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
Troy D
VerifiedJuly 9, 2022 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Sardine lake is one of those pristine mountain lakes that is postcard perfect. It's a small boat electric trolling motor fishing and kayaking only lake. No swimming is allowed as it's designated for fishing only by the county. There is however a nice pond next door within walking distance where you can swim or fish (Sand Pond). There are also numerous other nearby lakes where fishing and swimming is allowed. Some of the camp spots are nice but most don't have any distance between them and thus you'd better like your neighbors. I was camped in spot 6 and it was right next door to the adjoining spots. I'm more used to spots that have a little more distance between them but luckily I had a great neighbor and we got along really well. Would I go back? Perhaps if I had a better spot. Not much of a lake fisherman so it would only be good for a few days for me. One of the complaints I have with the Recreation.gov website is the picture of the camp spots are horrible! If they only updated the pictures to give you a better idea of how it's laid out you could make better choices.
matthew r
VerifiedJuly 9, 2022 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
The site next to us was pretty much in are site as well. We did not want to deal with it so we didn’t even stay! We found another camp site up the road we more room. This Campground is poorly laid out and there is no privacy and most spots
Troy D
VerifiedJuly 9, 2022 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Sardine lake is one of those pristine mountain lakes that is postcard perfect. It's a small boat electric trolling motor fishing and kayaking only lake. No swimming is allowed as it's designated for fishing only by the county. There is however a nice pond next door within walking distance where you can swim or fish (Sand Pond). There are also numerous other nearby lakes where fishing and swimming is allowed. Some of the camp spots are nice but most don't have any distance between them and thus you'd better like your neighbors. I was camped in spot 6 and it was right next door to the adjoining spots. I'm more used to spots that have a little more distance between them but luckily I had a great neighbor and we got along really well. Would I go back? Perhaps if I had a better spot. Not much of a lake fisherman so it would only be good for a few days for me. One of the complaints I have with the Recreation.gov website is the picture of the camp spots are horrible! If they only updated the pictures to give you a better idea of how it's laid out you could make better choices.
matthew r
VerifiedJuly 9, 2022 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
The site next to us was pretty much in are site as well. We did not want to deal with it so we didn’t even stay! We found another camp site up the road we more room. This Campground is poorly laid out and there is no privacy and most spots
Rob V
VerifiedJuly 7, 2022 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Wonderful small campground. Biggest plus is the nice short walk to the Sand Pond and Lower Sardine Lake. We like site #5, though it is close to the road. We did not care for the campground host. When the water system was out he was not helpful at all and simply told us to go to the creek and get water from there.
Rob V
VerifiedJuly 7, 2022 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Wonderful small campground. Biggest plus is the nice short walk to the Sand Pond and Lower Sardine Lake. We like site #5, though it is close to the road. We did not care for the campground host. When the water system was out he was not helpful at all and simply told us to go to the creek and get water from there.
Jana B
VerifiedNovember 8, 2021 • Stayed at: 017, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
The forest service had turned off the water for the season the weekend before we arrived (even though the campground was still open) and the campground was a mess from the storm the weekend prior. No cleanup effort seemed to have occurred. Our fees should have been refunded….
Jana B
VerifiedNovember 8, 2021 • Stayed at: 017, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
The forest service had turned off the water for the season the weekend before we arrived (even though the campground was still open) and the campground was a mess from the storm the weekend prior. No cleanup effort seemed to have occurred. Our fees should have been refunded….
Carmen M
VerifiedOctober 24, 2021 • Stayed at: 026, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
We have a small motor home and the slot we picked was a good fit, sight unseen. The area was perfect for my husband's hunting experience.
Laura E
VerifiedOctober 24, 2021 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
This campsite is delightful! We had spot 18 and it’s well-sized. Unfortunately, others staying at the campground were up until 2am playing music and talking loud around their campfires. The lack of a host was a definite shortcoming and we won’t be back.
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
