For more information on Corona Virus visit: 

    https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html 

  • 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

  • Hiking - Hiking
  • Fishing - Fishing
  • Camping - Camping
  • Historic & Cultural Site - Historic & Cultural Site
  • Biking - Biking
  • Day Use Area - Day Use Area
  • Photography - Photography
  • Star Gazing - Star Gazing
  • Swimming - Swimming
  • Water Access - Water Access
  • Information Site - Information Site
  • Gold Panning - Gold Panning
  • Climbing - Climbing
  • Birding - Birding
  • Off Highway Vehicle Trails - Off Highway Vehicle Trails
  • Mountain Biking - Mountain Biking

Directions

<p>From Truckee, take I-80 19 miles west to the Rainbow Road Exit. Travel west about 1.5 miles to the Big Bend Ranger Station and Visitor Center. Turn right past the Visitor Center and cross bridge. The campground is on the right. Victory is the first campsite and Lincoln is the second one at the end.<br><br>From Nevada City, take Highway 20 east for about 26 miles. Travel east on I-80 for 4.5 miles. Take exit 166 for Big Bend, travel about a 1/4 mile on Hampshire Rocks Rd. Turn left before Fire Station and cross the bridge. The campground is on the right. Victory is the first campsite and Lincoln is the second one at the end.</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 ADDRESS OF THE RANGER STATION, NOT THE CAMPGROUND
631 Coyote Street
Nevada City, CA 95959

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Available Campsites

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