Can you reserve a site at South Shore Campground?

Yes, South Shore Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.

How many campsites does South Shore Campground have?

34 sites in total, of which 21 can be booked.

What is the maximum RV length at South Shore Campground?

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

South Shore Campground, California — 21 sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

South Shore Campground is located next to Lower Bear River Reservoir in the Eldorado National Forest the central Sierra Nevada Mountains. It's a prime location for fishing and boating.

Recreation

Lower Bear Reservoir covers 166 acres and has 2.5 miles of shoreline. Activities include fishing, swimming, boating, canoeing and picnicking. Anglers may catch rainbow, brown and mackinaw trout. A boat ramp is located within a mile of the campground.

The Pardoe Trail can be accessed a short distance past nearby Upper Bear River Reservoir, and borders Mokelumne Wilderness.

Facilities

Each campsite comes with a picnic table and grill. One campsite is accessible, as is one of the vault toilets. Drinking water is provided.

A general store is about a mile from the campground on the northern part of the reservoir.

Natural Features

The campground is nestled in a mixed conifer forest on a hillside just above the south shore of Lower Bear River Reservoir at an elevation of 5,900 feet. Some campsites offer partial views of the lake through the trees.

A Mediterranean climate extends over most of the forest, with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.

Charges & Cancellations

Recreation Fee: Recreation fees are the fees a visitor pays for things like overnight camping, a day-use pavilion, group facilities, a tour or a permit. Recreation fees vary by location and/or activity.
Reservation Fee: A fee may be charged at the time a reservation is made to cover the cost of reservation services. This fee is in addition to the Recreation Fee and is non-refundable. Fees for camping, day use, group sites, cabins and lookouts: $8 if made on-line; $9 if made through the call center; $3 if made in-person.
Change Fee: A service fee may be charged at the time a modification is made depending on the changes.
Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation.
Cut-Off Window: The latest date and/or time that you can make an advanced reservation or a change to an existing reservation. Cut-off windows can vary by location, but are typically 4 days before your arrival date. A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (see Late Cancellation below).
Late Cancellation: If you cancel your reservation too close to the start date, additional service fees may be withheld.

The facts

21 bookable sites
34 sites in total, including non-bookable
Vehicles up to 35 ft
Up to 18 people per site
Loops: AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND, Area South Shore Campground, Host Site

Site types

13 Management
12 Tent Only Nonelectric
9 Standard Nonelectric

Amenities

Shade

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, campfires allowed, fire pits, picnic tables, grills, pets allowed.

Book on Recreation.gov

34 campsites at South Shore Campground

Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 1:00 PM

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Max rig	People
001	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	25 ft	12
005	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	6
006	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	25 ft	6
007	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	35 ft	6
009	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	—	Gravel	25 ft	12
011	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	—	Gravel	25 ft	12
014	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	—	Gravel	25 ft	12
016	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	35 ft	12
017	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	35 ft	6
018	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Gravel	—	6
019	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	35 ft	18
021	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Gravel	—	6
022	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	Gravel	—	6
XXX	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Management	—	—	—	1
XXX1	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX10	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX11	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX2	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX3	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX4	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX5	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX6	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX7	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX8	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Management	—	—	—	—
XXX9	AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND	Management	—	—	—	—
002	Area South Shore Campground	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	6
004	Area South Shore Campground	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	6
008	Area South Shore Campground	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	6
010	Area South Shore Campground	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	6
012	Area South Shore Campground	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	6
013	Area South Shore Campground	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	6
015	Area South Shore Campground	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	6
020	Area South Shore Campground	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	6
003	Host Site	Management	Back In	Gravel	35 ft	6

Getting there

From Pioneer, CA, take State Route 88 east 21.9 miles to Bear River Lake Resort sign. Turn left at the sign and go 3.4 miles to campground on right side of the road.

38.53306, -120.23472 · 38°31'59.0"N 120°14'5.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Low °F	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Precip in	7.0	7.2	6.6	3.5	2.4	0.6	0.3	0.4	0.7	2.7	4.5	6.8

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 17.1 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Common questions about South Shore Campground

Can you reserve a site at South Shore Campground?: Yes, South Shore Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does South Shore Campground have?: 34 sites in total, of which 21 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at South Shore Campground?: 35 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Camping near South Shore Campground

Bear River Group Campground (Eldorado National Forest, CA) 0.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest) 10.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Pipi Campground 11.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
Bear Group Campground 0.2 mi · Campground
Pardoes Point Campground 0.3 mi · Campground
South Shore Campground 0.6 mi · Campground
Sugar Pine Point Campground 1 mi · Campground
White Azalea Campground 3.6 mi · Campground
Mokelumne Campground 4.2 mi · Campground
Middle Fork Cosumnes Campground 5 mi · Campground
Black Springs OHV Area 10.8 mi · Facility
Silver Lake Campground East 11.4 mi · Campground

Contact

Phone 209-295-4360
Book Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-05-02.

South Shore Campground