Connectivity
No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Union Flat
Tahoe National Forest, California
About this campground
Union Flat Campground is located on the Yuba Donner Scenic Byway (Highway 49) near many gold rush era historical sites and old mining towns such as Goodyears Bar, Sierra City, and Downieville.
Union Flat Campground is located on the North Yuba River, near Highway 49.
The campground offers several single-family campsites and one double site.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 39.568073° N
- Longitude
- 120.744984° 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
- Hike-in
- Walk-inCommunity report
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sites
- Standard campsites
- Dispersed sitesCommunity report
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic table
- FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
- Trash serviceVerify whether the assigned site is pack-in/pack-out
- 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
- Pull-through sites
- Big rig friendlyPublished vehicle length up to 50 ft
- Parallel parking sitesCommunity report
- Sanitary dumpCommunity 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
Union Flat Campground is located on the North Yuba River, near Highway 49. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, hunting, fishing, canoeing and gold panning.
Facilities
The campground offers several single-family campsites and one double site. Some sites are designated for tent camping only. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets are provided.
Recreation
The North Yuba River offers swimming, wading and rainbow trout fishing. Seasonal rafting, tubing and kayaking is available.
Natural Features
The campground stretches along the north bank of the North Yuba River. A tumbled rock wall from early gold dredging activity separates campsites from the river. A forest of pine, fir, maple and oak trees covers the area, offering shade in many sites.
Nearby Attractions
Union Flat Campground is located on the Yuba Donner Scenic Byway (Highway 49) near many gold rush era historical sites and old mining towns such as Goodyears Bar, Sierra City, 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. Gold Lakes Basin offers boating, fishing, biking, and hiking. Boating, fishing and swimming are available at nearby Sardine Lakes, about 14 miles east of the campground. Sardine Lakes Resort offers boat rentals, lodging, and a restaurant. On the water, visitors enjoy boating and fishing. Anglers will find rainbow and brook trout in many of the lakes, streams, and rivers throughout the basin. Over 30 miles of maintained trails for hiking, mountain biking, and motorcycle singletrack branch out across the area and the Pacific Crest Trail can be accessed at a few spots east of Sierra City and in the Gold Lakes Basin area. The historic towns of Sierra City and Downieville offer historic and cultural attractions, restaurants, shops, churches, and vistor information.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Swimming Site
- Hunting
- Fishing
- Camping
- Scenic Drive
- Water Activities
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Kayaking
- Water Access
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
- Trash serviceVerify whether the assigned site is pack-in/pack-out
- Pets allowedFollow the exact facility restrictions
- Drinking Water
- River Access
- Self Pay Station
- Trash Collection
- Vault Toilets
- Water
- Waterfront Sites
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Standard Non-Electric
7 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 31 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Tent Only Non-Electric
3 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Tent
- Maximum people
- 12
- Maximum vehicles
- 4
- Maximum vehicle length
- 50 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Walk To
1 site- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Car, Tent
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 36 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
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Food storage
- Union Flat'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
- Union Flat'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 15, 2027
Published seasons & rates
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak SeasonApr 16, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $24 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 16, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $24 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 16, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $48 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 16, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026 | Walk To | $24 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 15, 2027 – Oct 15, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $24 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 15, 2027 – Oct 15, 2027 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $24 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 15, 2027 – Oct 15, 2027 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $48 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 15, 2027 – Oct 15, 2027 | Walk To | $24 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 15, 2028 – Oct 15, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $24 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 15, 2028 – Oct 15, 2028 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $24 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 15, 2028 – Oct 15, 2028 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $48 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 15, 2028 – Oct 15, 2028 | Walk To | $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 north about 6 miles. The campground is on the right side of the highway.
Facility contact
(530)478-6253