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

Forest Service campground

Upper Little Truckee

Forest Service campground in Tahoe National Forest, Sierra County, California. About 6,200 feet. 10.1 miles from Truckee.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Tahoe National Forest
Elevation
About 6,200 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
22 21 standard non-electric, 1 group standard non-electric
Longest rig
60 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Sierra County

Overview

Upper Little Truckee Campground is located on Highway 89, about 12 miles north of Truckee. Its location makes it a great base camp for a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, hunting, hiking and biking. This facility is operated and maintained by Lake Tahoe Hospitality LLC for the Tahoe National Forest.

Recreation

Fishing for rainbow and brown trout in the Little Truckee River is a popular activity enjoyed by visitors to the area. The surrounding area offers hiking and biking trails.

Facilities

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

Natural Features

The campground is situated on the banks of the Little Truckee River, at an elevation of 6,200 feet. A forest of lodgepole pine, aspen and juniper trees covers the area, offering partial shade. A few sites overlook the river.

Nearby Attractions

The town of Truckee, 10 minutes south, offers all the amenities of a year-round recreational mountain town including top notch restaraunts, resorts, hotels, grocery stores, gas stations, shopping, and historic sites. Lake Tahoe is located an additional 30 minutes south and offers excellent boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking and scenic driving opportunities as well as dining, shopping and lodging options. Stampede Reservoir and recreation area is a 35-minute drive southeast of the campground. Sardine Lakes, within beautiful Lakes Basin, is a 40-minute drive northwest, via the Golden Chain/Highway 49. Other recreational opportunities include Donner Camp Interpretive Trail, Donner Memorial State Park, Overland Emigrant Commemorative Trial, 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
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • hunting
  • scenic drive
  • water access

The land around Upper Little Truckee

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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