About Cal-ida
Available sites
10 total sitesSeasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
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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.
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
Patricia H
VerifiedAugust 21, 2023 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA
My review of Cal-Ida. Ok site, restrooms were clean, water was good. Problem was no one came by to check on sites. Neighboring tent site had 4 cars and at least 20 people. Site was to be 2 cars, maximum of 6 people. They were loud. Not acceptable for some to follow the rules and others don’t give a dam.
Patricia H
VerifiedAugust 21, 2023 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA
My review of Cal-Ida. Ok site, restrooms were clean, water was good. Problem was no one came by to check on sites. Neighboring tent site had 4 cars and at least 20 people. Site was to be 2 cars, maximum of 6 people. They were loud. Not acceptable for some to follow the rules and others don’t give a dam.
Leyanne A
VerifiedJune 19, 2023 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA
Bathroom was shutdown, water spigot not working so we had to go to the far end of the campgrounds to use that sides. One of the vault toilets over there was filled to the brim! 🤮 No dumpsters for garbage so people were literally leaving it by the recycle bins, which animals got into at night. No rangers came by except the last day- and literally did nothing but check the fee box, which was taped shut, so that was pointless. Names on sites weren’t for the right dates, as well many many people came looking for sites they rented that no longer exist!! I don’t understand how you charge people for any of that. Our fire ring was ripped up from another site and carelessly tossed into ours- no dug out spot, still had concrete attached to it that wasn’t buried so the ring did not sit properly in the ground. Asking for a fire to start that way! Never seen this place so terribly taken care of and I’ve been going here for 3 decades!!!
Leyanne A
VerifiedJune 19, 2023 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA
Bathroom was shutdown, water spigot not working so we had to go to the far end of the campgrounds to use that sides. One of the vault toilets over there was filled to the brim! 🤮 No dumpsters for garbage so people were literally leaving it by the recycle bins, which animals got into at night. No rangers came by except the last day- and literally did nothing but check the fee box, which was taped shut, so that was pointless. Names on sites weren’t for the right dates, as well many many people came looking for sites they rented that no longer exist!! I don’t understand how you charge people for any of that. Our fire ring was ripped up from another site and carelessly tossed into ours- no dug out spot, still had concrete attached to it that wasn’t buried so the ring did not sit properly in the ground. Asking for a fire to start that way! Never seen this place so terribly taken care of and I’ve been going here for 3 decades!!!
Jason Z
VerifiedAugust 7, 2021 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA
My go to spot when I visit the area.
Jason Z
VerifiedAugust 7, 2021 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA
My go to spot when I visit the area.
Brian S
VerifiedJuly 13, 2021 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA
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
VerifiedJuly 13, 2021 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA
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
VerifiedJuly 13, 2021 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA
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
VerifiedJuly 13, 2021 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: AREA CAL-IDA
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.
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.
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