Connectivity
No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Skillman
Tahoe National Forest, California
About this campground
Skillman Campground is located on the Yuba Donner Scenic Byway (Highway 20) near many gold rush era historical sites and old mining towns such as Washington and Nevada City.
Other attractions include the South Yuba River, Washintong Scenic Overlook, Alpha and Omega Scenic Overlook and Interpretive Trail, Rock Creek Nature Trail, Chalk Bluff OHV trails, and Grouse Ridge Non-Motorized Area.
The campground is situated in a forest of dogwood, cedar and Douglas fir trees, at an elevation of 3,700 feet.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 39.318430° N
- Longitude
- 120.791918° 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
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sites
- Standard campsites
- Equestrian sites
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Showers
- Trash serviceVerify whether the assigned site is pack-in/pack-out
- Picnic table
- Fires
- 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
- Back-in sitesCommunity report
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
Skillman Campground has individual sites with enough room for parking trucks with trailers. Some of the sites have horse pens and water troughs for horses. It is located in the Tahoe National Forest near Nevada City and three historic mining towns.
Facilities
Two horse pens are in sites 3,7,9,11,13, and 15. Water troughs are found in the campground. Site 4 is a double site and has 4 horse pens. Each single site can accommodate up to six people, four horses and two vehicles.
Recreation
The Pioneer Trail stretches 25 miles through the Tahoe National Forest and can be accessed from the campground. The popular trail was designated a National Recreation Trail in 2003. Horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing are favorite activities on this popular trail.
Natural Features
The campground is situated in a forest of dogwood, cedar and Douglas fir trees, at an elevation of 3,700 feet.
Nearby Attractions
Skillman Campground is located on the Yuba Donner Scenic Byway (Highway 20) near many gold rush era historical sites and old mining towns such as Washington and Nevada City. Nevada City, about 14 miles west, is a scenic historical mining town with many historical attractions, top notch restaraunts, various lodging options, shopping, and stores for everything you may need. Other attractions include the South Yuba River, Washintong Scenic Overlook, Alpha and Omega Scenic Overlook and Interpretive Trail, Rock Creek Nature Trail, Chalk Bluff OHV trails, and Grouse Ridge Non-Motorized Area.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Horseback Riding
- Hiking
- Camping
- Biking
- Horse Camping
- Scenic Drive
- Mountain Biking
Amenities and facility features
- Vault or pit toilets
- Showers
- Trash serviceVerify whether the assigned site is pack-in/pack-out
- Pets allowedFollow the exact facility restrictions
- Horse Corrals
- Horse Staging Area
- Horseback Riding Trails
- Motorcycle Trails
- Parking Area
- Self Pay Station
- Shade
- Trailhead Parking
- Trash Collection
- Vault Toilets
- Water Troughs
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Standard Non-Electric
12 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Car, Caravan/Camper Van, Fifth Wheel, Large Tent Over 9x12`, Pickup Camper, RV, RV/Motorhome, Small Tent, Tent, Trailer, Vehicle
- Maximum people
- 12
- Maximum vehicles
- 4
- Maximum vehicle length
- 35 ft
- Check-in
- 02:00 PM, 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Equestrian Non-Electric
5 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Car, RV/Motorhome, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 35 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
- 12 people per site
- Maximum published vehicles
- 4 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 02:00 PM, 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM
- Food storage
- Skillman'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
- Skillman's official facility record states: 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.
- 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
- Oct 15, 2026
- Next release
- Nov 22, 2026, 7:00 AM PST
- Next book-through date
- May 22, 2027
- Group sites bookable through
- Sep 30, 2027
Published seasons & rates
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026 | Equestrian Non-Electric | $18 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $18 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2027 – Sep 30, 2027 | Equestrian Non-Electric | $18 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2027 – Sep 30, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2027 – Sep 30, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $18 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2028 – Sep 30, 2028 | Equestrian Non-Electric | $18 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2028 – Sep 30, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2028 – Sep 30, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $18 | — | — |
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- 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).
- Utility hookups and showers are not available
- First-come, first-served sites may be available through late September
- In accordance with standard industry practices, Tahoe National Forest will assess an additional $5 vehicle fee per day for 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 one vehicle, and the third and fourth motorcycle are also considered one vehicle. No additional vehicle fees are collected for bicycles.
- 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.
- 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 Nevada City, travel east on Highway 20 for 14 miles. Turn right at the Skillman Campground sign and then left at the first road intersection into the campground. From Interstate 80 take exit 161, Highway 20 to Nevada City and drive 13 miles west toward Nevada City. Turn left at the Skillman Campground sign and then turn left at the first road intersection into the campground.
Facility contact
530-478-6253