Available sites
14 total sites
RV Sites
About Packsaddle
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
Rates, Sites & Availability
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14 Sites Available
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Reviews (99)
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
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.
Chris C
VerifiedJuly 28, 2022 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: PACKSADDLE
this campground is a great location geographically for many lakes, trails, & the saddle. It's on the PCT so many thru hikers pass by in part to pump water at the fantastic artisan spring here.
Chris C
VerifiedJuly 28, 2022 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: PACKSADDLE
this campground is a great location geographically for many lakes, trails, & the saddle. It's on the PCT so many thru hikers pass by in part to pump water at the fantastic artisan spring here.
Emily F
VerifiedJuly 13, 2022 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: PACKSADDLE
Campground was overall quiet, even on a busy holiday weekend. Our site, #16 was a real disappointment however. Online it does not show that this site is actually just a widening of the road surface. The picnic table is was back in the trees and you can't pull a trailer or RV anywhere near it. This should be a tent site only. In addition the ONLY water source in the entire campground is behind site 16, so because you must camp in the road, there is a steady stream of people walking through your space all day and sometimes all night. In addition, we brought horses and it said online that site 15 and 16 shared the 4 corrals. This is not really accurate. Site 15 is about 20 ft from the horse corrals, the corrals are actually BEHIND site 15 so if you stay in site 16, you have to walk through site 15 to take care of your horses. This is not an equestrian only campground, so literally anyone could camp 20 ft from your horses if they reserve site 15 (think family with small children, aggressive dogs etc. etc.). They should either make 15 and 16 equestrian ONLY or else move the corrals to a central location, or better yet, get rid of site 16 because it's pretty horrible anyway.
Location & Directions for Packsaddle
Yuba River Ranger Station, Nevada City, CA 95959 United States
Elevation: 1,864 ft
Getting There
<p>From Sierra City, travel north (east) on Highway 49 for 5 mi. 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 fo...
From Sierra City, travel north (east) on Highway 49 for 5 mi. 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 mi and turn left into the campground.
From Sierraville, travel south (west) on Highway 49 for about 17 mi. 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 mi and turn left into the campground.
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: October 21, 2026
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Population: 3,172
Elevation: 2,513 ft
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