About Packsaddle
Number of accommodations: 14
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
Report Incorrect Information
Help us improve by reporting any incorrect amenity information for Packsaddle.
Rates, Sites & Availability
14 Sites Available
No sites found matching your criteria.
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Site Details
Select a site to view details
14 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (92)
What Guests Are Saying
Packsaddle offers beautiful surroundings near Packer Lake and the Sierra Buttes, with spacious sites that provide ample shade and access to great outdoor activities, particularly the popular Downieville trails for biking and moto riding. However, some sites are uneven, and there are issues with broken amenities like the bear box and inadequate restroom facilities. Despite these drawbacks, many visitors enjoy their experiences and plan to return, appreciating the campground's charm and location.
What Guests Are Saying
Packsaddle offers beautiful surroundings near Packer Lake and the Sierra Buttes, with spacious sites that provide ample shade and access to great outdoor activities, particularly the popular Downieville trails for biking and moto riding. However, some sites are uneven, and there are issues with broken amenities like the bear box and inadequate restroom facilities. Despite these drawbacks, many visitors enjoy their experiences and plan to return, appreciating the campground's charm and location.
Review Summary
Kalypso R
VerifiedJuly 4, 2023 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: PACKSADDLE
Stayed in site 15 for the horse corrals, which are listed as belonging to 15 & 16 but in reality are only in 15's site. Would love to see more horse corrals added to site 15 too! The corrals were in a bit of disrepair due to the bad winter we had, but they were still usable. I would also love it if the campsite had a dumpster, as people just piled their trash around the recycling bins. Otherwise we had a great time horse camping and will be back.
Kalypso R
VerifiedJuly 4, 2023 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: PACKSADDLE
Stayed in site 15 for the horse corrals, which are listed as belonging to 15 & 16 but in reality are only in 15's site. Would love to see more horse corrals added to site 15 too! The corrals were in a bit of disrepair due to the bad winter we had, but they were still usable. I would also love it if the campsite had a dumpster, as people just piled their trash around the recycling bins. Otherwise we had a great time horse camping and will be back.
John M
VerifiedSeptember 8, 2022 • Stayed at: 012, Loop: PACKSADDLE
Clean bathroom and very few campers. Right near Pacific Crest Trail so we did meet PCT hikers. Great place to do day hikes on the PCT as you are so close. Old fashioned water pump ,but worked well. Some sites were on a slight hill grade. Nice and quiet campground at night. Ranger came around once a day. No camp host. No cell phone service. Close to Packer Lake, Salmon Lake and Saddle Lake. Beautiful lakes to kayak and fish. Some have resort cabins to stay in.
John M
VerifiedSeptember 8, 2022 • Stayed at: 012, Loop: PACKSADDLE
Clean bathroom and very few campers. Right near Pacific Crest Trail so we did meet PCT hikers. Great place to do day hikes on the PCT as you are so close. Old fashioned water pump ,but worked well. Some sites were on a slight hill grade. Nice and quiet campground at night. Ranger came around once a day. No camp host. No cell phone service. Close to Packer Lake, Salmon Lake and Saddle Lake. Beautiful lakes to kayak and fish. Some have resort cabins to stay in.
Patrice D
VerifiedSeptember 7, 2022 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: PACKSADDLE
dumpsters were empty, pit toilets had flies and were smelly (but they are pit toilets after all ) , site #7 was clean and level
Patrice D
VerifiedSeptember 7, 2022 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: PACKSADDLE
dumpsters were empty, pit toilets had flies and were smelly (but they are pit toilets after all ) , site #7 was clean and level
Melissa K
VerifiedAugust 26, 2022 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: PACKSADDLE
There isn’t much shade in and around #13
Melissa K
VerifiedAugust 26, 2022 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: PACKSADDLE
There isn’t much shade in and around #13
Kerrie S
VerifiedAugust 21, 2022 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: PACKSADDLE
We stayed here for one night on our way to Lake Tahoe. Pretty forested area; we had a nice campsite (#13) on a slope with a bit of a walk up to the picnic table and then a fairly flat tent site even higher. Water was available at a hand pump in the central part of the campground, as were vault toilets. Good location for an early start on the hike to the Sierra Buttes lookout.
Kerrie S
VerifiedAugust 21, 2022 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: PACKSADDLE
We stayed here for one night on our way to Lake Tahoe. Pretty forested area; we had a nice campsite (#13) on a slope with a bit of a walk up to the picnic table and then a fairly flat tent site even higher. Water was available at a hand pump in the central part of the campground, as were vault toilets. Good location for an early start on the hike to the Sierra Buttes lookout.
Location Packsaddle
Address:
Yuba River Ranger Station
Nevada City, CA, 95959
United States
From Sierra City, travel north (east) on Highway 49 for 5 miles. Turn left at Bassett Station on Gold Lake Highway and continue just over a mile to Packer Lake Road and turn left. Go less than a mile and turn right on Packer Lake Road. Continue for about 2.5 miles and turn left into the campground.
From Sierraville, travel south (west) on Highway 49 for about 17 miles. Turn left at Bassett Station on Gold Lake Highway and continue just over a mile to Packer Lake Road and turn left. Go less than a mile and turn right on Packer Lake Road. Continue for about 2.5 miles and turn left into the campground.
Latitude & Longitude: 39.6247 / -120.65
Elevation: 1864 feet
Policies & Rules
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
Fees & deposits
- A $5 fee applies for additional vehicles in campsites under specific conditions.
Wildlife & food storage
- To prevent bear encounters, store all food in approved containers.
Utilities
- No utility hookups or showers are provided.
General
- Click here for more information on the Tahoe National Forest
Fires & fuel
- Fire restrictions may be enforced due to weather; contact for current conditions.
- Purchase firewood locally and burn it on-site to protect forests.
Cancellation policy
- No-shows incur fees; contact if late to avoid charges.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 4, 2026
