What Campgrounds are Open in the Lake Tahoe Area?

Although the exciting announcement that more than 1,600 campsites would reopen throughout California State Parks, Northern California only saw a small portion. But with those reopenings, along with some private openings in the Tahoe area, means that camping season is officially open in the Lake Tahoe area.

State parks officials announced they would be opening the campgrounds to Donner Memorial State Park, D.L. Bliss State Park and Sugar Pine Point State Park, a monumental move to bring outdoor recreation back to the basin since the Covid-19 closures. Now, Fallen Leaf campgrounds and Nevada Beach campgrounds have also announced their reopening this week.

Between the five campgrounds, there’s a lot more places to practice social distancing in the Tahoe area, but many campsites still remain closed.

The Eldorado National Forest has extended its campsite closure through June 18, which includes most camping on the west side of Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe National Forest has plenty of campsites open (find a list here), but they have announced most are currently reserved.

The Zephyr Cove Resort and Campgrounds will also reopen this week on the Nevada side of the lake. If you’re looking for a more remote camping experience, the Desolation Wilderness remains open, with little to no restrictions in the massive wilderness area.

Depending on where you are in Northern California, you’re going to either see a riches of open campgrounds or many of them closed. Unfortunately, the information on these closures isn’t the most transparent communication either. If you know of any campsites we missed, please let us know if the comments.