Fiddle Creek
Fiddle Creek
Swimming Hole, Fiddle Creek
Fiddle Creek
CAL-IDA

About Cal-ida

Cal-Ida Campground is located on Highway 49, across the road from the North Yuba River and 13 mi from Downieville. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, fishing, biking and enjoying the cool waters of the North Yuba River.  This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.

Available sites

10 total sites

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Oct 16 to Oct 31

Campground Amenities

Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

10 Sites Available

Site
Price
⛺ 002, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 003, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 004, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 005, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 006, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 007, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 008, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 009, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 010, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 012, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site

Reviews (52)

What Guests Are Saying

Cal-ida offers a beautiful and peaceful camping experience with clean facilities and friendly staff. Campers appreciated the tidy bathrooms and convenient access to the Yuba River and nearby trails. However, some noted issues with noise from neighboring campers and occasional mosquito problems, as well as a lack of water availability at times.

Review Summary

3.5
52 reviews
5
36.5%
19
4
26.9%
14
3
5.8%
3
2
15.4%
8
1
15.4%
8

Owen S

Verified

May 30, 2021 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA

4

My campsite near the creek felt lush and secluded. The neighboring private property can be a bit loud though.

Owen S

Verified

May 30, 2021 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA

4

My campsite near the creek felt lush and secluded. The neighboring private property can be a bit loud though.

Jessica A

Verified

June 2, 2021 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA

2

Decent part of creek was across main road. 5 min walk. Lots of poison oak. And loud resort across creek.

Jessica A

Verified

June 2, 2021 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA

2

Decent part of creek was across main road. 5 min walk. Lots of poison oak. And loud resort across creek.

Brian S

Verified

July 13, 2021 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA

1

We have a site booked every month at Cal Ida and have had for several years now but this is the last year we will stay there. Last month was ridiculous and I left a review telling why (I rarely leave reviews) and we were hopeful this month would be better. Not so it was worse. In the last 2 years this place has turned into the wild west with the Forest Service doing nothing. Friday when we arrived the spot next to us had more cars and people than allowed and they had their music blasting when we arrived at noon. They did turn it down some but then site 7 decided that we all would enjoy a little rap so they cranked theirs up. I get it quiet time is 10PM but there is this little thing called respect for others. Friday night turned out fine eventually. Saturday not so much-a large group showed up Saturday with several trailers and cars which is fine and expected but they set up in the road and blocked one access to the upper sites, one guy decided the water supply was his personal water supply and ran a hose down to it and taped the flipper valve open, extra cars parked all over the place. Then Saturday night they were up partying all night really, really loud. Very obnoxious crowd. Then Sunday morning at 7am they were yelling back and forth at each other. Good thing were were planning on leaving Sunday because I would of left anyway, the campground is like the wild west and the Forest Service could't care less. We have one more reservation at Cal Ida, we are actively looking for another open site somewhere else and if we can find another open site at a different campground we will cancel if not we will stay there but it will be the last time.

Brian S

Verified

July 13, 2021 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA

2

I have been staying at Cal Ida for several years now and have always liked that it was a little less developed than some of the other campgrounds in the area. Having the outpost close for supplies was a huge plus and it is a short walk to the river...............The bad part now is that there is no order at all in the campground. No one enforces any rules whatsoever. 6 to a campsite is a joke, site number 2 had about 25 people and 12-13 cars parked all over the campground and music blasting until 10PM every night when they turned it down slightly. Sites 6-8 were not much better. Every site had way over the 2 car limit and they were parking all over the place instead of in designated areas. Bathrooms were totally trashed from excessive use. The forest service drove through and did nothing, what a joke they should fire those guys. What ever happened to simple respect for others?

Brian S

Verified

July 13, 2021 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA

1

We have a site booked every month at Cal Ida and have had for several years now but this is the last year we will stay there. Last month was ridiculous and I left a review telling why (I rarely leave reviews) and we were hopeful this month would be better. Not so it was worse. In the last 2 years this place has turned into the wild west with the Forest Service doing nothing. Friday when we arrived the spot next to us had more cars and people than allowed and they had their music blasting when we arrived at noon. They did turn it down some but then site 7 decided that we all would enjoy a little rap so they cranked theirs up. I get it quiet time is 10PM but there is this little thing called respect for others. Friday night turned out fine eventually. Saturday not so much-a large group showed up Saturday with several trailers and cars which is fine and expected but they set up in the road and blocked one access to the upper sites, one guy decided the water supply was his personal water supply and ran a hose down to it and taped the flipper valve open, extra cars parked all over the place. Then Saturday night they were up partying all night really, really loud. Very obnoxious crowd. Then Sunday morning at 7am they were yelling back and forth at each other. Good thing were were planning on leaving Sunday because I would of left anyway, the campground is like the wild west and the Forest Service could't care less. We have one more reservation at Cal Ida, we are actively looking for another open site somewhere else and if we can find another open site at a different campground we will cancel if not we will stay there but it will be the last time.

Brian S

Verified

July 13, 2021 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA

2

I have been staying at Cal Ida for several years now and have always liked that it was a little less developed than some of the other campgrounds in the area. Having the outpost close for supplies was a huge plus and it is a short walk to the river...............The bad part now is that there is no order at all in the campground. No one enforces any rules whatsoever. 6 to a campsite is a joke, site number 2 had about 25 people and 12-13 cars parked all over the campground and music blasting until 10PM every night when they turned it down slightly. Sites 6-8 were not much better. Every site had way over the 2 car limit and they were parking all over the place instead of in designated areas. Bathrooms were totally trashed from excessive use. The forest service drove through and did nothing, what a joke they should fire those guys. What ever happened to simple respect for others?

Jason Z

Verified

August 7, 2021 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA

5

My go to spot when I visit the area.

Jason Z

Verified

August 7, 2021 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA

5

My go to spot when I visit the area.

Location & Directions for Cal-ida

Yuba River Ranger Station, Nevada City, CA 95959 United States

Elevation: 700 ft

Getting There

From Downieville, travel south on Highway 49 for about 13 mi. The campground is on the right side of the highway.

From Nevada City, travel north on Highway 49 for about 31 mi. The campground is on the left side of the highway.

Nearest town

Nevada City, CA - 31 mi

About 44 min to downtown

Highway access

The campground is accessible from Highway 49, which is approximately 13 miles south of Downieville and 31 miles north of Nevada City.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 20, 2026

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Explore Nevada City, CA

Population: 3,172

Nearby city: Yuba City, CA

Approx. 42 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 2,513 ft

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Managed by the USDA Forest Service