By:
Submission
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.
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.
Beautiful lake, nice campground, but currently the bridge from the highway 20 side is wiped out. You can drive into the river bed and back out the other side with some difficulty. If you don't have four wheel drive and decent clearance or if you're bringing a trailer come in from the truckee side.
My Toyota Highlander could not make it all the way up Bowman Lake rd, it is extremely rough. Truck or high clearance vehicle is 100% needed or pick a new campground...
Please come around the long way past truckee. The shorter way roads are terrible.
The roads not a joke and requires 4wd with decent ground clearance. Once you're there it's a beautiful remote area but full of so many people so you're bound to get some loud neighbors and annoying music blaring at night.
