Free camping near Portola, CA
Within 25 straight-line miles of Portola, CA there are 68 camps: 33 free, 22 fee, 13 unpriced. The closest is Grizzly Family Cg., 4.6 miles north of town. The closest one our audit calls free is Chapman, 12 miles out.
Who manages them: 68 on the Forest Service.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grizzly Family Cg. | 4.6 | Fee | Big Grizzly Creek (stream) | 1.1 mi to Lake Davis | — |
| Grasshopper Flat Family Cg. | 4.8 | Fee | — | 2.8 mi to Lake Davis | — |
| Lightning Tree Family Cg. | 7.8 | Fee | — | 5.9 mi to Lake Davis | — |
| Chapman | 12 | Free | Chapman Creek (stream) | 3.6 mi to Bassetts | — |
| Beartrap | 13 | Free | Lunch Creek (stream) | 4.0 mi to Calpine | — |
| Lakes Basin Group Cg. | 13 | Fee | — | 3.4 mi to Graeagle | — |
| Church Meadow | 13 | Free | — | 4.8 mi to Whitehawk | — |
| Crocker Family Cg. | 13 | Free | Frazier Creek (stream) | 5.2 mi to Clio | — |
| Lakes Basin Family Cg. | 13 | Fee | — | 3.7 mi to Graeagle | — |
| Snag Lake | 13 | Free | Church Creek (stream) | 4.3 mi to Bassetts | — |
| Haven Lake Campground | 13 | Free | Haven Lake (water) | 4.5 mi to Bassetts | — |
| Goose Lake Campground | 13 | Free | — | 5.3 mi to Graeagle | — |
| Cottonwood Springs Family Cg. | 13 | Fee | — | 4.9 mi to Graeagle | — |
| Chapman Creek Campground | 14 | Unpriced | Chapman Creek (stream) | 2.5 mi to Bassetts | — |
| Sierra | 14 | Fee | — | 5.4 mi to Sierra | — |
| Lunch Creek | 14 | Free | Lunch Creek (stream) | 4.3 mi to Sattley | — |
| Yuba Pass Campground | 14 | Unpriced | North Yuba River (river) | 3.5 mi to Sattley | — |
| Deadman Lake | 14 | Free | Deadman Lake (water) | 1.9 mi to Bassetts | — |
| Gold Lake 4X4 Campground | 14 | Free | Little Gold Lake (water) | 5.3 mi to Bassetts | — |
| Gold Lake 4x4 Campground | 15 | Unpriced | — | — | — |
| Chilcoot Family Cg. | 15 | Fee | — | 7.0 mi to Chilcoot-Vinton | — |
| Salmon Lakes | 15 | Free | Lower Salmon Lake (water) | 3.9 mi to Bassetts | — |
| Salmon Creek | 15 | Fee | — | 3.6 mi to Sierra | — |
| Diablo | 16 | Fee | — | 4.0 mi to Sierra | — |
| Mcrae Meadows Camp | 16 | Free | — | — | — |
| Spencer Lakes | 16 | Free | Spencer Creek (stream) | 4.6 mi to Johnsville | — |
| Sardine | 16 | Fee | — | 3.3 mi to Sierra | — |
| Berger Creek | 16 | Fee | — | 3.9 mi to Sierra | — |
| Ross Camp | 16 | Free | Spring Creek (stream) | 6.2 mi to Scotts | — |
| Gold Valley | 16 | Free | Pauley Creek (stream) | 6.3 mi to Johnsville | — |
| Spencer Creek | 16 | Free | Spencer Creek (stream) | 4.8 mi to Johnsville | — |
| Spring Creek Family Cg. | 16 | Fee | — | 6.5 mi to Chilcoot-Vinton | — |
| Packsaddle | 16 | Fee | — | 3.8 mi to Sierra | — |
| Conklin Park Family Cg. | 17 | Fee | — | 8.0 mi to Chilcoot-Vinton | — |
| Chilcoot Campground | 17 | Unpriced | Little Last Chance Creek (stream) | 4.2 mi to Scotts | — |
| Pierce Meadow | 17 | Free | William Creek (stream) | 1.6 mi to Bassetts | — |
| Frenchman Family Cg. | 17 | Fee | — | 7.0 mi to Chilcoot-Vinton | — |
| Packer Saddle | 17 | Free | Packer Creek (stream) | 3.7 mi to Loganville | — |
| Tamarack Lakes | 17 | Free | Tamarack Lakes (water) | 3.0 mi to Loganville | — |
| Butcher Ranch | 18 | Free | Butcher Ranch Creek (stream) | 3.8 mi to Loganville | — |
| Bradys Camp (Family Cg) | 18 | Free | Pine Creek (stream) | 3.6 mi to Greenhorn | — |
| Nichols Creek | 18 | Free | Bonta Creek (stream) | 2.1 mi to Sierraville | — |
| Wild Plum | 19 | Fee | — | 1.4 mi to Sierra | — |
| Red Bridge | 20 | Free | Bray Creek (stream) | 4.1 mi to Spring Garden | — |
| Loganville | 20 | Fee | — | 1.9 mi to Sierra | — |
| Meadow View (Family Cg.) | 20 | Free | — | 5.2 mi to Doyle | — |
| Cottonwood | 21 | Fee | — | 3.2 mi to Sierraville | — |
| Cold Creek | 21 | Fee | — | 3.6 mi to Sierraville | — |
| Empire Creek | 21 | Free | Empire Creek (stream) | 5.3 mi to Downieville | — |
| Milton Reservoir | 21 | Free | Milton Reservoir (water) | 4.4 mi to Sierra City | — |
The other 18 inside the circle are on the live map — open it centred on Portola, CA.
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Portola, CA, not a driving distance — a camp four miles out across a canyon can be an hour of road. Cost is the audited three-state verdict on each camp's own record: free, fee, or unpriced where we could not confirm a price. A blank column is a gap in the record, not a statement that the thing is absent. Camps come from state and federal agency records, not from a visit, except the ones marked. Seasons, permits and fire rules change: confirm with the managing office before you go. Found a fee where we show free? Tell us on the contact page.