Beloved Tahoe Campground Set to Reopen Following 3-Year Closure
One of Lake Tahoe’s most beloved camping destinations is officially set to reopen next year after a lengthy, multi-year closure.
D.L. Bliss State Park, perched on Tahoe’s West Shore just north of Emerald Bay, shut down in 2023 to replace aging, damaged water lines that were leaking into campsites. The project was originally expected to take a single summer, but infrastructure issues stretched the work across three seasons and pushed the total cost to $5 million, according to California State Parks.
Now the repairs are complete, and the park will fully reopen on May 21, 2026, the agency announced Monday.
The return of D.L. Bliss is big news for Tahoe visitors and campers. The park is home to some of the basin’s most iconic features, including Lester Beach and a stunning stretch of the Rubicon Trail. Its lakeside campsites routinely book up months in advance and are considered among the most scenic in California.
Campsite reservations went live on November 21, 2025, through ReserveCalifornia.com, giving visitors plenty of time to plan.
Officials say the extended closure allowed crews to complete critical infrastructure upgrades that will support the park for decades. With repairs finished, D.L. Bliss is expected to reopen with more reliable water service and improved visitor safety.
After three summers without one of Tahoe’s most popular campgrounds, 2026 will mark a long-awaited homecoming for hikers, swimmers and families eager to return to this West Shore classic.
