Englebright Lake

Englebright Lake is a narrow, canyon-bound reservoir on the Yuba River in the Sierra foothills, straddling Nevada and Yuba counties. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns and runs the 260-foot concrete arch dam and the recreation area. The lake is about nine miles long with 815 surface acres and roughly 24 miles of steep, wooded shoreline.

Boat-in only camping

Englebright is famous because there is no road access to the campsites. The Corps lists 16 campgrounds with about 100 campsites, every one reachable only by boat. Sites have a table, fire grill and lantern hanger, and the Corps notes portable restrooms and drinking water. Reservations go through Recreation.gov, and the Corps has posted a seasonal camping closure (October 1, 2025 to May 1, 2026 last season), so check current dates.

Boating rules that are unusual

Travel on the lake is counter-clockwise, and the Corps says this is strictly enforced for safety. Because of narrow canyons and sharp bends, the upper four miles are not suitable for water-skiing or towing inflatables; skiing is limited to the lower five miles. Paddlers have the quieter upper reach.

Launching

Both ramps are near the entrance, reached via Mooney Flat Road about 2.5 miles off Highway 20. Skippers Cove Marina offers rentals and houseboats. A Recreation.gov alert has said the Narrows Day Use Area closes July 23, 2026 for about a year for construction, so confirm which ramp is open.