Packsaddle

Show on map (530)478-6253

YUBA RIVER RANGER STATION, THIS IS THE ADDRESS FOR THE RANGER STATION, NOT THE CAMPGROUND, 631 Coyote Street
Nevada City, CA 95959

Salmon and Packer Creek Aspen Restoration Project Closure

This forest order closes Tahoe National Forest lands impacted by the Salmon and Packer Creek Aspen Restoration Project.

Forest Order No. 17-26-27
USDA Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Region
Tahoe National Forest
Salmon and Packer Creek Aspen Restoration Project Closure
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Tahoe National Forest. This Order is effective from November 3rd, 2026, through February 28th, 2027.
1. Going into or being upon an area which is closed for the protection of public health and safety as shown on the map marked Exhibit A and described in Exhibit B. 36 C.F.R. § 261.53(e).
2. Being on the roads within the closure area except for County Roads 620 and 621. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e).
3. Being on a trail within the closure area. 36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a).
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
1. Any Federal, State, local officer, or member of an organization rescue or fire-fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
2. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.
3. Holders of special use permits and their employees and guests, while conducting activities authorized under their permits, including travel on access roads to their facilities.
These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions found in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A.
A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.
16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
Done at Nevada City, California, this 2nd day of November, 2026.

Matt Lane
Acting Forest Supervisor
Tahoe National Forest

Exhibit B: Closure Area Description
All roads used to describe the closure area boundaries are considered open for public use.
The Salmon and Packer Creek Aspen Restoration Project closure encompasses all National Forest
System lands beginning at the junction of Sierra County Road (CR) 621 (Packer Lake Road) and across
from the Packsaddle Campground entrance. The closure boundary then travels north approximately 0.7
miles, then travels east to CR 620 (Gold Lake Road), then travels southeast along CR 620 to the junction
of CR 622 (Sardine Lake Road), then travels west along CR 622 to the junction of CR 621, then travels
northwest and then west along CR 621 to the boundary origin. This Closure resides in portions of
Township 21 N,

Overview

Packsaddle Campground is located in the Packer Lake area near the Sierra Buttes, north of the Yuba River. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities in the area, including hiking, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, canoeing and gold panning. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.

Recreation

A large network of trails is available in the area, including Deer Lake Trail. This 2.9-mile trail is open to hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. The Pacific Crest Trail can easily be accessed nearby. Many lakes in the area offer fishing. Canoeing and paddeling is available on nearby Packer Lake.

Facilities

The campground offers single-family campsites and two equestrian sites for campers with horses. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. The equestrian sites share a corral and have ample space for stock trailers. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.

Natural Features

The campground is split into two loops. The first is more open but is shaded by towering Jeffrey pine and fir trees. The second is located on a forested hillside above the first loop. Some sites have views of the open, wildflower-dotted meadow, while others overlook a ravine and mountain peaks beyond it.

Nearby Attractions

Lakes Basin offers many opportunities for boating, fishing and hiking. Boating, fishing and swimming are available at nearby Packer Lake less than a mile to the west and Sardine Lakes, about three miles south 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. A more developed boat ramp is located at Gold Lake and accomodates launching of larger boats. 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 at a few spots in the Lakes Basin area. The historic towns of Sierra City and Downieville offer historic and cultural attractions, restaurants, shops, churches, and vistor information.

Contact Info

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

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.

Camp site features

Across 16 camp sites:

Fire pit: all 16 sites
Picnic table: all 16 sites
Pets allowed: all 16 sites
Longest RV: 100 ft
Largest party: 6 people
Equipment: RV, Tent, Trailer

Services within 25 miles · OpenStreetMap

Nearest dump station: 4.2 mi · Loganville Campground

Directions

From Sierra City, travel north (east) on Highway 49 for 5 miles. Turn left at Bassett Station on Gold Lake Highway and continue just over a mile to Packer Lake Road and turn left. Go less than a mile and turn right on Packer Lake Road. Continue for about 2.5 miles and turn left into the campground. From Sierraville, travel south (west) on Highway 49 for about 17 miles. Turn left at Bassett Station on Gold Lake Highway and continue just over a mile to Packer Lake Road and turn left. Go less than a mile and turn right on Packer Lake Road. Continue for about 2.5 miles and turn left into the campground.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

53 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 stars

james s

Loop:Packsaddle

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

The water was not potable, the pit toilet was absolutely disgusting and had no toilet paper, the door of the bear box at our site, 16, was bent in such a way that it could not be secured. It appeared that Packsaddle was no longer maintained, perhaps because it was going to be closed permanently.

Maryann S

Loop:Packsaddle

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

Camp 8 is nice. Well pump for water not ideal. Pit toilets very extremely STINKY. The park service should consider converting them to composting toilets.

Zola F

Loop:Packsaddle

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

Watched the Perseid meteor showers and saw amazing Milky Way.

Dan P

Loop:Packsaddle

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

The stench of the bathrooms will haunt you. Bring a ventilator mask or a shovel and head for the woods. Some of the campsites are shaded others exposed. Our site was sloped which was not great. Great location for lakes and everything you expect in the buttes.

Mike C

Loop:Packsaddle

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

Great CG I always return to for my birthday. It's my happy place! :-)

Ebbo S

Loop:Packsaddle

Site:

Reviewed 4 months ago

Almost everything was great there. I would’ve given it 5 stars, but the toilet paper in the outhouses was hit and miss

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.