North Lake Tahoe Offers Dozens of Campgrounds

One of the best ways to enjoy North Lake Tahoe is to pitch a tent in
a lakeside or wooded campground, counting stars and falling asleep under the night sky.

Lakeside campground options in North Lake Tahoe include D.L. Bliss State Park, adjacent to Emerald Bay and boasting one of the West Shore’s finest beaches; Sugar Pine Point State Park, home of the historical Ehrman Mansion and offering wireless Internet services; Tahoe State Recreation Area, conveniently located within walking distance of Tahoe City; William Kent, just south of Tahoe City with a large sandy beach; Lake Forest, offering a boat ramp; and Sandy Beach near North Tahoe Regional Park in Tahoe Vista. Kaspian Campground, directly across the street from the lake on the West Shore, leads into Blackwood Canyon, an extremely popular location for biking and hiking.

There’s also Meeks Bay Resort and Marina, which offers private cabins in addition to campsites and activities, not to be confused with Meeks Bay Campground, run by the U.S. Forest Service, with easy access to hiking in Desolation Wilderness. Not far from Meeks Bay is the Emerald Bay Campground, which lets campers sleep within steps of the historic Vikingsholm mansion and gives first-class views of the renowned Fannette Island. Along the Truckee River, between Tahoe City and Truckee, there’s Granite Flat, Silver Creek and Goose Meadows.

Trekking travelers will find endless options in Desolation Wilderness
with more than 63,000 acres of alpine forest, granite peaks and
glacially formed valleys and secluded lakes. The Pacific Crest Trail
runs through the area, which is also home to some of the region’s
tallest peaks, including Pyramid Peak. With no motorized vehicles
allowed, campers will enjoy the true peace of outdoors. There is a
fee and permits must be picked up in person at one of the Lake Tahoe Basin or Pacific Ranger Eldorado National Forest stations. In North Lake Tahoe, Desolation Wilderness is best accessed in Meeks Bay.

For those looking for something a little less rugged with a roof over
their head, the Spooner Lake Cross Country Ski Area on the East Shore offers two unique log cabins with some amenities, including a heating stove, kitchen utensils and futon. The hand-hewn, Scandinavian-style cabins are only a short hike from the parking area, but still well out of view of the trails.

There are also five Sierra Club huts nestled in the hills above North
Lake Tahoe, all within a day’s hike of each other and trailheads.
Sparse amenities vary with each hut, which are popular retreats for
ambitious (and experienced) skiers and snowshoers in the winter.
Reservations are required.

Boating and kayaking campers will find guidance in the Lake Tahoe
Water Trail, which allows paddlers to plan a custom trip around the
72-mile shoreline. The trail map includes information about access
points, resting places, campgrounds, points of interest and related
facilities.

North Lake Tahoe is a 45-minute drive from the Reno Tahoe
International Airport, two hours from Sacramento International
Airport and just over three hours from San Francisco International
Airport. For lodging reservations, recreation and event details, call
North Lake Tahoe at 1-877-949-3296 or visit www.GoTahoeNorth.com.