Camping & Picnicking American River Ranger District Tahoe National Forest Welcome Campground Time Limitations Camping is limited to fourteen days per year within Welcome to the American River Ranger District of each campground, per individual or family group. Tahoe National Forest. These public lands are dedi- cated to the wise use and production of timber, water, Camping outside developed campgrounds is limited grazing areas, wildlife, and recreational opportuni- to fourteen days per Ranger District per year. ties. The Forest name, taken from the famed Lake Tahoe, is probably from a Washoe Indian word Seasons meaning “Big Water”. Generally, the main camping season in the Tahoe Na- The Tahoe National Forest extends from Lake Tahoe tional Forest is from Memorial Day through Labor to north of the prominent Sierra Buttes. Several high- Day. Although some campgrounds open earlier and ways, including Interstate 80; State Highways 20, 49, remain open after the regular season, water systems 89, and 267; and Forest roads, provide excellent ac- may be shut down and garbage collection discontin- cess to most of the Forest. ued. Snow may inhibit vehicle access to campgrounds during the winter, and care must be tak- Elevations within the Forest vary from about 1500 en to park off roadways where snow removal equip- feet in the foothills to over 9000 feet at the Sierra ment operates. Contact your local Forest Service of- Crest. fice for snow and parking conditions. Fishermen and hunters use the campgrounds in sea- son. Fishermen frequent the many rivers, streams, Trailers lakes, and reservoirs on the Forest in the quest for Many campgrounds will accommodate travel trailers rainbow, German brown, and eastern brook trout. up to 26 feet in length. Parking space only is availa- There are also numerous deer, black bears, and up- ble; there is no provision for utility connections. land game birds of interest to the hunters who visit Pickup campers and other single vehicle campers are the Forest. permitted in any car space. Enjoy your visit to the Tahoe National Forest. Please help us prevent forest fires and keep recreation areas Group Campgrounds clean. The Forest is yours to explore, enjoy, and pro- Group camps are available by advance reservation tect. only. See individual site descriptions for size, loca- tion, and information on reservations. Family Recreation Sites Garbage Family campgrounds and picnic areas are generally available on a first come, first serve basis. The Most developed sites have garbage containers (many campgrounds that take reservations are: Giant Gap, are now equipped with bear-proof ones), and we ask Shirttail Creek, French Meadows, Lewis, North Fork, you to please use them. This is especially important and all group campgrounds. For reservations visit to protect your family from bears that may enter your www.recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777. Unless campsite in search of food. otherwise indicated, each campsite has a table and a When garbage containers are not available please fire ring or cooking stove/grill. take all of your garbage with you. Leave a clean camp! United States Forest Service Tahoe National Forest Department of Pacific Southwest Region www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe Agriculture www.fs.usda.gov/r5 Rev 8/28/2015 Water Campfire Permits Only water from developed systems at recreation Campfire permits are not required in designated rec- sites is maintained safe to drink. Open water sources reation sites; however, a permit is required for all are easily contaminated by human or animal waste. camping and cooking fires on National Forest land Water from springs, lakes, ponds, and streams should outside of developed campground areas where there be properly treated before drinking. One recommend- is no provided fire ring or BBQ grill. In periods of ed method of treatment is to bring clear water to a high fire danger other restrictions may be in effect. rolling boil for a minimum of five minutes. Check with a Ranger Station before your outing. For More Information Number of Campers per Camp Unit Foresthill Ranger Station In order to protect the adjacent soil and vegetation, 22803 Foresthill Road the number of campers in a developed campground is Foresthill CA 95631 limited to six persons per single camp unit. This re- striction does not apply to a single family composed (530) 367-2224 of parents and dependent children. TTY users dial 711 for telecommunications relay Pets All Are Welcome In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. De- Pets are allowed in campgrounds, but they must be partment of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations kept quiet, cleaned up after, and on a leash. and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and em- ployees, and institutions participating in or administering Firearms USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based You may bring firearms into developed camp and on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identi- picnic grounds; however, you may not discharge ty (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disa- them near any developed sites, roads, trails or areas bility, age, marital status, family/parental status, income of concentrated public recreation use (within 150 derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, yards). No firearms of any kind are allowed in a State or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in Game Refuge, such as that at French Meadows. any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and com- Landownership plaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of Within the boundaries of the Tahoe National Forest communication for program information (e.g., Braille, roughly 800,000 acres are public land and 400,000 large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) acres are privately owned. Please respect the rights of should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TAR- the private landowners. You may inquire at the near- GET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact est Ranger Station or consult the Tahoe National For- USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877- est map regarding landownership. 8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. Motor Vehicles To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the The operation of all motor vehicles in recreation USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD- sites, including motor scooters and motorcycles, is 3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/ permitted only on developed roads or parking areas. complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or Vehicles are to be used only for entering and leaving write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter recreation sites. all of the information requested in the form. To request a The operation of motor vehicles in such a manner as copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit to create excessive noise is prohibited. Please drive your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. carefully and observe all posted speed limits. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secre- Horses tary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Horses are not allowed in most campgrounds. There Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; are a few sites designed with facilities for equestrian or (3) email: [email protected]. use, and those sites are specified in this guide. Camping & Picnicking on the Foresthill Divide American River Ranger District Tahoe National Forest Foresthill Divide Mumford Bar Campground Foresthill Divide Road extends from Foresthill north- Located 17 miles northeast of Foresthill on Foresthill east along the ridge for about 30 miles, where it inter- Divide Road. This small campground is located at the sects the Soda Springs Road. This area is heavily for- roadside, near the Mumford Bar Trailhead. This is a ested. Activities include fishing, camping, hiking, and free, first come, first serve campground. hunting. Supplies are available in Foresthill. The main recreation season is May through October. Elevation: 5,200 feet Big Reservoir Campground/Morning Star Facilities: Lake Resort 4 campsites (OK for equestrian use) Located thirteen miles north of Foresthill on Sugar Campfire rings with grills, no tables Pine Road. A portion of this campground is owned by 3 hitching posts & 2 single-tie rings for stock the Forest Service and is operated by DeAnza Placer Vault toilet Gold Mining Company. For information and reserva- Pack-in/pack-out (no garbage receptacle) tions, contact: No water DeAnza Placer Gold Mining Company PO Box 119 Attractions: Foresthill CA 95631 Mumford Bar Trail offers hiking, mountain (530) 367-2129 biking, or equestrian access to the North Fork American River Elevation: 3,500 feet Robinsons Flat Campground Facilities: Located 27 miles northeast of Foresthill on Foresthill One hundred campsites Divide Road, a narrow winding, paved mountain road. Limited firewood Large trailers are not recommended. This is a free, Picnic sites with tables, grills and fire rings first come, first serve campground. Piped water Vault toilets Elevation: 6,800 feet Showers Space for trailers (no hook-ups) Facilities: 14 campsites (7 regular, 7 equestrian) Attractions: Vault toilets, tables, fire rings with grills Fishing (fee charged) - no motorized boats Pack-in/pack-out (no garbage receptacle) Swimming Hand-pump well water source during summer Attractions: Trails - including Western States Trail access Views from nearby Duncan Peak Lookout Restored historic buildings on site United States Forest Service Tahoe National Forest Department of Pacific Southwest Region www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe Agriculture www.fs.usda.gov/r5 Sugar Pine Reservoir American River Ranger District Tahoe National Forest Sugar Pine Reservoir Recreation Complex This recreation complex contains two group Manzanita Picnic Area - Day Use Only campsites, two family campgrounds, boat ramp, hik- Located on the north shore of the reservoir.