About Sardine Lake
Number of accommodations: 24
Nearby Activities & Attractions
Canoeing
Fishing
Hiking
Hunting
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Rates, Sites & Availability
24 Sites Available
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Site Details
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24 Sites Available
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Reviews (212)
What Guests Are Saying
Sardine Lake offers a stunning camping experience with beautiful views, well-maintained sites, and close proximity to hiking trails and lakes. While some campers reported issues with site reservations and a lack of a camp host, the campground is generally clean and family-friendly, featuring upgraded bathroom facilities. Overall, many visitors enjoyed their stay and plan to return despite some minor complaints about privacy and campground management.
What Guests Are Saying
Sardine Lake offers a stunning camping experience with beautiful views, well-maintained sites, and close proximity to hiking trails and lakes. While some campers reported issues with site reservations and a lack of a camp host, the campground is generally clean and family-friendly, featuring upgraded bathroom facilities. Overall, many visitors enjoyed their stay and plan to return despite some minor complaints about privacy and campground management.
Review Summary
Julie R
VerifiedAugust 29, 2022 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Lovely little campground with great proximity to 3 lakes (walking distance). Can paddleboard or kayak across lower Sardine Lake to a waterfall that goes between Upper and Lower Sardine lakes. Lots of great hiking nearby including the hike to the top of the fire lookout on the Sierra Buttes.
Julie R
VerifiedAugust 29, 2022 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Lovely little campground with great proximity to 3 lakes (walking distance). Can paddleboard or kayak across lower Sardine Lake to a waterfall that goes between Upper and Lower Sardine lakes. Lots of great hiking nearby including the hike to the top of the fire lookout on the Sierra Buttes.
Katherine C
VerifiedAugust 27, 2022 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
nice location . The parking spurs are not that long except for a couple. Really large RV's are not a good idea here.
Katherine C
VerifiedAugust 27, 2022 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
nice location . The parking spurs are not that long except for a couple. Really large RV's are not a good idea here.
Mary L
VerifiedAugust 11, 2022 • Stayed at: 022, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Small campground. Great view of stars at night. Bring water shoes for exploring sand pond and upper sardine lake.
Mary L
VerifiedAugust 11, 2022 • Stayed at: 022, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Small campground. Great view of stars at night. Bring water shoes for exploring sand pond and upper sardine lake.
JESSICA G
VerifiedAugust 2, 2022 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Nice spot for visiting Sand Pond or Sardine Lake. Bathrooms were clean (host scrubbed them out daily) but sinks were not functioning so cleaning up dishes after meals wasn't easy. Most sites did not seem to have much shade so you might want to bring something if you plan to hang out at the campsite.
JESSICA G
VerifiedAugust 2, 2022 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Nice spot for visiting Sand Pond or Sardine Lake. Bathrooms were clean (host scrubbed them out daily) but sinks were not functioning so cleaning up dishes after meals wasn't easy. Most sites did not seem to have much shade so you might want to bring something if you plan to hang out at the campsite.
Jane F
VerifiedJuly 24, 2022 • Stayed at: 017, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
This is a beautiful site in a wonderful location and the campsites and facilities themselves were great, but I've never had to deal with so much late night noise. People were playing music and talking loudly well into the early morning hours. I wish the camp supervisor (who was next to us, so presumably heard it as well? Though maybe not inside their van...) said something. I also think it's time to ban Bluetooth speakers from campsites. Bring a guitar, sing, etc, but I don't camp so I can hear your trance/techno beats at high decibels. I am too pregnant to camp in the Backcountry but I'd still like to be able to enjoy some peace and quiet under the stars.
Jane F
VerifiedJuly 24, 2022 • Stayed at: 017, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
This is a beautiful site in a wonderful location and the campsites and facilities themselves were great, but I've never had to deal with so much late night noise. People were playing music and talking loudly well into the early morning hours. I wish the camp supervisor (who was next to us, so presumably heard it as well? Though maybe not inside their van...) said something. I also think it's time to ban Bluetooth speakers from campsites. Bring a guitar, sing, etc, but I don't camp so I can hear your trance/techno beats at high decibels. I am too pregnant to camp in the Backcountry but I'd still like to be able to enjoy some peace and quiet under the stars.
Location Sardine Lake
Address:
Yuba River Ranger Station, This Is The Address For The Ranger Station, Not The Campground, 631 Coyote Street
Nevada City, CA, 95959
United States
Sardine Lake Campground is accessible via California State Route 49, which is approximately 15 miles to the east.
Latitude & Longitude: 39.6197 / -120.617
Elevation: 1749 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 beyond the first in campsites.
Wildlife & food storage
- Store all food in approved containers to avoid attracting bears.
Utilities
- No utility hookups or shower facilities are provided.
General
- Click here for more information on the Tahoe National Forest
Fires & fuel
- Campfires and charcoal fires may be restricted during hot, dry weather; check local conditions.
- Buy firewood locally and do not bring firewood from other locations to protect forests.
Cancellation policy
- No-show policies apply to reservations not canceled by check-out time; some facilities automatically check-in customers.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 4, 2026
