Wild Plum

Campground · California · 47 bookable sites ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Tahoe National Forest (NF) · Open Access

47
Bookable sites
43 ft
Max rig length
up to 6
People per site
4,392 ft
Elevation
Sierra Buttes from Wild Plum
Photo: TNF · Recreation.gov

Overview

Wild Plum Campground is located on Haypress Creek in the North Yuba River area. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, and gold panning. this facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.

Recreation

Wild Plum Loop Trail can be accessed from the campground. The 2.5-mile trail is open to hiking and horseback riding and provides access to the Pacific Crest Trail and Haypress Trail. The scenic and historic town of Sierra City is just two miles from the campground. A variety of lodging and dining options are available.

Facilities

The campground offers several single-family sites, many of which are designated for tent camping only. Each site has a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. The campground's two smaller loops have paved roads and parking spurs; the larger upper loop has a gravel road and spurs.

Natural Features

The campground is situated on the banks of Haypress Creek. A forest of hardwood and pine trees covers the area, offering pleasant shade. Many rocks, from early gold dredging activity, cover the forest floor. Several sites overlook the creek.

Contact Info

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

Nearby Attractions

Wild Plum Campground is located about 1 mile east of historic Sierra City which is on the Yuba Donner Scenic Byway (Highway 49) near many gold rush era historical sites and scenic mountain vistas. Gold Lakes Basin offers boating, fishing, biking, and hiking. Boating, fishing, and swimming are available at nearby Sardine Lakes, about 7 miles north of the campground. Sardine Lakes Resort offers boat rentals. Anglers will find rainbow and brook trout in many of the lakes, streams, and rivers throughout the basin. Over 30 miles of maintained trails for hiking, mountain biking, and motorcycle singletrack branch out across the area and the Pacific Crest Trail can be accessed from with in the campground as well as at a few spots in the Lakes Basin area. The historic town of Sierra City offers historic and cultural attractions, restaurants, shops, churches, and vistor information.

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 20 – October 15 — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
  • 47 bookable sites
  • Vehicles up to 43 ft
  • Up to 6 people per site
  • Loops: AREA WILD PLUM

Site types

  • 24 Standard Nonelectric
  • 23 Tent Only Nonelectric

Amenities

  • Campfires allowed
  • Fire pits
  • Picnic tables
  • Shade
  • Pets allowed

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

Book on Recreation.gov

47 campsites at Wild Plum

SiteLoopTypeEntrySurfaceGradeAccessWaterMax rigPeople
001AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InPavedSlightDrive InRiverfront25 ft6 🐾
002AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive In—27 ft6 🐾
003AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive In—21 ft6 🐾
004AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive InRiverfront21 ft6 🐾
005AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive In—34 ft6 🐾
006AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive In—15 ft6 🐾
007AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive InRiverfront28 ft6 🐾
008AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive In—38 ft6 🐾
009AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive In—33 ft6 🐾
010AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive In—28 ft6 🐾
011AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive In—43 ft6 🐾
012AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive InRiverfront17 ft6 🐾
013AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive InRiverfront35 ft6 🐾
014AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive InRiverfront24 ft6 🐾
015AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive In—17 ft6 🐾
016AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricPull ThroughPaved—Drive InRiverfront40 ft6 🐾
017AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive In—36 ft6 🐾
018AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive In—26 ft6 🐾
019AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive InRiverfront39 ft6 🐾
020AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—20 ft6 🐾
021AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Hike In—18 ft6 🐾
022AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—19 ft6 🐾
023AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—18 ft6 🐾
024AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—30 ft6 🐾
025AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—20 ft6 🐾
026AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—20 ft6 🐾
027AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—38 ft6 🐾
028AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—28 ft6 🐾
029AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—28 ft6 🐾
030AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—28 ft6 🐾
031AREA WILD PLUMStandard NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—28 ft6 🐾
032AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive InRiverfront21 ft6 🐾
033AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive InRiverfront—6 🐾
034AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—20 ft6 🐾
035AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive InRiverfront21 ft6 🐾
036AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive InRiverfront18 ft6 🐾
037AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive InRiverfront24 ft6 🐾
038AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—Drive InRiverfront30 ft6 🐾
039AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—30 ft6 🐾
040AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive InRiverfront41 ft6 🐾
041AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—18 ft6 🐾
042AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—31 ft6 🐾
043AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—26 ft6 🐾
044AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—29 ft6 🐾
045AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—20 ft6 🐾
046AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—21 ft6 🐾
047AREA WILD PLUMTent Only NonelectricBack InGravel—Drive In—18 ft6 🐾

Getting there

From Sierra City travel north (east) on Highway 49 for about a half a mile, turn right onto Wild Plum Rd and continue for another 1.5 miles. You will arrive at Wild Plum Campground after crossing the Haypress Creek bridge.

Fromk Sierraville travel south (west) on Highway 49 for 21 miles, turn right onto Wild Plum Rd and continue for another 1.5 miles. You will arrive at Wild Plum Campground after crossing the Haypress Creek bridge.

39.56681, -120.60276 · 39°34'0.5"N 120°36'10.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 82°F in Jul, down to 45°F in Dec.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F464749556473828177665445
Low °F292830334047545451423429
Precip in————————————

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 8.3 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 Wild Plum

Can you reserve a site at Wild Plum?
Yes, Wild Plum is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Wild Plum have?
47 sites.
What is the maximum RV length at Wild Plum?
43 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Wild Plum?
Yes, pets are allowed at Wild Plum.
Are campfires allowed at Wild Plum?
Campfires are allowed at Wild Plum. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Also listed by

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

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

  • $24 per site $5 for extra vehicle

Restrictions:

  • Camping outside designated campground is prohibited in this area. No cell service. Sometimes there is cell service in Downieville

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Wild Plum

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.