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.
More like this: first-come in California · free in California · tent only in California
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | No fee |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Forest | Tahoe National Forest |
| Booking | No |
| Fees | No fee |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 39.4593° N, 120.6124° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedTnf East Zone Rx Fire Support
21 mi from the campground
- PrescribedPnf Rx
37 mi from the campground
- PrescribedPnf North Quincy Wcsl Rx
40 mi from the campground
- PrescribedLoafer Creek Dwr Vmp Rx
44 mi from the campground · 68 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 9.8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Upcycled Adventures ↗ | 19.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | DeMartini RV Sales ↗ | 28.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
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Video
Bowman lake campground
Worth a stop
- 7.7 mi
- 7.9 miFuller Lake Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 12.3 miSierra Valley Shooting Range ↗OHV / range
- 13.9 miSalmon Lake -Boat Ramp Boating Site ↗Boat launch
Trails nearby
- 1.1 miGrouse Ridge Trail ↗10.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.8 miCrooked Lakes Trail3.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.8 miLindsey Lake3.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.9 miBowman Mountain4.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.6 miBullpen1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.4 miWoodcamp Ck. Interpret. Trail1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Tahoe National Forest.
- inTahoe National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,181,139 acres
- 7.5 miPlumas National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,431,953 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to camp at Bowman Campground?
Nothing. Bowman Campground is listed as free. No fee
Source: Forest Service
How many sites does Bowman Campground have?
7 sites.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Bowman Campground?
Bowman Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Bowman Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Jackson Creek Campground (0.6 mi, first-come), Canyon Creek Campground (2.3 mi, first-come), and Faucherie Group Campground (3.2 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby