South Shore Campground
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.
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.
Need to Know
- Bears frequent the area; all food must be kept in approved containers
Keep family pets on a leash at all times.
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)
Please Note: One (1) vehicle per single site. Most sites can accommodate 1 extra vehicle that is not included with the reservation fee. Extra vehicle will be charged a per night fee.
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.
Reserved Sites will be held until check out time (NOON) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of that following day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests. Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
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).
- 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.
- Click here for more information on Eldorado National Forest
There is a fee to move from a reserved site to a first come first serve site. Site Transfer Policy
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.
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.
Changes & 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.
Contact Information
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ELDORAD N.F. CA
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 209-295-4360
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
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.
Available Campsites
- Site 021, Loop AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 019, Loop AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 006, Loop AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 022, Loop AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 001, Loop AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 017, Loop AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 016, Loop AREA SOUTH SHORE CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
