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
Ed H
VerifiedJanuary 15, 2020 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
wonderful site. nice hiking. paddle board the lake.
Lorraine F
VerifiedJanuary 15, 2020 • Stayed at: 022, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
The proximity to great hiking was wonderful- one day we stayed local and simply ran around the pond and swam; the next day we trekked to Upper Sardine Lake for a half-day climb to gorgeous views! The pay phone near the restaurant is a plus, and the campground facilities are well laid out.
Robin C
VerifiedJanuary 14, 2020 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Living at Lake Tahoe can become crowded in late summer. Sardine Lake is just an hour or so away and is the retreat I look forward to. Further from the crowds on a weekday, I can usually find an open campsite at sardine lake and then a lovely dinner at Sardine Lake Resort. No cooking at the campsite needed. I just throw in some firewood and my tent for a relaxing couple of days. I like Sardine lake campground because it has water. In addition, rafting in Sand pond is delightful on a hot afternoon and fishing on Sardine Lake early in the morning is worth the effort. Other favorites include Wednesday Italian night at Packer Lake lodge and a strenuous hike to the fire lookout. The views are beyond words when you can look down on the bald eagles flying by.
Robin C
VerifiedJanuary 14, 2020 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Living at Lake Tahoe can become crowded in late summer. Sardine Lake is just an hour or so away and is the retreat I look forward to. Further from the crowds on a weekday, I can usually find an open campsite at sardine lake and then a lovely dinner at Sardine Lake Resort. No cooking at the campsite needed. I just throw in some firewood and my tent for a relaxing couple of days. I like Sardine lake campground because it has water. In addition, rafting in Sand pond is delightful on a hot afternoon and fishing on Sardine Lake early in the morning is worth the effort. Other favorites include Wednesday Italian night at Packer Lake lodge and a strenuous hike to the fire lookout. The views are beyond words when you can look down on the bald eagles flying by.
scott w
VerifiedJanuary 9, 2020 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Beautiful lake! The campground was fine, but the lake really outshines all around it. The bathroom are vaults, so not super fancy, but in good working order. The sites are a little squishy and a challenge to get my modest rv (22 ft) into the space. Sand pond, where all the families hang to cool off, was quite crowded and the pond is kind of muddy and not the cleanest. On a hike a friend of my son's came within 6 inches of stepping on a quite well fed rattler. That would have been a huge bummer. Still enjoyed my time there!
scott w
VerifiedJanuary 9, 2020 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Beautiful lake! The campground was fine, but the lake really outshines all around it. The bathroom are vaults, so not super fancy, but in good working order. The sites are a little squishy and a challenge to get my modest rv (22 ft) into the space. Sand pond, where all the families hang to cool off, was quite crowded and the pond is kind of muddy and not the cleanest. On a hike a friend of my son's came within 6 inches of stepping on a quite well fed rattler. That would have been a huge bummer. Still enjoyed my time there!
Mike M
VerifiedDecember 24, 2019 • Stayed at: 027, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Great sites, lovely scenery. Bring a raft for lower lake swimming! Fishing is fun at upper lake too!
Mike M
VerifiedDecember 24, 2019 • Stayed at: 027, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Great sites, lovely scenery. Bring a raft for lower lake swimming! Fishing is fun at upper lake too!
Lawrence T
VerifiedDecember 18, 2019 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Nice, quite campground. Sardine lake and the surrounding mountains are breathtaking.
Phillip B
VerifiedDecember 18, 2019 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Re site 23. I stayed here one night, July 4th 2019! The campground was full, well-kept, and as peaceful a cg can be considering sold-out plus holiday weekend. No overt litter, no rude noises, outhouses clean and stocked. I would definitely come back.
I reserved my spot using rec.gov. Although close to the paved access road and restrooms, site #23 was quiet, peaceful, and secluded from neighboring sites due to ample vegetation. The access road was almost invisible.
Thanks to the folks who take care of and manage this campground!!
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
