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Recreation

In the nation’s top 20 for most visited national forest, the Tahoe provides outdoor activities year-round. During spring, summer and fall, the forest offers camping and boating sites, equestrian, mountain biking, hiking, and OHV trails, and is popular for hunting, fishing or general sightseeing. In the winter months, the forest’s high Sierra terrain accommodates many Nordic and alpine skiers and snowboarders along with snowmobile or snow play enthusiasts. 

The Tahoe National Forest boasts hundreds of miles of trail for riding or hiking, and hundreds of miles of off-highway vehicle trails. In addition, portions of the trail system are signed and marked for Nordic skiing and snowmobiles. 

Camping opportunities in a variety of settings are abundant on the forest including wilderness camping with no constructed facilities or camping in one of the many designated campgrounds with assorted facilities. Most of the campgrounds are reservation based, but many have first come, first served sites available. 

Day use areas offer picnic and boating opportunities, and in some locations, interpretive and nature trails or historical sites. 

You can visit our FAQs for answers to many common visitor questions. 

Showing: 1 - 10 of 193 results

Ahart Campground

Site Open
Ahart Campground is located on the Middle American River and is near French Meadows Reservoir. Campground is close in proximity to Granite Chief Wilderness. It is surrounded by a coniferous forest.

Alpha Omega Observation Site

Rest area off of HWY 20 with sweeping views of historic diggins and hydraulic mining remnants along the Sierra Nevada Mountains. There is a short interpretive trail with an observation deck.

American Hill OSV Trail

This OSV trail is accessed via the Foresthill Divide OSV route, four miles from the staging area at China Wall.9.8 miles 

American River Trail

Hiking Biking Horse Riding and Camping
The American River trail is 7.36 miles long. It follows the North Fork American River between Sailor Flat Trail and Mumford Bar Trail. The trail is open to hiking, biking, and equestrian use. No…

Baltimore Lake

Hiking Hunting, Fishing and Shooting
Baltimore Lake lies in a heavily timbered basin within the Grouse Ridge Non-Motorized Area. This lake supports a brook trout fishery through the planting of 1,500 fingerlings every other year. There…

Barker Pass Pacific Crest Trailhead

Site Open
Hiking Picnicking
This trailhead provides access to the Pacific Crest Trail. Heading north, the trail enters Granite Chief Wilderness and intersects the Western States Trail. Heading south, the trail enters Desolation…

Beacroft Trail

Hiking
The Beacroft trail is 2.36 miles long. It begins at Forest Road 88-036 off of Foresthill Divide and ends at the American River Trail. This is a very steep and difficult trail, which involves…

Bear Valley Campground

Site Open
Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) Biking
Bear Valley Campground is a remote, small campground with 10 campsites suitable for tents or RV's.  It is popular with OHV enthusiasts wanting to use the nearby Bear Valley OHV area. The campground…