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South Shore Campground
FSU.S. Forest Service — California · Eldorado National Forest
| Agency | FSU.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Eldorado National Forest |
| Location | California · Eldorado National Forest · 38.53306, -120.23472 · Map |
| Sites | 21 public sites counted from the federal listing — 12 tent only nonelectric; 9 standard nonelectric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — 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. |
| Hookups | Electric at 0 of 21 sites Water hookups at 0 of 21 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 21 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 21 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 35 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 10 sites · 30 ft: 5 sites · 35 ft: 5 sites · 40 ft: 0 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 2:00 PM · Out 1:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | 209-295-4360 |
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 2026-05-02.
From the official listing
Overview South Shore Campground is located next to Lower Bear River Reservoir in the Eldorado National Forest the central Sierra Nevada Mountains. It's a prime location for fishing and boating. Recreation Lower Bear Reservoir covers 166 acres and has 2.5 miles of shoreline. Activities include fishing, swimming, boating, canoeing and picnicking. Anglers may catch rainbow, brown and mackinaw trout. A boat ramp is located within a mile of the campground.
The Pardoe Trail can be accessed a short distance past nearby Upper Bear River Reservoir, and borders Mokelumne Wilderness. Facilities Each campsite comes with a picnic table and grill. One campsite is accessible, as is one of the vault toilets. Drinking water is provided.
A general store is about a mile from the campground on the northern part of the reservoir. Natural Features The campground is nestled in a mixed conifer forest on a hillside just above the south shore of Lower Bear River Reservoir at an elevation of 5,900 feet. Some campsites offer partial views of the lake through the trees.
A Mediterranean climate extends over most of the forest, with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters. 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: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation. 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 4 days before your arrival date. A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (see Late Cancellation below). Late Cancellation: If you cancel your reservation too close to the start date, additional service fees may be withheld.
Directions, from the listing
From Pioneer, CA, take State Route 88 east 21.9 miles to Bear River Lake Resort sign. Turn left at the sign and go 3.4 miles to campground on right side of the road.
Nearest federal campgrounds
0 mi straight-line · CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceBear River Group Campground (Eldorado National Forest, CA)
1 mi straight-line · PIONEER CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceSugar Pine Point Campground
1 mi straight-line · CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceWhite Azalea Campground
4 mi straight-line · CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceMokelumne Campground
4 mi straight-line · California
Trip Card — South Shore Campground
California · Eldorado National Forest
| Agency | FS · U.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Location | California · Eldorado National Forest |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Up to 35 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 21 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234111 · 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.