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A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

Bureau of Land Management campground

Indian Creek Campground

Bureau of Land Management campground in Indian Creek Recreation Area, Alpine County, California. 5,597 feet. 16.3 miles from South Lake Tahoe.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Bureau of Land Management Indian Creek Recreation Area
Elevation
5,597 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
28 18 standard non-electric, 9 walk to, 1 group walk to
Longest rig
45 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Alpine County

Overview

Due to the extensive damage sustained in the 2021 Tamarack Fire, Indian Creek Campground is CLOSED at this time and will remain closed until the area can be made safe for public access and facilities can be rebuilt. Updated Press Release .

Indian Creek Campground is nestled in the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada between the California towns of Woodfords and Markleeville. Elevation in the area ranges from 5,600 feet at the reservoir to 6,400 feet in the surrounding foothills. Pine trees and sagebrush dot the landscape. Summers are generally warm and dry with daytime temperatures occasionally reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit, while evenings are cool and comfortable. Sunny and dry days prevail, interspersed with periods of spectacular thunderstorms in the mid-summer months.

Recreation

Many recreational opportunities are available at Indian Creek Campground and the surrounding area including fishing, camping, picnicking, hiking, sailing, mountain biking, nature study, rock collecting, sightseeing, wildlife viewing, bicycling, white-water rafting and photography.

Fishing is by far the most popular activity. Trout are stocked in the reservoir and the river; the nearby East Fork of the Carson River is managed as a trophy fishery.

Facilities

A campground with 30 sites is situated next to Indian Creek Reservoir. The campground has an RV/tent loop, a tent walk-to loop and group camp area. The RV/tent loop has 19 sites that are suitable for recreational vehicles up to 34 feet in length or tents. The walk-to tent loop has 10 sites with parking nearby. A group campsite (tents only) is available for groups of up to 40 campers. The main restrooms located in the RV/tent loop have flush toilets and hot showers. Drinking water is provided.

A day use area has four picnic sites, a boat ramp, large parking lot and restrooms with flush toilets.

Natural Features

Indian Creek Campground is spread over 160 acres in a forest of burnt ponderosa, Jeffrey and pinyon pines. The campground is located on the west bank of Indian Creek Reservoir. Several campsites have reservoir views through the trees.

Nearby Attractions

Opportunities to view beautiful waterfalls, snow-capped peaks and rushing mountain streams abound throughout this landscape. Consider the following: whitewater raft or kayak the East Fork of the Carson River; fish the East or West forks of the Carson River; explore South Lake Tahoe; hike along the Tahoe Rim Trail; explore off-highway vehicle routes around Hope Valley; drive out to Blue Lakes for fishing, hiking, and horseback riding; hike into the Mokelumne Wilderness; follow the Emigrant trail up from Hope Valley over Carson Pass; mountain bike along a network of logging roads; fish and boat on Silver Lake and Caples Lake; enjoy a meal at Kit Carson Lodge or Caples Lake Resort; discover the beauty of Hope Valley and visit famous Sorensen's Resort for lodging, meals and activities.

The description, directions and fees are the Bureau of Land Management’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • amphitheater
  • auto touring
  • biking
  • birding
  • boating
  • camping
  • canoeing
  • day use area
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • hunting
  • ice fishing
  • kayaking
  • motor boat
  • non-motorized boating
  • paddling
  • photography
  • picnicking
  • scenic drive
  • star gazing
  • swimming
  • water access
  • water activities

The land around Indian Creek 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.

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 February 25, 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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