Can you reserve a site at Indian Springs?

Yes, Indian Springs is reservable through Recreation.gov.

How many campsites does Indian Springs have?

36 sites in total, of which 34 can be booked.

What is the maximum RV length at Indian Springs?

35 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Are pets allowed at Indian Springs?

Yes, pets are allowed at Indian Springs.

Are campfires allowed at Indian Springs?

Campfires are allowed at Indian Springs. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Indian Springs, California — 34 sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

Indian Springs Campground is located in the Tahoe National Forest along Interstate 80 the South Yuba River. It is about three miles west of Big Bend and 23 miles west of Truckee. Visitors enjoy the area for its swimming, fishing, and trail opportunities, as well as its historic significance along the California Emigrant Trail.

Recreation

The South Yuba River offers rainbow trout fishing and a popular swimming hole is located alongside the campground in the South Yuba River. The Indian Springs OHV Staging Area is adjacent to the campground and offers access to many OHV trails including the popular Fordyce 4x4 jeep trail. The historic California Emigrant Trail passes nearby. Many additional hiking, biking and off-road vehicle trails are in the surrounding area, including the Indian Springs OHV Trailhead.

Facilities

The campground offers single-family campsites, a few of which are designated as walk-to sites for tent camping only. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided.

Natural Features

The campground is situated on the north bank of the South Yuba River in a scenic forest of mature cedar and pine trees, which offer ample shade. The elevation is 5,600 feet.

Contact Info

This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (530) 265-4531.

Nearby Attractions

Donner Lake is located 19 miles east via Interstate 80 and historic Route 40, which is also known as the Lincoln Highway, the nation's first transcontinental highway. Many points of interest lie along Route 40, including China Wall, Rainbow Bridge, Sugar Bowl, Lake Van Norden and Ice Lakes. Other attractions include Donner Summit PCT, Loch Leven, and Castle Peak Trailheads, Alpha and Omega Scenic Overlook and Interpretive Trail, Chalk Bluff OHV trails, and Grouse Ridge Non-Motorized Area.

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: May 21 – October 15 — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
34 bookable sites
36 sites in total, including non-bookable
Vehicles up to 35 ft
Up to 6 people per site
Loops: LOWER, S&P, UPPER

Site types

27 Standard Nonelectric
7 Walk To
2 Management

Amenities

Campfires allowed
Fire pits
Picnic tables
Shade
Pets allowed

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

Book on Recreation.gov

36 campsites at Indian Springs

Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Access	Water	Max rig	People
01	LOWER	Management	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	35 ft	6	🐾
02	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	22 ft	6	🐾
03	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	19 ft	6	🐾
04	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Riverfront	22 ft	6	🐾
05	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	18 ft	6	🐾
06	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Riverfront	23 ft	6	🐾
07	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	20 ft	6	🐾
08	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	18 ft	6	🐾
09	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	18 ft	6	🐾
10	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	20 ft	6	🐾
11	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	20 ft	6	🐾
12	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	18 ft	6	🐾
13	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	22 ft	6	🐾
14	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	—	—	30 ft	6	🐾
Single S&P	S&P	Management	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	35 ft	6	🐾
15	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	35 ft	6	🐾
16	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	35 ft	6	🐾
17	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	33 ft	6	🐾
18	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	31 ft	6	🐾
19	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	27 ft	6	🐾
20	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	26 ft	6	🐾
21	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	24 ft	6	🐾
22	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	25 ft	6	🐾
23	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	24 ft	6	🐾
24	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	—	—	30 ft	6	🐾
25	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	27 ft	6	🐾
26	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	26 ft	6	🐾
27	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	32 ft	6	🐾
28	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	—	32 ft	6	🐾
29	UPPER	Walk To	—	Paved	Hike In	Riverfront	20 ft	6	🐾
30	UPPER	Walk To	—	Paved	Hike In	Riverfront	20 ft	6	🐾
31	UPPER	Walk To	Back In	Paved	Hike In	Riverfront	20 ft	6	🐾
32	UPPER	Walk To	Back In	Paved	Hike In	Riverfront	20 ft	6	🐾
33	UPPER	Walk To	Back In	Paved	Hike In	Riverfront	20 ft	6	🐾
34	UPPER	Walk To	Back In	Paved	Hike In	Riverfront	20 ft	6	🐾
35	UPPER	Walk To	Back In	Paved	Hike In	Riverfront	20 ft	6	🐾

Getting there

From either east bound or west bound Interstate 80, take exit 164 for Eagle Lakes Road. Turn north onto Eagle Lakes Road. Follow the road as it turns west and turn left into the campground.

39.32934, -120.56943 · 39°19'45.6"N 120°34'10.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 82°F in Jul, down to 43°F in Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	44	46	51	56	64	75	82	82	76	65	51	43
Low °F	25	26	27	30	37	43	48	47	44	37	30	25
Precip in	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 3.8 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Common questions about Indian Springs

Can you reserve a site at Indian Springs?: Yes, Indian Springs is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Indian Springs have?: 36 sites in total, of which 34 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at Indian Springs?: 35 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Indian Springs?: Yes, pets are allowed at Indian Springs.
Are campfires allowed at Indian Springs?: Campfires are allowed at Indian Springs. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Also listed by

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

Big Bend Group (Yuba River) 3.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
Hampshire Rocks 3.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
North Fork (Ca) 6.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Tunnel Mills II 6.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Woodchuck Campground 2.7 mi · Campground
Sterling Lake Campground 4.4 mi · Campground
Grouse Ridge Campground 4.7 mi · Campground
Rucker Lake Campground 4.8 mi · Campground
Carr Lake Campground 6.3 mi · Campground
Onion Valley Campground 6.5 mi · Campground
Meadow Lake Campground 6.6 mi · Campground
Faucherie Group Campground 6.8 mi · Facility

Contact

Phone 530-478-6253
Book Recreation.gov

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

Indian Springs