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

Forest Service group campground

Emigrant Group

Forest Service group campground in Tahoe National Forest, Sierra County, California. 6,032 feet. 9.3 miles from Truckee.

Managed by
Forest Service Tahoe National Forest
Elevation
6,032 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
4 4 group standard non-electric
Longest rig
45 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Sierra County

Overview

Emigrant Group Campground is located alongside the beautiful Stampede Reservoir. The campground is located approximately 30 minutes from the town of Truckee, Calif. Visitors enjoy the area for its boating, fishing and abundant hiking and off-road trails. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest.

Recreation

Boating, water skiing, swimming and fishing are popular activities on the reservoir. Anglers will find rainbow and brown trout and kokanee salmon. A boat ramp is located a half-mile away. Many miles of hiking and off-road vehicle trails crisscross through the surrounding area. The nearby Overland Emigrant Commemorative Trail is open to hiking and mountain biking.

Facilities

The campground offers four group sites, the largest of which are called the Woodsman and Prospector sites. They each can accommodate up to 50 people. The Rancher and Trapper sites can accommodate up to 25 people. Each group site has a central cooking and picnic area, equipped with a large campfire ring. Approximately six tables and four grills are provided at each site as well. Horseshoe pits are located at the Woodsman site.

Natural Features

The campground is situated on the south side of Stampede Reservoir, which is located on the Little Truckee River, approximately eight miles above the confluence of the Little Truckee and Truckee Rivers. A forest of ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine and fir trees covers the area providing ample shade.

Nearby Attractions

Boca Reservoir is 10 minutes south of the campground, offering additional boating, water skiing, swimming and fishing opportunities. Truckee, 10 minutes south, 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 located 45 minutes south and offers excellent boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking and scenic driving opportunities, as well as dining, shopping and lodging options. Other recreational opportunities include Boca Townsite Interpretive Trail, Donner Camp Interpretive Trail, Overland Emigrant Commemorative Trial, 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
  • kayaking
  • swimming
  • water sports

The land around Emigrant Group

The ringed pin is this group 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 February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.