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
Karin O
VerifiedAugust 31, 2023 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Sardine lake is so beautiful we go back every year! The campground is very clean and well managed by the camp manager. Very nice place to camp!
Terran G
VerifiedAugust 31, 2023 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
A very fun experience! The campground was very quiet while we were there and the camp hosts kept facilities very clean. Super close to Sand Pond which was nice for the kiddos. Only downer was the amount of Yellowjackets around. We had to eat several times inside the tent they were so bad. Overall, awesome experience!
Daniel Z
VerifiedAugust 30, 2023 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Only downside was the bathrooms needed more attention. One of them was extremely bad. But other than that we had a great time and we will be back.
Daniel Z
VerifiedAugust 30, 2023 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Only downside was the bathrooms needed more attention. One of them was extremely bad. But other than that we had a great time and we will be back.
Peter R
VerifiedAugust 18, 2023 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Beautiful Lakes Basin, great campground, and nice family campers!
Peter R
VerifiedAugust 18, 2023 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Beautiful Lakes Basin, great campground, and nice family campers!
Olivia P
VerifiedJuly 28, 2023 • Stayed at: 026, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Not good photos of the campsite on the booking site. Difficult to use the map. Our site (#26) was next to trash, bathrooms, and the tent pad itself was about 10’ from the road. I tried to talk to the camp host to see if they may have a different site available but the person was smoking and had loud music playing…not approachable for a mom toting two small kids. There were so many reserved spots that were vacant, just seems like an inflexible reservation system, that leads to money being collected but the facilities being under used.
Olivia P
VerifiedJuly 28, 2023 • Stayed at: 026, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
Not good photos of the campsite on the booking site. Difficult to use the map. Our site (#26) was next to trash, bathrooms, and the tent pad itself was about 10’ from the road. I tried to talk to the camp host to see if they may have a different site available but the person was smoking and had loud music playing…not approachable for a mom toting two small kids. There were so many reserved spots that were vacant, just seems like an inflexible reservation system, that leads to money being collected but the facilities being under used.
Katherine C
VerifiedJuly 20, 2023 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
beautiful scenery and paddling opportunities
Katherine C
VerifiedJuly 20, 2023 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA SARDINE LAKE
beautiful scenery and paddling opportunities
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
