Ruck-a-Chucky Campground
This is rustic camping at its best. The deeply incised canyon, the upgraded campground and the Middle Fork of the American River are at their best -- not the road. Plus, it is the closest campground to Auburn lying within the Auburn State Recreation Area. Plus, plus, the Western States Trail used both by the 100-mile run and the equestrian Tevis Cup sneak above the campsites, but drop back down to the western end of the camping area.
The deeply incised canyon, the upgraded campground and the Middle Fork of the American River are at their best...
...within the past few years, ASRA has put in new, metal tables and much, much improved vault toilets.
DESCRIPTION:
Only within the past few years, ASRA has put in new, metal tables and much, much improved vault toilets. If you had last been there and had to use the crappy, wooden, pit toilet, go back and enjoy the upgrade. Small trailers or RVs are permitted and most make it in and out. Road usually closed during inclement weather. The campground serves as a whitewater access point and is used by private-party, whitewater enthusiasts for either camping or bringing gear down.
Summers can get very hot. Western State Trail Runners describe the area as "the oven," but at least the river is only a few feet away. Within the 100-mile trail used annually by the two events, this is one of two formal campgrounds along the trail.
Bring drinking water or purify river or stream water. No glass containers.
| Units | Season | Reservations | Max Stay | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Tents | RVs | Trailers | Max Length | Year round. | No | 14 days |
| 5 | Yes | No | No | Not Applicable | |||
| Hookups | Groups | Fees | Tables | Firerings | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | No |
No |
Yes | Yes | No | 740 feet |
| Toilet | Water | Camp Dump |
|---|---|---|
| Pit | Unpurified Stream |
DIRECTIONS:
To Ruck-a-Chucky Campground
From Auburn drive 8.1 miles east, turn right onto Drivers Flat Road. Next 0.5 miles is easy with a large parking area provided. If you continue over the next 2.0 miles, take it slow.
ACTIVITIES:
Camping (Rating: Best)
This is the best (and only) formal campground along the lower end of the Middle Fork of the American River.
Fishing (Rating: Best)
This is the only formal campground along the lower end of the Middle Fork American River. At this location trash fish compete unfairly with game trout. However, the Ford Bar Trail (old road, gated a short distance above the campground) provides trail access up to and miles above Ruck-a-Chuck Rapids ("Falls" with a cascade drop of 30 feet). Above there, trout are much more fishable. Biologists and anglers consider the stretch above the falls as the "best" fishing on both the lower ends of the Middle and North Forks of the American Rivers. It's also the most remote.
Altough the trail often stays above the river over a steep slope, it does drop down to the river at the first little stream (and springtime falls), and a short spur trail drops down to the river on the long bar across the river from Canyon Creek. By this point, the river is above the falls. For the next mile the trail is only a few feet above the river along one huge, calm-water hole backed up by the falls.
Equestrian Trail Riding (Rating: Good)
This is the best (and only) formal campground along the lower end of the Western States Trail. However, the access road is rough and steep enough to limit pulling trailers into or out of the area. Especially when it is wet or even muddy.
Hiking: Dayhikes (Rating: Exceptional)
The Fords Bar Trail begins above the campground and follows the canyon for nearly five miles to the Gold Rush miining "town" of Fords Bar. See the description for that trail.
