While the 2018 camping season isn’t set to begin until April 1, future campers can start claiming their campsites just after the beginning of the new year.
The park’s prior method of reserving a campsite over the phone has been discontinued and walk-in reservations will not be available.
The new reservation system will help the county better monitor who’s staying at the campground and ensure camper accountability.
County park rangers will continue to patrol the park and campground to help keep the area family friendly.
Located in Colfax on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, Bear River Park and Campground also offers many hiking trails and fishing along the Bear River.
The park’s day-use area is open to the public at no charge and available every day, from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset.
The new online reservation system will be available on the Bear River Park and Campground website HERE.
To see the original article in the Auburn Journal, CLICK HERE.
=====
About Bear River Campground
Reservations
Reservations for group campgrounds will be taken beginning @ 8 am the first working day of January each year.
Campers are required to register online @ http://www.placer.ca.gov/parks
No phone or walk-in reservations accepted.
Amenities
Day-Use area, 23 family campsites & 2 group campsites.
Facilities include; four pit restrooms, picnic tables, fire pit rings and barbeques.
No Potable Water is available, bring your own water.
Capacity
- Group Camp Sites
Guests, maximum of 50 in each group campsite.
Vehicles, maximum of 18 in each group campsite.
Dogs, maximum of 4 in each group campsite.
- Family Camp Sites
Guests, Maximum of 8 people in each family camp site.
Vehicles, maximum of 2 vehicles in each family camp site.
Dogs, maximum of 2 in each family campsite.
Maximum 7 consecutive days, with a limit of 14 days in any one calendar year.
RVs and Tents Allowed with no guarantee spaces are large enough to accommodate RVs.
No hook-ups available.
Narrow Road Access Motor homes and travel trailers over 30' are not recommended due to narrow and steep road conditions.
Day Use Area
The Day-Use area is open year round free of charge; hours are ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.
Camp Site Fees
- Family Site Rates
$10 per night
Additional Vehicle (maximum 2 vehicles) $2 per night
Dog Charge $1 per night for each dog – maximum two dogs per Family Site
- Group Site Rates
$5 Application Fee plus:
Upper Group Site $40 per night
Lower Group Site $40 per night
Both Group Sites $75 per night
Dog Charge $1 per night for each dog – maximum four dogs per Group Site
Deposit for Cleaning/Damage/Security $250
The following insurance requirements apply to group campsite reservations only:
Minimum $1,000,000 Certificate of Insurance and Additional Insured Endorsement naming “Placer County” as additional insured is required if the following conditions exist:
When renting Bear River Group Campsites;
Alcohol may be present however; the Applicant must include liquor liability on their insurance coverage.
Alcohol may be sold however; a one-day Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) liquor license must be obtained from the State of California and attached to the Application.
A Host Liquor License must be attached to the Application if the alcohol is being sold by a Licensed Business.
Please review our website for more details on insurance requirements, or call Placer County Risk Management at 530-886-2600.
Arrival/Departure
Check in after 2:00 PM the first day of your reservation.
Check out by 12:00 PM the last day of your stay.
Public Safety
For emergencies call 911.
Routine patrols of the Bear River Park & Campground by Placer County Sheriff Deputies and Park Rangers who can assist guests.
Fires are only allowed in County established fire ring/barbeque structures, provided the land around such camp or cooking fire, cooking grill or barbecue device is cleared of all flammable material within a radius of at least ten (10) feet. There shall be at least one able-bodied person in actual attendance of such fire at all times. All fires and open flames must be fully extinguished prior to departing the campsite. Burning wood pallets or trash is prohibited.
From July 1 through October, no open fires are permitted including camp fires within designated fire rings and bar-b-q’s. Cooking food with cook type propane stoves and use of lanterns is allowed during the high fire danger periods. The beginning date for no open fires is subject to change depending on fire risk. For information on permissible fires during your stay, contact http://www.placer.ca.gov/parks
Sound Amplification & Quiet Hours. Bear River Campground observes Quiet Hours between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM, during which time no amplified sound is permitted. No person shall operate any sound amplification device in such manner that the volume is unreasonably loud, raucous, jarring, disturbing, or a nuisance to persons or domestic animals within any area of audibility. Generators are not allowed to operate during quiet hours.
No Lifeguard On Duty, Swim At Your Own Risk. A responsible adult must supervise children while around the water. River levels can change quickly without notice due to water releases upstream.
Dogs must be on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, or on a retractable leash secured to a position no longer than six feet when in the presence of other users. Dog feces must be cleaned up and properly disposed into a trash receptacle. Service dogs are exempted from leash requirements if a leash would interfere with the animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents use of a leash; however, off-leash service dogs must be controlled at all times through voice, signal, or other effective controls.
Littering Prohibited No person shall leave or deposit rubbish, litter or trash of any kind, except in receptacles provided for said purposes.
Weapons No person shall possess a weapon unless possession is authorized under the California Penal Code. No person may or shoot, discharge, or fire any bullet, arrow, or other projectile into, over, or on any PRA
Mining No person shall operate any motorized mining equipment. Excavating or removing soil from above the waterline (high-banking) is prohibited.
Fishing is permitted pursuant to relevant regulations of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Damage No person shall damage or remove any artifacts or items from the premises or cultivate, remove, damage or kill vegetation. No person shall willfully destroy, damage, vandalize, steal, or misuse any improvements or natural features.
Wildlife No person shall feed, disturb, harm, or kill any wildlife.
Motorized Vehicles No person shall operate a motorized vehicle of any type outside designated roadways or parking areas. No motorized vehicles allowed on the beaches or in the water.
Designated Travelways and Access Visitors or users of any designated Public Recreation Area (PRA) may only travel upon areas that are open to the public. No person shall create unauthorized trails, enter trails that have been closed, cut switchbacks, damage vegetation, or cause erosion by traveling on foot, horseback or bicycle in areas outside of established trails in any PRA.
Group Campsite Gate Access Gate shall remain locked at all times using the County’s combination lock only. Gate code will be provided to you by email or phone a maximum of 5 days prior to your reservation. If you have a large group arriving at different times you may wish to give the combination to your group, and remind them to keep the gate closed and locked.
RESERVATION POLICIES, DEPOSIT AND CANCELLATION:
Family Sites: A completed reservation application may be made up to the first day of your stay for any available sites.
Cancellation requests for a family camp site must be received no later than 7 days prior to the first day of your reservation. Refunds are not available for inclement weather, smoke, or open fire restrictions. Cancellation request must be sent to PlacerCountyParks@placer.ca.gov. Please include your reservation number.
If the reservation request is canceled and the Applicant requests to reinstate the application, providing the date is still available, there will be a $10 reactivation fee added to the Application Fee.
The Placer County Parks Division reserves the right to cancel any reservation if unsafe conditions exist.
Group Sites: A completed reservation application must be received no less than 10 working days prior to the first requested date of your stay.
Once an application is requested, the requested date(s) will be placed as a Hold in the reservation system with the Applicant’s last name and/or the name of the User Group. If insurance has not been received within 10 working days of the application request, the Hold will be removed and the reservation request canceled. Reservation Holds are not a confirmed reservation until insurance certificates are received and approved.
The Applicant’s acknowledgment on the Reservation Application is an agreement with Placer County that all guests are aware of the rules and will abide by them.
A $250 deposit for Cleaning/Damage/Security is required for each reservation. Deposit fees are designed to cover additional costs associated with leftover trash, damage, repairs, and security issues. Any interest accrued from Use Fees or Deposits will be retained by the County. Placer County reserves the right to bill the Applicant to recover expenses that exceeded the initial deposit. Following a review of the condition of the group camp site and the correction of any repairs, any remaining portions of your deposit will be returned approximately 4 to 6 weeks after the last day of your camping stay.
Cancellation requests for a group camp site must be received no later than 30 days prior to the first day of your reservation. Refunds are not available for inclement weather, smoke, or open fire restrictions. Cancellation request must be sent to PlacerCountyParks@placer.ca.gov. Please include your reservation number.
If the reservation request is canceled and the Applicant requests to reinstate the application, providing the date is still available and complies with the Ten-Working-Day Policy, there will be a $10 reactivation fee added to the Application Fee.
The Placer County Parks Division reserves the right to cancel any reservation if unsafe conditions exist.
RULES The Bear River Campground is governed by the Placer County Public Recreation Area (PRA) Ordinance that may be found in Section 12.24 of the Placer County Code
THANK YOU FOR VISITING
The Bear River Park and Campground is owned and operated by the County of Placer, Parks Division; 2855 2nd Street, Auburn CA, 95603. Contact number (530) 886-4901.