Seasonal Closures Begin at Lake Tahoe National Forest Recreation Sites
As fall settles in around Lake Tahoe, the USDA Forest Service has begun the annual process of closing many recreation facilities for the season. The shutdowns affect beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas, interpretive sites, and resorts across the basin, with closures scheduled through late November.
Some of the first facilities to close include Round Hill Pines Beach Resort on October 1 and the Tallac Historic Site on October 5. By mid-October, popular destinations such as Meeks Bay Resort, Fallen Leaf Campground, and Pope Beach will also close for the season. The Taylor Creek Visitor Center and Stream Profile Chamber will close October 26, while the final wave—including Inspiration Point’s parking area and restrooms—wraps up on November 30.
Not all sites shut down, however. Camp Richardson Resort’s hotel, cabins, and RV campground remain open year-round, as do Zephyr Cove Resort and Campground.
Here is the full list of closures:
- Oct. 1: Round Hill Pines Beach Resort
- Oct. 5: Tallac Historic Site
- Oct. 6: Badgers Den Campground (Camp Richardson)
- Oct. 12: Meeks Bay Resort; Echo Chalet restrooms
- Oct. 13: Blackwood Canyon, Fallen Leaf, Kaspian, Nevada Beach, and William Kent campgrounds; Baldwin, Nevada and Pope beaches; Bayview parking area; Kaspian and William Kent beach restrooms
- Oct. 19: Eagles Nest Campground (Camp Richardson)
- Oct. 26: Taylor Creek Visitor Center, Stream Profile Chamber
- Nov. 2: Camp Richardson Corral
- Nov. 15: Big Meadow and Eagle Falls trailhead parking areas; Genoa Peak Road; Kiva Picnic Area; Logan Shoals restrooms; Luther Pass Campground; Sand Pit OHV area; Secret Harbor parking area and Watson Lake Campground
- Nov. 20: Sawmill Pond
- Nov. 30: Inspiration Point parking area and restrooms
- Open year-round: Camp Richardson Resort’s hotel, cabins and RV Campground; Zephyr Cove Resort and Campground
- Angora Lakes Resort cabins and store, and Echo Chalet marina and store closed earlier in September.
While facilities and services close for winter, national forest lands themselves remain open for hiking, snowshoeing, and other recreation. Visitors should be prepared for limited parking and no water, restroom, or trash collection services. Forest Service officials ask everyone to recreate responsibly: pack out garbage (including pet waste), park legally, and avoid blocking locked gates.
