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A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

Forest Service campground

Giant Gap

Forest Service campground in Tahoe National Forest, Placer County, California. About 3,600 feet. 9.2 miles from Colfax.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Tahoe National Forest
Elevation
About 3,600 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
27 22 standard non-electric, 5 tent only non-electric
Longest rig
60 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Placer County

Overview

Giant Gap Campground is located on the north shore of Sugar Pine Reservoir, in the Tahoe National Forest. It is just 15 miles from Foresthill. Visitors enjoy the surrounding area for its fishing, canoeing, OHV and hiking opportunities.

Recreation

Fishing, canoeing, swimming and boating are popular activities on the reservoir. A paved, non-motorized trail circles the campground and connects to the day use area and Shirttail Creek Campground.

The North Fork of the American River is nearby, with additional fishing and swimming. Many miles of hiking and off-road vehicle trails are in the surrounding area.

Facilities

The campground offers several single- and double-family campsites, a few of which are accessible. Picnic tables, campfire rings and grills are provided, as are vault toilets and drinking water. Firewood is available for purchase from the host.

Natural Features

The campground and the adjacent 160-acre Sugar Pine Reservoir are situated at an elevation of 3,600 feet. The campground is situated in stands of cedar and ponderosa pine trees. Summertime temperatures are hot during the day and cool at night.

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
  • swimming site

The land around Giant Gap

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 June 19, 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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