Places to Go Camping & Fishing Near Auburn, California

Situated near the shores of the Upper American River, the city of Auburn, located in northeastern California, was established when gold was discovered in the vicinity in 1848. Auburn escaped the fate of many gold rush boom towns, however, and survives to this day as a vibrant city and the county seat of Placer County. The city's proximity to nearby parks and rivers means that fishing and camping opportunities, among the Auburn area's many outdoor resources, act as a magnet for nature enthusiasts.

  1. Fishing in the American River

    • The Upper American River splits into two branches -- the North Fork and the Middle Fork -- just east of Auburn; both branches of the river offer excellent fishing. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks both forks with rainbow trout, and the river also supports an abundant smallmouth bass population. While the Middle Fork of the American River largely runs through a steep canyon, making it somewhat difficult to access, it has the better fishing of the two forks. The Greenwood Access Area provides bank fishing and a canoe put-in point on the Middle Fork. You can reach the North Fork at several points, including Ponderosa Way and the Upper Lake Clementine Day Use Area. Lake Clementine is a long, narrow reservoir situated along the North Fork. The lake, along with ample portions of both the North Fork and the Middle Fork, are contained within the Auburn State Recreation Area.

    Camping Along the American River

    • In addition to fishing access, Auburn State Recreation Area is also home to three campgrounds. The Mineral Bar Campground offers 17 shady, secluded sites near the North Fork of the American River. The Ruck-a-Chucky Campground consists of five campsites along the Middle Fork. Both campgrounds are primitive and lack hookups, flush toilets, showers or drinking water, making them well suited to tent camping. Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis only. The third camping option is the Lake Clementine Boat-In Campground, which consists of 20 primitive sites situated along the Lake Clementine shoreline. These sites are boat-in only and cannot be reached by vehicle. You can reserve a campsite at the boat-in campground by phone or through the California State Parks website (parks.ca.gov).

    Fishing at Folsom Lake

    • Created by the construction of the Folsom Dam in 1955, Folsom Lake is an 11,450-acre reservoir on the American River located just south of Auburn. The lake, which serves as the dividing point between the Upper and Lower American River, harbors largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, perch, trout and Kokanee salmon. Folsom Lake's many coves and points are especially productive, and the lake has produced largemouth bass weighing more than 15 pounds. Folsom Lake State Recreation Area spans almost the entire shoreline, providing numerous boat ramps, access points, docks and piers. As with the American River and all other waters across the state, a current California fishing license is required to fish Folsom Lake. You can obtain a license through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (dfg.ca.gov) and at most bait shops and sporting goods stores statewide.

    Camping Around Folsom Lake

    • Folsom Lake State Recreation Area offers two developed family campgrounds, including the Peninsula Campground, which has 100 campsites for tents and RVs. Hookups are not available, but campers have access to drinking water, modern restrooms and hot showers. The sites, which include picnic tables and campfire rings, can accommodate RVs up to 24 feet in length. Another option is the Beals Point Campground, which offers about 50 sites with similar amenities, plus the additional option of electric hookups at select sites. Campground reservations are available by phone and through the California State Parks website (parks.ca.gov). Take note that the campgrounds can fill up quickly, especially in summer, so reservations are recommended. Campers have access to all the recreation area's day-use facilities as well, including the boat ramps, picnic areas, swimming beach and several miles of hiking trails.