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Recreation Region: Bear River Reservoir Area

South Shore Campground

Recreation Opportunity Guides (ROG) - These guides contains information, maps, and directions to assist you in enjoying your trip to the Eldorado National Forest.

General Information

  • CAUTION: There are bears in the area. Please keep all foods, soaps, and garbage properly stored in bear boxes.
  • Check ahead. Campfires may not be allowed during fire restrictions.
  • Please check with the campground attendant or entrance board before setting up your camp.

June - September

Check in: 2:00 p.m.; Check-out: 1:00 p.m.

Interagency Senior and Access passes are accepted for single family units. Give your Interagency pass number when making a reservation.

  • Check out time is 1:00 p.m.
  • Camping Fires: Please use the grill or fire ring provided. Make sure your fire is dead out before leaving, using only water, not soil. Use only dead and down wood for your campfires.
  • Maximum Stay Limit: 14 days per district per year.

  • $36/single
  • $72/double
  • $108/triple
  • $5/extra vehicle fee

Site Information:

  • Number of Sites = 22
  • Double Site # = 1, 11,16
  • Triple Site # = 19
  • Walk-In Tent Single Site # = 8, 15
  • Tent Site # = 2, 4, 5, 10‐13, 18, 20‐22
  • Tent, Trailer, or R.V. Site # = 1, 6‐7, 9, 14, 16, 17 

  • Keep family pets on a leash at all times.
  • Please cleanup after your pet.

Photo of entrance of the Amador Ranger District Office.

Address: 26820 Silver Drive Pioneer, CA 95667
Phone: (209) 259-3774
Hours: 8 AM until 4:30 PM, Tuesdays through Saturdays until September (Closed on federal holidays)

Getting There

Latitude / Longitude

Latitude: 38.53542

Longitude: -120.244792

Elevation

5,900 feet

Directions

40 miles east of Jackson and 3 1/2 miles south of Highway 88 via the Bear River Road. 

Parking

  • Single units are limited to 2 vehicle and 6 people per site.
  • Double units are limited to 4 vehicles and 12 people.
  • An extra vehicle is allowed for a fee if the parking spur will accommodate it.
  • Vehicle = Any equipment that is required to be licensed/registered. Includes RVs, trailers, cars/ trucks, boat/car trailer, motorcycle/ATV, etc. Vehicles parked in a truck or on a trailer are not counted separately.

Facility and Amenity Information

Restrooms

Restrooms are available at this site.

Water

Potable water is available at this site.

  • Water system tested monthly during use season.

Picnic Tables

Picnic tables are available at this site.

Horse/Pack Animal Information

Horse/Pack animals are not allowed at this site.

Other Amenities

Within 5 Miles

  • Bear River Resort: restaurant, store, boat launch, boat rentals, fishing licenses, dump station, and showers. \
  • Emergency phone at Bear River Resort and Pardoes Point.
  • Vehicles with an Off‐Highway Vehicle license “green or red sticker” are not legal on campground roads. These vehicles must be trailered to staging areas and authorized routes. 

On -Site

  • Campground Host = Yes
  • Boat ramp/boarding dock = No
  • Showers = Bear River Resort (fee)
  • Restroom Type = Vault
  • Dump Station = Bear River Resort (fee)
  • Garbage Disposal =  Yes
  • Bear boxes = No
  • Fire Rings = Yes
  • Grills = Yes
  • Picnic area = No
  • Group site(s) = No
  • Hookups = No

Recreation Opportunities

Last updated July 25th, 2025