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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

Cold Creek

Forest Service campground in Tahoe National Forest, Sierra County, California. 5,684 feet. 10 miles from Loyalton.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Tahoe National Forest
Elevation
5,684 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
13 10 standard non-electric, 3 walk to
Longest rig
30 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Sierra County

Overview

Cold Creek Campground is located on Highway 89, 4.5 miles south of Sierraville, California. The facility location makes Cold Creek a great base camp for a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, hunting, hiking and biking. This is a small campground recommended for tent camping and small campers. Large RVs will not be able to make the turnaround exit at this facility. There are a couple of hike-in sites within this campground that share a small parking area toward the back of this facility. This facility is operated and maintained by Lake Tahoe Hospitality LLC for the Tahoe National Forest.

Recreation

Cold Creek offers rainbow trout fishing and swimming. Cottonwood Creek Botanical Trail and Overlook Trail both begin at nearby Cottonwood Creek Campground.

Facilities

The campground offers single-family campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets are provided.

Natural Features

The campground lies in a meadow between Cold Creek and Highway 89. Jeffrey pine and white fir trees cover half the campground, while the other half is situated closer to the creek among cottonwoods, willow and aspen trees.

Nearby Attractions

Lake Tahoe is conveniently close, only 35 minutes away. Tahoe offers excellent boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking and scenic driving opportunities. Sardine Lakes, and the beautiful Lakes Basin is a 35-minute drive northwest via the Golden Chain/Highway 49. Stampede Reservoir is a 45-minute drive southeast.

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

What people do here

  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • swimming site

The land around Cold Creek

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

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.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

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.

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