Nevada City, Calif. —Warm temperatures and blue skies means it’s time to visit the Tahoe National Forest, right? Well, sort of. There is still plenty of snow in the Tahoe National Forest high country and many recreation sites are still closed or inaccessible in April. For a list of open campground and recreation sites, please see below.

Recreation managers and wildland firefighters are preparing for a busy summer season in 2021 –one that is already beginning with the early warm temperatures. This year, the Tahoe National Forest is again asking visitors to please recreate responsibly so we all can enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Tahoe National Forest for years to come.

Responsible recreation means:

• Make sure your campfire is out before you leave: douse with water, stir, and feel for warmth.
  • Repeat the steps above as necessary.

• Campfires must be attended at all times; California Campfire Permits are required.
• No trashcan? It’s your responsibility to pack out all trash when you leave, including toilet paper when no restroom facilities exist.

• Most campsites are booked in advance –you may not secure a campground without a reservation.
  • To reserve a Tahoe National Forest campsite, please visit recreation.gov.

• During the spring, roads may be passable in the morning but muddy and impassable as temperatures warm during the day.
  • Don’t get stuck or damage roads.

• Rivers and lakes are cold this time of year and flows are high. Cold, high flows can kill.

Open Campgrounds & Recreation Sites

Truckee and Sierraville/ Highway 89

• Upper Little Truckee Campground open for first-come, first-serve.
• Lower Little Truckee Campground opening Friday, April 23 first-come, first-serve.
• All campgrounds in Truckee are closed including Granite Flat, Goose Meadows, and Silver Creek.

Prosser/Boca/ Stampede Reservoirs

• Boca Rest campground is currently open and reservable. 
• Hobie Cat beach is open for lake access, parking, and restroom use

Donner Summit/Interstate-80

• All campgrounds are closed. Many summer recreation sites are inaccessible due to snow and other factors.

Foresthill

• Sugar Pine, Parker Flat, and Brimstone OHV Staging Areas are all open.  The Loop 6 lower bridge is still inaccessible!  The trail is actively being cleared now.
• French Meadows Boat Launch – accessible, however, very low water.
• Mosquito Ridge Road is plowed to the boat launch. 
• Giant Gap and Shirttail Creek Campgrounds will be opening April 30, for first-come, first-serve camping.

Highway 20/ Bowman Lake Road

• All campgrounds currently closed.
• Pioneer and Hoot trail open with favorable conditions.
• Bowman Road advised impassable all the way to Bowman Lake.

Bullards bar Reservoir

• Dark Day, Schoolhouse, and Garden Point boat-in campgrounds open.
• Madrone Boat-in and Hornswoggle Group site opening May 22. 

Highway 49/Sierra Buttes

• Carlton Flat, Fiddle Creek, Indian Valley, Rocky Rest, and Cal-Ida campgrounds will be opening Friday, April 23.

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