Connectivity
No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Rocky Rest
Tahoe National Forest, California
About this campground
The campground is situated on the north bank of the North Yuba River, where a forest of Douglas fir, pine, and oak provides ample shade, but limited privacy between sites.
Rocky Rest Campground is located along the Yuba Donner Scenic Byway (Highway 49) near many gold rush era historical sites and old mining towns such as Camptonville, Goodyears Bar, and Downieville.
Rocky Rest Campground is located off of Highway 49, in the North Yuba River area near Downieville.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 39.513501° N
- Longitude
- 120.977713° W
Know before you arrive
Access, sites & campground features
Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.
Access
- Drive-in
- Walk-inPublished approach distance: 20 ft
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sites
- Standard campsites
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic table
- FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
- Trash serviceCommunity report
- Pets allowedDogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
- Reservable
For vehicles
- Parking
- Pull-through sites
Official campground guide
Plan with the full campground details
Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.
Overview
Rocky Rest Campground is located off of Highway 49, in the North Yuba River area near Downieville. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, white water boating, and gold panning. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.
Facilities
The campground offers several single-family sites. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.
Recreation
A trailhead for the North Yuba Trail is located within the campground. This 7.5-mile trail is open to hiking and biking. The North Yuba River offers swimming, floating, and rainbow trout fishing. A small rocky beach and swimming hole are situated at the water's edge. The river is a popular destination for seasonal rafting, kayaking and tubing.
Natural Features
The campground is situated on the north bank of the North Yuba River, where a forest of Douglas fir, pine, and oak provides ample shade, but limited privacy between sites.
Nearby Attractions
Rocky Rest Campground is located along the Yuba Donner Scenic Byway (Highway 49) near many gold rush era historical sites and old mining towns such as Camptonville, Goodyears Bar, and Downieville. Many points of interest lie along Highway 49 and are part of the 49 miles of Highway 49 driving tour; look for interpretive signs and other historical sites along this tour route. Other attractions include the North Yuba River, Indian Valley Outpost, New Bullards Bar Reservoir, Downieville, and a network of miles of multi use hiking, biking, and motorcycle singletrack.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Swimming
- Hunting
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Camping
- Rafting
- Mountain Biking
- Scenic Drive
- Water Activities
- Biking
- Water Access
- Whitewater Rafting
- Picnicking
Amenities and facility features
- Vault or pit toilets
- Showers
- Potable water
- Picnic tables
- Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame
- Pets allowedFollow the exact facility restrictions
- River Access
- Self Pay Station
- Shade
- Trailhead Parking
- Trailheads
- Vault Toilets
- Water
- Water Spigot
- Waterfront Sites
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Standard Non-Electric
10 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Car, RV/Motorhome, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 1
- Maximum vehicle length
- 30 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Site rules, inventory & rates
Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.
Site rules
- Max Stay
- 14 nights
- Reservation cutoff
- 4 days before arrival
- Maximum published occupancy
- 6 people per site
- Maximum published vehicles
- 1 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Food storage
- Rocky Rest's official facility record checked 2026-10-16 does not publish a food-storage method; confirm the posted rule with Tahoe National Forest.
- Fire and stove use
- Rocky Rest's official facility record states: Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring.
- Pets
- Dogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
Inventory window
Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.
- Currently bookable through
- Apr 18, 2027
- Next release
- Oct 19, 2026, 7:00 AM PDT
- Next book-through date
- Apr 19, 2027
- Group sites bookable through
- Oct 18, 2027
Published seasons & rates
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak SeasonApr 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $24 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonOct 16, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $24 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 15, 2027 – Oct 15, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $24 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonOct 16, 2027 – Oct 31, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $24 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 15, 2028 – Oct 15, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $24 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonOct 16, 2028 – Oct 31, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $24 | — | — |
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- In accordance with standard industry practices, we will be assessing a $5 additional vehicle fee on the 'second vehicle' in each single family campsite, and on the 'third and fourth vehicle' in any double family campsite, provided these vehicles are not joined to the first vehicle by a hitch and towed onto the site. In the case of motorcycles, the first two are considered to be one vehicle and the third and fourth are also considered to be one vehicle. No additional vehicle fees are collected for bicycles.
- Bears frequent the area; all food must be kept in approved containers
- Utility hookups and showers are not available
- Click here for more information on the Tahoe National Forest
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
Getting there & contact
Official directions
From Downieville, take Highway 49 south for about 11 miles. The campground is on the left side of the highway. From Nevada City, take Highway 49 north for 31 miles. The campground is on the right side of the highway.
Facility contact
(530)478-6253