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Bowman Campground
Bowman Lake Campground is a very remote campground with limited services. There are 7 campsites with tables, fire rings and bear proof food lockers. There is no trash service.
Bowman Lake is a large lake surrounded by rocky cliffs and scattered pines that are great for fishing and swimming. A few islands are found within the lake.
Car top boat launch only.
The road to access the campground is very rough, rocky, and narrow. A high clearance vehicle is needed, and towing boats or trailers is very difficult and dangerous. There are several stretches of the road where it is impossible for two vehicles to pass around each other and so if traffic is coming from both directions, someone will need to back up.
Despite the difficult access, Bowman Lake is a popular, heavily used area.
At a Glance
| Current Conditions: | Please contact NID at (530) 265-5302 if you have questions or visit www.nidwater.com/nid-campground-information. |
|---|---|
| Reservations: | No |
| Fees: | No fee |
| Usage: | Heavy |
| Best Season: | June-October |
| Closest Towns: | Nevada City |
| Water: | No |
| Restroom: | Vault Toilet (1) |
| Operated By: | Nevada Irrigation District (NID) |
| Information Center: | Campground expected to open on Memorial Day. Contact Nevada Irrigation District 530-265-5302 or www.scottsflatlake.net |
General Information
Parking:Parking available
General Notes:
Pack-in/pack-out (no garbage receptacles)
Elevation: 5565
Directions:
From Nevada City: Take Hwy 20 east towards Truckee approximately 20 miles. Turn left on Bowman Lake Road (Forest Road 18). First 8 miles are paved, next 3 miles are gravel (1 1/2 lanes), and last 3 miles are very rough, requiring high clearance vehicle and road is one lane. The entire route is very windy.
From I-80: Take Hwy 20 exit from I-80 heading west toward Nevada City for approximately 5 miles. Turn right on Bowman Lake Road (Forest Road 18). First 8 miles are paved, next 3 miles are gravel (1 1/2 lanes), and last 3 miles are very rough, requiring high clearance vehicle and road is one lane.
From I-80 west: Take Rainbow Road exit and continue west 1 1/2 miles to campground.
Activities
Campground Camping
| No. of Sites | 7 |
| Reservation Info | Not reservable |
| No. of Accessible sites | None |
Lake and Pond Fishing
River and Stream Fishing
Day Hiking
Backpacking
Boating - Non-Motorized
Car top launch only. There is no formal launch facility and the road accessing the lake is not recommended for towing a boat trailer.
Swimming
Highlights
Location
