A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

Forest Service campground

Boca Rest Campground

Forest Service campground in Tahoe National Forest, Nevada County, California. 5,617 feet. 7.4 miles from Truckee.

Managed by
Forest Service Tahoe National Forest
Elevation
5,617 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
39 39 standard non-electric
Longest rig
45 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Nevada County

Overview

Boca Rest Campground is located along the shores of Boca Reservoir, 20 minutes from Truckee, California. Visitors enjoy the area for its boating, swimming, fishing and abundant hiking opportunities. This facility is operated and maintained by Lake Tahoe Hospitality LLC for the Tahoe National Forest.

Recreation

Boca Reservoir spans over 900 acres and is a popular location for boating, water skiing, swimming and fishing. A boat ramp is located on the west shore of Boca Reservoir, and an unimproved boat launching area is due south of the campground. The Little Truckee River is nearby and offers some of Northern California's best catch-and-release fly-fishing. The surrounding area offers hiking, biking, horseback riding and off-road vehicle trails. Boca Townsite Interpretive Trail showcases the boom and bust of the historic town of Boca as it transitioned from a construction camp for the Central Pacific Railroad to the Boca Mill and Ice Company and later to the Boca Brewery.

PLEASE HELP KEEP YOUR PUBLIC LANDS HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE, AND BEAUTIFUL

Off-Highway Vehicle enthusiasts have been utilizing the Tahoe National Forest in uncharacteristically high numbers. Unfortunately, resource damage is occurring. Pease remember the following:

Not all closed routes are blocked with gates or posted with ‘closed’ signs. Please consult the Motor Vehicle Use map to learn more about seasonal operation dates.

Do not operate Motorized Vehicles outside of established routes. The reckless riding of a few can cause resource damage that lasts for years and leads to further restrictions for all riders.

Facilities

The campground offers single-family sites, with a few located right along the waterfront. Most sites are fairly exposed with little to no shade, but are well-spaced, providing for plenty of separation between sites. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.

Natural Features

The campground is situated on the northeastern shores of the Boca Reservoir, near where the reservoir meets the Little Truckee River. The campground is characterized by open areas dotted with sagebrush. A few pines are scattered throughout the site but shade is very limited.

Nearby Attractions

Stampede Reservoir is located 9 miles north of the campground, where boating, water skiing, fishing, and swimming are popular activities. Truckee, 20 minutes away, offers all the amenities of a year round recreational mountain town including interstate highway connectivity, top notch restaurants, resorts and hotels, grocery stores, gas stations, shopping, and historic sites. Lake Tahoe is conveniently located only 30 minutes away. Tahoe offers excellent boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking and scenic driving opportunities, as well as dining, shopping and lodging options. Other recreational opportunities include Donner Camp Interpretive Trail, Overland Emigrant Commemorative Trail, Stampede Reservoir Recreation Area, Prosser Pits OHV area, and numerous hiking, mountain biking, and OHV trails.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • boating
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • off highway vehicle trails
  • swimming
  • water sports

The land around Boca Rest Campground

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated September 5, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.