Welcome to the Tahoe!

The Tahoe National Forest is renowned for its rugged beauty, historic sites and exceptional year-round recreation opportunities.

Welcome to the Tahoe National Forest - where there are many things to see and do! Tahoe National Forest is located in the northern Sierra Nevada (east of Sacramento) and extends from the foothills across the Sierra crest to the California state line. Tahoe National Forest includes more than 850,000 acres of public land intermixed with 350,000 acres of private land in a checker board pattern.

National Forest is public land, where everyone is welcome to enjoy year-round outdoor fun.

During the winter months at the Tahoe National Forest, the forest is a playground for those who wish to enjoy winter fun. The Tahoe National Forest is visited by people from all over the world and welcomes Winter Sports Fans! Winter is a great time to explore the Sierra Nevada. Many miles of roads and trails on the forest offer excellent cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Tahoe National Forest and Lakes Basin Winter Recreational Guides are available at the Tahoe National Forest Headquarters and district offices. Several commercial downhill ski resorts are operated with special use permits on National Forest land. Snowplay and sledding can be enjoyed near many of the major highways.

Fire danger reminders

As you enjoy camping on your national forest, always practice fire safety. Campfire permits are always required outside of developed campsites. Call your local U.S. Forest Service local district office to check for any restrictions where you plan to recreate. 

Your Public Lands

The Tahoe National Forest is public land, where everyone is welcome to enjoy year-round outdoor fun. 

If you love to hike, mountain bike or horseback ride, there are approximately 625 miles of non-motorized trails on Tahoe National Forest. If you enjoy seeing the forest from a vehicle, there are close to 500 miles of motorized trails. The Tahoe National Forest offers free Motor Vehicle Use Road maps that show motorized routes you can enjoy within the forest. The maps are the official record of the approved travel plan for the Tahoe National Forest.

If fishing is your passion, enjoy the many lakes and streams on the Tahoe National Forest. There are 23 species of fish on the Tahoe National Forest, fifteen of which are considered game fish. The cold water game species contain many trout species, including rainbow, brown, brook, golden, and lake trout. The Tahoe National Forest has become a favorite recreation area for fishing and receives more anglers every year than any other National Forest in the state of California.

Kayaking in the Tahoe National Forest has become a popular pastime. The North Fork of the American River is a free flowing Wild River with no dams. Snow melt from the Western slope of the Sierra Nevada, including the back side of the Sugar Bowl and Olympic Valley Ski areas contribute to the portion of the river designated as a Wild & Scenic River. Besides being one of the most important ecosystems on the planet, rivers in the Tahoe National Forest are fascinating. People travel miles to experience the “rush” of a free-flowing river. “There’s just something about the rush of clean free-flowing water that gives people a feeling of mental clarity which adds value to our lives,” says Deputy Forest Supervisor, Teresa Benson at the Tahoe National Forest.  Rivers are life. With the increase in popularity of Kayaking, the Wild & Scenic portion of the American River is also an exhilarating goal.

In addition to providing the many recreation opportunities and serving the public by providing information at our office, the Tahoe National Forest is responsible for managing the land for current and future generations and for a variety of multiple uses. In order to fulfill this mission, we have both permanent and seasonal employees that work across many disciplines including wildlife, range, fire prevention, timber management and fire suppression. U.S. Forest Service will be working hard to improve the resources in Tahoe National Forest throughout the summer.

We welcome your ideas, comments and questions. We have an awesome collection of gift items for purchase as well as maps, fuelwood permits and mineral permits at all Forest Service District Offices. We hope that you get outside and enjoy your public lands! “May the forest be with you!”