Gold rush history and the great outdoors meet at the "endurance capital of the world".
In the foothills of the Sierra Nevada between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe, Auburn offers easy access to gold country and the great outdoors. Stroll along the charming Old Town Auburn, explore gold rush history and see where gold was first discovered, or go wine and beer tasting. More active visitors can head outdoors for hiking, running, biking, horseback riding, and all manner of water sports, with many competitions available over the summer. Auburn California camping options are plentiful, with two national forests nearby, and numerous riverside and lakeside camping options, in addition to private campgrounds and RV parks full of amenities.
Private RV parks north of Auburn offer tent and RV sites, along with deluxe amenities. East of Auburn, the Auburn State Recreation Area offers hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails, and the North and Middle Forks of the American River. Three campgrounds offer primitive and boat-in campsites. Head to Coloma for rafting along the South Fork of the American River and riverside camping in a tent, RV, or cabin.
Auburn is well placed to access both the Tahoe National Forest and the Eldorado National Forest, with nearly 1.5 million acres, hundreds of miles of trails, hundreds of lakes, and thousands of miles of river, including the Yuba, American, and Rubicon rivers, along with more than 100 developed campgrounds, and plenty of backcountry camping options, between the two parks. Head further east for Lake Tahoe and scenic lakeside camping options.
Near Sacramento, several campgrounds can be found in the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area around Folsom Lake and Lake Natoma, or further south near the Sacramento River at Sandy Beach Regional Park and Brannan Island State Recreation Area. Further south near Jackson, find additional water sports and camping options around Lake Amador, Camanche Lake, and New Hogan Lake.
Summer is the most popular time for outdoor adventures and camping around Auburn, especially at the area lakes and rivers when temperatures are high and the heat is dry. Many competitions are held from spring to fall, with the peak over the summer. The fishing season runs from April to November. Visit in spring for wildflower displays and fall for colorful foliage. Winter snow and weather can affect access and availability of winter recreation activities.