Bright Bear Camp in Tahoe NF

I've camped a lot of places. If I could give it a hundred stars I would! Turn off the pavement and follow a dirt road into the forest. Past meadows and a creek that open up out of nowhere. You start wondering if you've gone too far, and then the road bends and there's Pearl, an Airstream under tall pines. Full shade. String lights over a picnic table. The whole site swept clean, like someone cared about it. I sat in the car for a second before getting out. It was that amazing! This was my puppy Sasha's first camping trip, and my first in years. She got out, made one lap around the site, and laid down in the pine needles like she'd been coming here for years. That was the moment I knew this would be a memory of a lifetime. Pearl is small but perfect. Queen bed with a window that looks straight into the trees, so you wake up to forest and nothing else. Little kitchen, stove, dinette, bathroom. Hot shower just outside. It was immaculate. Kelly set out a refrigerator and a propane fire ring for me. Everything you need, nothing you don't. Five minutes down the road is South Fork Emerald Pools. Fuller Lake. And Bowman Lake, one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in the Sierra, practically to myself. No crowds anywhere. Then there's Kelly. She notices what you need before you ask. She stopped by the fire the last night and we chatted about how she built this place. Sasha's ready to go back. So am I.

Dorron S.

1 month on Hipcamp

Mixed feelings

· July 2026

Tent ·

The host was very helpful and polite but it didn’t feel like a true camping experience since it was just a few feet away from her house. It’s nice if you need a place to crash if you’re just on the road but I probably won’t stay here again

Ana C.

3 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2026

Peaceful retreat!

17 ft campervan · With pets ·

Kelley is a great host - very helpful and kind. She has a lovely, peaceful and remote property. It's a very relaxing place to camp.

Terri S.

2 reviews

Recommends

· July 2026

Tent · Group trip ·

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kelly was a great host, location was great, clean and well maintained would camp here again

Allison J.

1 month on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2026

Bright Bear

Tent ·

I drove my van into the property and I was greeted very kindly by Kelly. It was a very nice and relaxing stay for a couple nights to rest after many days on the road! Worth the visit!!

Kathy H.

4 reviews

Recommends

· July 2026

Beautiful location & very kind host

16 ft car ·

The site was very easy to find. The facilities were spotless and well thought out. It was wonderfully quiet, and we enjoyed a very good night's sleep under the trees. The fairy lights around the campsite were a very nice touch - made it seem rather magical. Kelley greeted us when we arrived, showed us our pitch, and gave us a tour of the amenities. She was very helpful and great to chat with. We would definitely stay again and would recommend to others.

Rebecca P.

2 reviews

Recommends

· July 2026

With pets ·

Pearl was cozy and perfect for 2 people plus dogs. The construction on I80/20 made the drive a little tricky but Kelley was so helpful in giving the most up-to-date directions. You’re a lifesaver, Kelley!

Hannah P.

2 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2026

With pets ·

We loved staying in Pearl! She came equipped with everything we needed. The area is so beautiful and it was really lovely to be surrounded by so much quiet over the 4th of July weekend, something my dog really appreciated as well. Kelley was so helpful and accommodating and we are so glad to have found her space. We will be back!

Rebecca L.

6 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2026

Tent · With pets ·

Kelley is hands down the most nice and hospitable campsite host I’ve ever had! Highly recommend staying here, we were getting a little tore up by mosquitos, but Kelley let us use a thermocell gadget that helped a lot with them. This area is gorgeous with plenty of hikes and things to do. All the amenities were really nice to have at the site as well. Thanks Kelley!

Rahmliggett@Gmail.Com L.

1 month on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2026

Tent · Group trip ·

Kelley is a great host. The property is clean and quiet. We really enjoyed our stay!

Trystan F.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2026

Tent ·

My bestie and I loved camping on Kelley’s land, so kind and accommodating!

Amani R.

2 reviews

Recommends

· July 2026

20 ft campervan ·

The most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen. The road is mildly treacherous, but my fully loaded 2wd ford transit didn’t mind it at all, so you will be fine. Host was helpful, facilities worked as expected, will be back.

Harley D.

2 reviews

Recommends

· June 2026

Bright Bear Camp Site 3

16 ft car ·

I car camped on Kelley's land and could not have asked for a better host. She greeted me when I arrived, showed me the lay of the land, and explained how to use everything. She was always available to help with anything. Her land is quiet and peaceful....making for a really great stay. if you're in the area and looking for a place to camp, book this site, you will love it...plus, the outdoor shower is an added bonus, the hot water mixed with the cool air makes for a crisp and refreshing way to start the day!

Joanne H.

2 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2026

Camping with dogs

Tent · With pets ·

We loved campsite #1 and could easily fit our huge tent. Our dog absolutely loved running free which you can’t do most other places. The outdoor warm shower was lovely and the bathroom was super clean. To top it off Kelley is extremely nice, helpful and a great person. Would definitely recommend.

Jennifer W.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2026

Beautiful location and great host!!

I had a great time here! The location is beautiful and Kelly the host was super cool and very helpful!

Rob T.

2 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2026

2 nights in Pearl

With pets ·

Kelley is a great host. Communication was good. She was available if needed but allowed us our privacy. Pearl is a small Airstream that accommodated 2 adults and dog perfectly. The unit was clean and had everything we needed. The outdoor shower was a few steps away. The setup was clean and water was warm. The forested surrounding are beautiful.

Vivian L.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2026

We visited Kelley's hipcamp as an 18 person group for 3 days/2 nights and had an incredible time! To get the main downside out of the way--there were a lot of mosquitos, which came out in the morning and at mid-afternoon. That said, Kelley has a beautiful property, clean and well appointed facilities for her guests to use, and is an all around incredible camping host. She was flexible, helpful, friendly and kind. We would recommend her hipcamp to anyone looking to camp in the Tahoe NF area!

Kevin P.

2 reviews

Recommends

· May 2026

With pets ·

We had a wonderful stay at Pearl. Kelley’s detailed directions made it super easy to find the place and settle in. Pearl was incredibly cozy, and everything—from the decor to the small details—felt thoughtfully arranged and well cared for. The location was perfect as well. It was conveniently situated between Nevada City and Lake Tahoe, which made it easy for us to explore both during our trip. We also brought our dog, and it was such a great experience. The off-leash space was a huge plus, and our dog had a great time too, which made the stay even more relaxing for us. My wife and I both enjoyed our time here so much that we were already saying we’d love to come back. Highly recommend staying here. Thank you Kelley!

Kc K.

2 reviews

Recommends

· May 2026

Cabin in the Trees

Two Creeks Cabin

Kelley has a cool spot about 40 min from Downtown Nevada City! We loved the cabin- it was modern, SPOTLESSLY clean, and had everything you could need without extra clutter. We were looking to get out of the city, get into nature and do so with minimal packing of gear on our part. This cabin provided the perfect middle-ground experience for us. The bed was super comfortable, we were able to cook a great meal with the kitchen set up, and we enjoyed the luscious green views from inside the cabin. We also loved that Kelley provided coffee grounds and a pour over set up for guests- this felt generous with coffee prices these days. Kelley was friendly, responsive and helpful- she offered to refill the water when we were out for the day which was appreciated. There was an outdoor shower on site, but it’s closer to the main campers set up and we didn’t end up using it for that reason. Try out Kelleys spot and be sure to get some sun and swimming in at the Yuba River nearby!

Shannon P.

3 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2026

Tent · With pets ·

Our stay with Kelley was great! When we arrived we were greeted and shown around the area. We instantly started to set up but do recommend bug spray! It was quiet, relaxing and fairly easy to find the location. Would recommend staying with Kelley!

Izabella R.

3 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2026

Second time staying here and loved it just as much as the first time. Perfect spot for a remote getaway, great amenities, access to lots of trails within minutes. Thank you for sharing your spot, Kelley!

Kathryn L.

2 reviews

Recommends

· May 2026

16 ft car ·

I had a great experience!! Kelley was super helpful. She gave me very clear directions, a thermacell to keep the mosquitos away (worked amazingly), and extra blankets when I didn’t bring enough! Bathroom was super clean, and there was a space to store my food. As a solo camper, I felt very safe and comfortable.

Brianna P.

5 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2026

With kids ·

Amazing place. Beautiful drive up to the camp. Great camping spot with lots of trees but still had a lot of space for setup. Very attentive and friendly host. First time camping with 2-year-old and we couldn’t have picked out a better place. Thank you, Kelley.

Duane C.

2 reviews

Recommends

· April 2026

great place and great communication. would definitely book again. 10/10

Kieran H.

5 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2026

This was a great spot for a getaway. Kelley was an awesome host, and made sure everything was perfect. Looking forward to coming back soon!

Kathryn L.

2 reviews

Recommends

· December 2025

Tent · With pets ·

Super awesome site! Kelley greeted us and prepped us with all knowledge of the property. The property itself is gorgeous. Tucked away from everything else and equipped with the basic amenities any site should have. We will definitely be visiting again.

Isaiah T.

2 reviews

Recommends

· November 2025

Tent ·

We loved our stay at Kelley’s!! It is a beautiful spot in the cedars- wonderful views, quiet, and peaceful! Kelley is an excellent host and we felt welcomed and cared for!! We highly recommend this spot and will definitely return!! Thank you Kelley!!

Peggy R.

6 reviews

Recommends

· October 2025

Tent ·

I loved Kelly's property and there were lovely amenities. I would recommend it to anyone.

James M.

4 reviews

Recommends

· October 2025

Camping getaway

All I have are amazing feed back the host is very well equipped no issues other anything on site we couldn’t have asked for a better weekend get away with our pup in the middle of the woods. And do the sauna it’s incredible

Naomi B.

3 reviews

Recommends

· October 2025

Tent ·