Bear River Group Campground (Eldorado National Forest, CA)

Eldorado National Forest, Pioneer, California, United States

Bear River Reservoir
BEAR RIVER GROUP CAMPGROUND
Bear River Reservoir
BEAR RIVER GROUP CAMPGROUND
BEAR RIVER GROUP CAMPGROUND

Featured amenities

River Access River Access
View all amenities

Sites & Rates

Average nightly rates

4 total sites

Tent Sites

4 sites

About Bear River Group Campground (Eldorado National Forest, CA)

The Bear River Group Campground offers four separate group campsites on a site above the south side of the Lower Bear River Reservoir. The proximity to water and the mixed pine setting in the fresh Sierra Nevada air, makes this campground an excellent group retreat destination. Upriver from the campground is the Upper Bear River Reservoir. This lake is smaller and spans 166 surface acres with 2.5 miles of shoreline.

Number of accommodations: 4

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Jun 19 to Sep 26

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

River Access River Access
Water Access

Water Access

  • Lake Access
  • River Access
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

4 Sites Available

Site
Price
⛺ 001, Loop: KOKA Tent
50 guests
Price not available
⛺ 002, Loop: JUNC Tent
25 guests
Price not available
⛺ 003, Loop: CHIP Tent
25 guests
Price not available
⛺ 004, Loop: SMOK Tent
25 guests
Price not available

Reviews (14)

Verified Only

What Guests Are Saying

Bear River Group Campground is a spacious and clean site ideal for group camping, offering plenty of shade and amenities like fresh water and picnic tables. The camp host, Steve, received praise for his friendliness and helpfulness, contributing to a positive experience for campers. While some found navigation to the site challenging, the beautiful surroundings and off-roading trails made it a worthwhile destination for families and friends.

Review Summary

4.9
14 reviews
5
92.9%
13
4
7.1%
1
3
0.0%
0
2
0.0%
0
1
0.0%
0

Amber W

Verified

June 29, 2025 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: JUNC

5

Great group campsite!! Fresh water at the site. Counter top height tables made food prep pleasant. Plenty of picnic table space. Bathrooms just for your site. It was a great experience and the camp host, Steve, was friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!

huelon U

Verified

July 2, 2023 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: JUNC

5

Steve the host was above kind courteous and professional went above and beyond to get the camp open for 125 campers what a stand up guy deserves a HUGE raise can't say enough about him and Mike great job fellas

Richard Z

Verified

September 6, 2022 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: KOKA

5

Awesome group campground. Great host. Be sure to walk out to the granite overlook of the lake.

Jimmy I

Verified

August 20, 2021 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: SMOK

5

I absolutely love this campground for group camping and it’s priced reasonably!

Location Bear River Group Campground (Eldorado National Forest, CA)

Address:
Eldorado National Forest
Pioneer, CA, 95666
United States

Highway access

Bear River Group Campground is accessible via State Route 88, which connects to other major roads in the region.

Elevation: 2071 feet

Distance to downtown

27 mi drive to downtown Pioneer (about 42 min)

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Policies & Rules

General

  • Bears frequent the area; all food must be kept in approved containers
  • Motorized boats are not allowed on lake
  • Forest Order No. 19-15-01: Prohibits camping for a combined total of no more than 14 days during a calendar year (January-December), forest-wide. Visitors may book campsites annually but the maximum stay may not exceed a total of 14 days each calendar year (January-December)
  • Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).
  • Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed. Call (530) 644-6048 for local information and conditions.
  • Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.
  • For more information on Eldorado National Forest, click here

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Last updated: September 1, 2026

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Managed by USDA Forest Service