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
Catherine K
VerifiedJanuary 3, 2021 • Stayed at: 027, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Very loud at night. group of RVs had a karaoke machine that echoed through the whole campground till 1am. NO CAMP HOST. so unless you want tot fight people. NO cell signal. Very close to lake,
Catherine K
VerifiedJanuary 3, 2021 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
loud cars coming in and out all night long through the loop. NO CAMP HOST< no privacy between sites either. literally 10ft apart and no bushes
Catherine K
VerifiedJanuary 3, 2021 • Stayed at: 027, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Very loud at night. group of RVs had a karaoke machine that echoed through the whole campground till 1am. NO CAMP HOST. so unless you want tot fight people. NO cell signal. Very close to lake,
Catherine K
VerifiedJanuary 3, 2021 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
loud cars coming in and out all night long through the loop. NO CAMP HOST< no privacy between sites either. literally 10ft apart and no bushes
Martin N
VerifiedOctober 2, 2020 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
We benefitted from camping the first day after the fire/smoke closure. As a result it was very quiet. We liked that. Nice campground; lovely location. Not as close to the lake as we thought it would be.
Because of what I consider a glitch in the reservation system, we ended up reserving two campsites. We stayed at one, paid for two Cancellation wasn't going to help; we were past the refund period.
Our campsite, #5, got smelly at times due to its proximity to the bathroom.
Martin N
VerifiedOctober 2, 2020 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
We benefitted from camping the first day after the fire/smoke closure. As a result it was very quiet. We liked that. Nice campground; lovely location. Not as close to the lake as we thought it would be.
Because of what I consider a glitch in the reservation system, we ended up reserving two campsites. We stayed at one, paid for two Cancellation wasn't going to help; we were past the refund period.
Our campsite, #5, got smelly at times due to its proximity to the bathroom.
Krisanto D
VerifiedSeptember 10, 2020 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Our trip to sardine lake was amazing. The campsite was clean and well kept. The lake was beautiful!!
Colleen S
VerifiedSeptember 10, 2020 • Stayed at: 027, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
We were in an area within easy access to Sand Pond and Sardine Lake. We went in the middle of the week and most of the other campers were in another part of the campground, so we had open space around us. Many of the other campers and visitors wore masks or kept their distance. The weather was great, warm during the day and cool at night.
Krisanto D
VerifiedSeptember 10, 2020 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Our trip to sardine lake was amazing. The campsite was clean and well kept. The lake was beautiful!!
Colleen S
VerifiedSeptember 10, 2020 • Stayed at: 027, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
We were in an area within easy access to Sand Pond and Sardine Lake. We went in the middle of the week and most of the other campers were in another part of the campground, so we had open space around us. Many of the other campers and visitors wore masks or kept their distance. The weather was great, warm during the day and cool at night.
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
