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Garden Point Boat-in Campground

FSU.S. Forest Service — Camptonville · California · Tahoe National Forest

AgencyFSU.S. Forest Service
AreaTahoe National Forest
LocationCamptonville · California · Tahoe National Forest · 39.43333, -121.12417 · Map
Sites16 public sites counted from the federal listing — 16 boat in
Getting a siteReservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below.
HookupsElectric at 0 of 16 sites
Water hookups at 0 of 16 sites
Sewer hookups at 0 of 16 sites
Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 16 sites
Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way.
Max RV lengthNot reported in the federal data
Months openNot in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov.
FeesNot reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground.
Check-in / outIn 2:00 PM · Out 12:00 PM (most common in the listing)
PetsAllowed at 16 sites, as reported
Amenities, as reportedCell service reportedVault toilets
Phone530-478-6253

Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →

This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-03-11.

From the official listing

Overview Bullards Bar Reservoir is located on the North Yuba River at an elevation of 2000 feet. It is located approximately 21 miles north of Nevada City, California. It has a maximum surface area of 4,760 acres and a length of over 16 miles and shoreline of more than 60 miles.

Recreation This is a boat-in campground. You can not drive to this campground. You must launch a boat a Dark Day boat launch and boat to the campground. Activities include wildlife viewing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, boating, water skiing, and other water sports. Swimming opportunities are limited because of the steep slopes; however boaters will find numerous opportunities for swimming in various locations around the reservoir. The reservoir provides yearlong fishing opportunities for both warm and cold water fish species. Supplies are available at the marina as well as the nearby communities of Camptonville, North San Juan, and Dobbins.

Facilities This is a boat-in campground. You can not drive to this campground. You must launch a boat a Dark Day boat launch and boat to the campground. Public access for boating and recreation is limited to 2 developed and 1 undeveloped boat launches: the Cottage Creek Boat Launch ramp at Emerald Cove Marina (aprox. 3 miles from campground by boat), the Dark Day Boat Launch ramp (aprox. 1 mile from campground by boat), and the undeveloped site at the end of Moran Road. The area includes 5 campgrounds, 2 picnic areas, 2 boat launch ramps, 1 marina, 1 overlook, 1 day use area and several developed hiking trails.  

Natural Features This is a boat-in campground. You can not drive to this campground. You must launch a boat a Dark Day boat launch and boat to the campground. The sides of the reservoir are generally steep and public access for boating and recreation is limited. The reservoir is surrounded by both conifer and hardwood forests with numerous brush species. There is plenty of shade at the campsites

Contact Info This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (530) 265-4531. Nearby Attractions There is a beautiful non- motorized trail system in the area, with 5 different trails to choose from. Bullards Bar Trailhead is 14 miles, 7 Ball Trial is 1 mile, 8 Ball Trail is 3.8 miles, Rebel Ridge Trail is 1.6 miles and Schoolhouse Trail is 0.7 miles. Maps are available at the North Yuba Ranger Station just a couple miles east of the reservoir on Marysville Road.

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.

Directions, from the listing

This is a boat-in campground. You can not drive to this campground. You must launch a boat a Dark Day boat launch and boat to the campground. From Nevada City, California, travel approximatley 20 miles north on Highway 49 to Marysville Road. Turn left onto Marysville Road and travel approximatley 3 miles to the Dark Day Boat Launch ramp and launch from the ramp. Or travel approximatley 7 miles to Emerald Cove Marina and launch from the launch and ramp there.

Nearest federal campgrounds

FSU.S. Forest ServiceDark Day Campground
1 mi straight-line · Camptonville California
FSU.S. Forest ServiceSchoolhouse Campground (CA)
1 mi straight-line · Nevada City California
FSU.S. Forest ServiceHornswoggle Group Campground
1 mi straight-line · Nevada City California
FSU.S. Forest ServiceFrenchy Point Campground
2 mi straight-line · California
FSU.S. Forest ServiceCottage Creek Campground (CA)
3 mi straight-line · Nevada City California

Trip Card — Garden Point Boat-in Campground

Camptonville · California · Tahoe National Forest

AgencyFS · U.S. Forest Service
LocationCamptonville · California · Tahoe National Forest
FeesNot reported in the federal data
Getting a siteReservable
HookupsNone reported
Max RVNot reported
Months openNot in federal data
Sites16 sites

Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10039993 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.