Bear River Group Campground (Eldorado National Forest, CA)

PIONEER, California

California

Free — you'll pick up right here.

No verdict for this campground

We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.

What we do know

  • Inside Eldorado National Forest

    2 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.

    Boundary data

What's missing

  • No access route mapped

    We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.

Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.

Campsite availability

Live from Recreation.gov for Bear River Group Campground (Eldorado National Forest, CA).

Book on Recreation.gov
Oct 10 – Oct 17
7 nights

We'll watch 2026-10-10 → 2026-10-17 and email you the moment something frees up. No account needed.

Used only for this alert — not a newsletter, and one click to stop.

Here's your stay, mapped

Bear River Group Campground (Eldorado National Forest, CA)

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About this campground

Overview The Bear River Group Campground offers four separate group campsites on a site above the south side of the Lower Bear River Reservoir. The proximity to water and the mixed pine setting in the fresh Sierra Nevada air, makes this campground an excellent group retreat destination. Upriver from the campground is the Upper Bear River Reservoir. This lake is smaller and spans 166 surface acres with 2.5 miles of shoreline. Recreation Lake activities include fishing, swimming, boating, canoeing and picnicking on the shores. Rainbow trout are found in abundance throughout the season, in addition to smaller populations of brown and mackinaw trout as well. A short distance past the Upper Bear River Reservoir is the Pardoe Trail, which borders the Mokelumne Wilderness. The trail runs up the top of Squaw Ridge to an elevation of over 9,000 feet, providing excellent views of the surrounding area. Facilities The campground is designed for tent camping only. Campstie 1 fits 50 people while the other three sites accommodate 25. Piped drinking water, vault toilets, picnic tables, campfire rings and a group cooking area are among the amenities. Natural Features Bear Group Campground is situated an elevation of 6,000 feet, just a short distance (approximately one mile drive) from the reservoir. It is part of the Eldorado National Forest located in the central Sierra Nevada. A Mediterranean climate extends over most of the forest with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters. Nearby Attractions Restaurants, boat rentals and a general store are within a few miles of the campground. Charges & 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: Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.. 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 14 days before your arrival date. Late Cancellation: If you cancel your reservation too close to the start date, additional service fees may be withheld.

Campsite info

Sites
4
Site types
Tent, Group
Reservable
Yes
Vault toilets
Reserve a site

Directions & GPX

Facts about this campground

When to go

Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the South Lake Tahoe Ap, CA weather station, 28 mi away. High / low in °F.

  1. Jan43° high18° low
  2. Feb43° high19° low
  3. Mar48° high24° low
  4. Apr53° high28° low
  5. May62° high33° low
  6. Jun72° high38° low
  7. Jul80° high43° low
  8. Aug80° high41° low
  9. Sep73° high35° low
  10. Oct62° high29° low
  11. Nov51° high23° low
  12. Dec43° high18° low

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020

Where it is

Managed by
Forest Service

Source: USFS EDW boundaries; USGS PAD-US 4.1

Conditions

Active alerts for Eldorado National Forest as of Oct 9, 2026:

Source: USFS forest alerts

Nearby

Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)

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