Carlton

Campground · California · 17 bookable sites ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Tahoe National Forest (NF) · Open Access

17
Bookable sites
up to 6
People per site
2,264 ft
Elevation
North Fork Yuba River
Photo: TNF · Recreation.gov

Overview

Carlton Campground is located along the North Yuba River, adjacent to Highway 49 and 13 miles from Downieville. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, hunting, fishing, canoeing and biking. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.

Recreation

The North Yuba River offers swimming, wading and rainbow trout fishing. Seasonal rafting and kayaking are popular water activities. A network of trails through the surrounding area providing opportunities for hiking, biking and OHV use.  The North Yuba River Trail can be accessed from the nearby Rocky Rest trailhead.

Facilities

The campground offers single-family campsites suited for both tent and trailer camping. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.

Natural Features

The campground stretches along the North Yuba River, next to the highway.  Stands of cedar, ponderosa pine and oak trees cover the area providing shade from the afternoon sun. 

Contact Info

This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (530) 265-5431.

Charges & Cancellations

No Show Policy

A no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date (or for day-use facilities, by check-in time the day of arrival). 

* No-show customers are only recorded at staffed facilities. At most remote facilities, all customers are noted as automatically checked-in on the date of arrival.

* It is recommended that staffed facilities hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date.

* It is recommended that staffed facilities hold group day-use facilities until check-in time on the arrival date.

There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation if the change includes dates from the original reservation. If they choose to depart early, they may forfeit some or all of the recreation fees. 

There is no change fee if the customer changes campsites that are the same price and on the same reservation dates in the same campground. If the campsite the customer is changing to has a price difference, the customer will be responsible for any additional fees or be provided with a refund, based on the price difference. 

Where recorded, no-show customers are assessed a $20.00 no-show fee and forfeit the first night's recreation fee for a campsite or forfeit the entire day-use recreation fee for a day-use facility. We recommend customers contact the facility if they are en route to their reservation but cannot make it by the check-in date. In these cases, no refund will be issued, but the facility can ensure that a "no-show" fee is not assessed.

The facts

  • Season: April 17 – October 13 — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
  • 17 bookable sites
  • Up to 6 people per site
  • Loops: AREA CARLTON

Site types

  • 17 Standard Nonelectric

Amenities

  • Fire pits
  • Picnic tables
  • Shade
  • Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, campfires allowed, grills.

Book on Recreation.gov

17 campsites at Carlton

SiteLoopTypeEntrySurfaceMax rigPeople
002AREA CARLTONStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—6 🐾
003AREA CARLTONStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—6 🐾
004AREA CARLTONStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—6 🐾
005AREA CARLTONStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—6 🐾
006AREA CARLTONStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—6 🐾
007AREA CARLTONStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—6 🐾
008AREA CARLTONStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—6 🐾
009AREA CARLTONStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—6 🐾
010AREA CARLTONStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—6 🐾
011AREA CARLTONStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—6 🐾
012AREA CARLTONStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—6
013AREA CARLTONStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—6 🐾
014AREA CARLTONStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—6 🐾
015AREA CARLTONStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—6 🐾
016AREA CARLTONStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—6 🐾
017AREA CARLTONStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—6 🐾
018AREA CARLTONStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—6 🐾

Getting there

From Downieville, travel south on Highway 49 for just over 13 miles. The campground is on the left side of the highway.

From Nevada City, travel north on Highway 49 for just under 30 miles. The campground is on the right side of the highway.

39.51917, -120.99972 · 39°31'9.0"N 120°59'59.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 85°F in Aug, down to 50°F in Dec.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F515154596877858580705750
Low °F303032354248535148413430
Precip in14.713.712.86.44.01.20.00.20.54.18.616.3

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 6.5 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

More photos

Member photos

Common questions about Carlton

Can you reserve a site at Carlton?
Yes, Carlton is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Carlton have?
17 sites.
Are pets allowed at Carlton?
Yes, pets are allowed at Carlton.

Also listed by

Carlton also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Carlton's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

  • $24 per site $5 for extra vehicle

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Carlton

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-03-11.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.