Rocky Rest Campground
nearest town: Downieville CA
part of: Tahoe National Forest
A Forest Service Campground in the North Sierras region.
Number of visits: 4
GPS: 39.5134,-120.9777
Bathroom: no • Water: yes
on the South Fork of the Yuba River. very crowded in August. There is an excellent, deep pool in the river right here. The river is shallow and kinda boring at the next campground west - Indian Valley. Sites 6,7,8 are the best, right on the bluff overlooking the river.
Best sites: 7 and 8 are on the river, 6 is best site and most private yet convenient to the bridge.
Notes on each visit (posted cost • senior cost):
Unlike the other campgrounds along Route 49, this one does not have a gate, so it's open all winter.
No one else here, so get my pick of the primo spots that are always taken in summer.
I take the corner site with a great view up the Yuba. Fat lot of good it did me today, it rained hard all afternoon. Sunny and cold in the morning!
Open and free for the winter. I am a huge fan of the Forest Service leaving campgrounds available like this.
Absolutely no one here on New Years Eve. In fact you would have to doubt the sanity of anyone here on New Years Eve. Oh wait...
They raised the prices since last time!
Most of the spots are taken, but the same not very desirable spot I got last time was free for tonight this time also. Not getting a real good vibe so far.
The campground is run by a concessionaire, so it has that run-down, "we don't spent money here unless we have to" feel I've come to expect in such places.
Also, at least some of my neighbors are kind of jerky. Some asshole just whipped out of here, spun out on the gravel, leaving a thick dust cloud hanging in the still air for the next few minutes. I think I wish I'd pressed on to the next, very close campground - Indian Valley.