Bowman Campground

Show on map (530) 265-5302

Bowman Lake Campground is a very remote campground with limited services. There are 7 campsites with tables, fire rings and bear proof food lockers. There is no trash service.

Bowman Lake is a large lake surrounded by rocky cliffs and scattered pines that are great for fishing and swimming. A few islands are found within the lake.

Car top boat launch only.

The road to access the campground is very rough, rocky, and narrow. A high clearance vehicle is needed, and towing boats or trailers is very difficult and dangerous. There are several stretches of the road where it is impossible for two vehicles to pass around each other and so if traffic is coming from both directions, someone will need to back up.

Despite the difficult access, Bowman Lake is a popular, heavily used area.

Camp site features

Services within 25 miles · OpenStreetMap

Nearest dump station: 7.7 mi · Loganville Campground

Nearest water fill: 23.4 mi

Fees

No fee

Directions

From Nevada City: Take Hwy 20 east towards Truckee approximately 20 miles. Turn left on Bowman Lake Road (Forest Road 18). First 8 miles are paved, next 3 miles are gravel (1 1/2 lanes), and last 3 miles are very rough, requiring high clearance vehicle and road is one lane. The entire route is very windy. From I-80: Take Hwy 20 exit from I-80 heading west toward Nevada City for approximately 5 miles. Turn right on Bowman Lake Road (Forest Road 18). First 8 miles are paved, next 3 miles are gravel (1 1/2 lanes), and last 3 miles are very rough, requiring high clearance vehicle and road is one lane. From I-80 west: Take Rainbow Road exit and continue west 1 1/2 miles to campground.