View from Sierra Buttes
Diablo
Packer Lake near Diablo Campground
Restroom
Sierra Buttes Lookout, hike near Diablo Campground

Featured amenities

Restrooms Restrooms

Available sites

17 total sites

About Diablo

Diablo Campground is located in the Packer Lake area near the Sierra Buttes, in northern California. It is north of the Yuba River and next to Packer Creek. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, biking, hunting, fishing and canoeing. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.

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 closed

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Restrooms Restrooms
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Restrooms
Cooking and Fire

Cooking and Fire

  • Campfire Ring
Water Access

Water Access

  • Lake Access
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

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

17 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 003, Loop: AREA DIABLO RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 004, Loop: AREA DIABLO Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 005, Loop: AREA DIABLO Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 006, Loop: AREA DIABLO RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 007, Loop: AREA DIABLO Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 008, Loop: AREA DIABLO RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 009, Loop: AREA DIABLO RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 010A, Loop: AREA DIABLO RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 010B, Loop: AREA DIABLO RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 011, Loop: AREA DIABLO RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 012, Loop: AREA DIABLO RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 013, Loop: AREA DIABLO Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 014, Loop: AREA DIABLO RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 015, Loop: AREA DIABLO Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 016, Loop: AREA DIABLO Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 017, Loop: AREA DIABLO RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
⛺ 018, Loop: AREA DIABLO Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire

Reviews (81)

What Guests Are Saying

Diablo campground is praised for its quiet atmosphere, well-spaced campsites, and beautiful surroundings, making it a favorite for many campers. The facilities, including clean bathrooms and well-kept grounds, enhance the experience, with some sites offering lovely creek access. However, challenges include rocky access roads for low-clearance vehicles and occasional noise from neighboring campers, which could be improved with better supervision and enforcement of campground rules.

Review Summary

4.1
81 reviews
5
49.4%
40
4
27.2%
22
3
9.9%
8
2
8.6%
7
1
4.9%
4

Joan H

Verified

July 4, 2025 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: AREA DIABLO

3

The vault toilet needs more frequent servicing. The lack thereof may certainly be due to the budget cuts, but if budget allows, it should be serviced more often. The TP ran out half-way through the week, and the unit was quite smelly for a lot of the week. I suggest signage about closing the toilet lid as well as the door.

Richard A

Verified

July 2, 2025 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: AREA DIABLO

3

We always enjoy this campsite. However, while the sign at the entrance clearly states that all dogs must be leashed, the occupants in #3 left their three dogs to roam free. A couple of dogs wandered over into our campsite and I shooed them away and then walked over to the owners and pointed out the campsite rules on dogs. They didn't care and the situation became confrontational. With no camp host, campers are forced to fend for themselves.

Richard A

Verified

July 2, 2025 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: AREA DIABLO

3

We always enjoy this campsite. However, while the sign at the entrance clearly states that all dogs must be leashed, the occupants in #3 left their three dogs to roam free. A couple of dogs wandered over into our campsite and I shooed them away and then walked over to the owners and pointed out the campsite rules on dogs. They didn't care and the situation became confrontational. With no camp host, campers are forced to fend for themselves.

Alan G

Verified

October 7, 2024 • Stayed at: 010B, Loop: AREA DIABLO

2

Doing the three nights of my stay at Diablo, there were three separate groups who were making noise and music late into the night and early morning. When they rose in the morning at 5:30 AM, they were loud and noisy with no regard for other guests. There was no supervision at the campground and no one to enforce the noise restrictions after 10 PM and before 6 AM. Unless there was better supervision, I would never stay at this campground again, despite its convenient and beautiful location.

Alan G

Verified

October 7, 2024 • Stayed at: 010B, Loop: AREA DIABLO

2

Doing the three nights of my stay at Diablo, there were three separate groups who were making noise and music late into the night and early morning. When they rose in the morning at 5:30 AM, they were loud and noisy with no regard for other guests. There was no supervision at the campground and no one to enforce the noise restrictions after 10 PM and before 6 AM. Unless there was better supervision, I would never stay at this campground again, despite its convenient and beautiful location.

ROBERT C

Verified

August 30, 2024 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: AREA DIABLO

5

Nice a quite. Wish they could bring in a water supply.

ROBERT C

Verified

August 30, 2024 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: AREA DIABLO

5

Nice a quite. Wish they could bring in a water supply.

Jun W

Verified

July 31, 2024 • Stayed at: 017, Loop: AREA DIABLO

4

The campground was nice and the bathrooms were really clean. There was a lot of wasps though and they loved flying and gathering around the food and people. Site 17 was nice because it was somewhat private. There was nobody to the right but a neighboring site next door. It is directly adjacent to the bathrooms though, so you may smell it on occasion.

Jun W

Verified

July 31, 2024 • Stayed at: 017, Loop: AREA DIABLO

4

The campground was nice and the bathrooms were really clean. There was a lot of wasps though and they loved flying and gathering around the food and people. Site 17 was nice because it was somewhat private. There was nobody to the right but a neighboring site next door. It is directly adjacent to the bathrooms though, so you may smell it on occasion.

Cody M

Verified

July 7, 2024 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: AREA DIABLO

5

Great

Location & Directions for Diablo

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

Elevation: 1,795 ft

Getting There

<p>From Sierraville, travel south on Highway 49 for 18 mi. Turn right at Bassett and continue just over a mile to the Sardine Lake turnoff. Turn right at Packer Lake/Forest Road 93 and continue to the campground.</p>

<p>From Downieville, travel n...

Nearest town

Nevada City, CA - 62 mi

About over 1 hr (92 min) to downtown

Highway access

The campground is accessible via Highway 49, which is approximately 18 miles from both Sierraville and Downieville.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 20, 2026

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Explore Nevada City, CA

Population: 3,172

Nearby larger city

Reno, NV

Approx. 45 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 2,513 ft

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