Connectivity
No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Cold Creek
Tahoe National Forest, California
About this campground
Cold Creek Campground is located on Highway 89, 4.5 miles south of Sierraville, California.
Jeffrey pine and white fir trees cover half the campground, while the other half is situated closer to the creek among cottonwoods, willow and aspen trees.
Cottonwood Creek Botanical Trail and Overlook Trail both begin at nearby Cottonwood Creek Campground.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 39.542778° N
- Longitude
- 120.314722° W
Know before you arrive
Access, sites & campground features
Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.
Access
- Drive-in
- Walk-inPublished approach distance: 6 ft
- Hike-in
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sites
- Standard campsites
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Picnic table
- FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
- Alcohol allowedCommunity report
- Drinking waterCommunity report
- Firewood availableCommunity report
- Trash serviceCommunity report
- Pets allowedDogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
- Reservable
For vehicles
No vehicle features are separately published.
Official campground guide
Plan with the full campground details
Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.
Overview
Cold Creek Campground is located on Highway 89, 4.5 miles south of Sierraville, California. The facility location makes Cold Creek a great base camp for a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, hunting, hiking and biking. This is a small campground recommended for tent camping and small campers. Large RVs will not be able to make the turnaround exit at this facility. There are a couple of hike-in sites within this campground that share a small parking area toward the back of this facility. This facility is operated and maintained by Lake Tahoe Hospitality LLC for the Tahoe National Forest.
Facilities
The campground offers single-family campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets are provided.
Recreation
Cold Creek offers rainbow trout fishing and swimming. Cottonwood Creek Botanical Trail and Overlook Trail both begin at nearby Cottonwood Creek Campground.
Natural Features
The campground lies in a meadow between Cold Creek and Highway 89. Jeffrey pine and white fir trees cover half the campground, while the other half is situated closer to the creek among cottonwoods, willow and aspen trees.
Nearby Attractions
Lake Tahoe is conveniently close, only 35 minutes away. Tahoe offers excellent boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking and scenic driving opportunities.
Sardine Lakes, and the beautiful Lakes Basin is a 35-minute drive northwest via the Golden Chain/Highway 49. Stampede Reservoir is a 45-minute drive southeast.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Swimming SiteSwimming
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Camping
Amenities and facility features
- Vault or pit toilets
- Picnic tables
- Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame
- Creek Access
- Vault Toilets
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Standard Non-Electric
13 sites- Reservation type
- Non Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Car, Caravan/Camper Van, Large Tent Over 9x12`, Pickup Camper, Pop Up, RV, Small Tent, Tent, Vehicle
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 6
- Maximum vehicle length
- 30 ft
- Check-in
- 02:00 PM, 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Walk To
3 sites- Equipment
- Small Tent, Tent
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 1
- Maximum vehicle length
- 20 ft
- Check-in
- 02:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Site rules, inventory & rates
Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.
Site rules
- Has Taxes
- 1
- Max Concurrent Stay
- 3 campsite(s) held
- Maximum stay
- 14 consecutive nights
- Max Stay
- 14 nights
- Minimum stay
- 1 consecutive nights
- Holiday-weekend minimum
- 0 days
- Weekend minimum
- 0 days
- Reservation cutoff
- 4 days before arrival
- Maximum published occupancy
- 6 people per site
- Maximum published vehicles
- 6 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 02:00 PM, 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Food storage
- Cold Creek's official facility record checked 2026-10-16 does not publish a food-storage method; confirm the posted rule with Tahoe National Forest.
- Fire and stove use
- Cold Creek's official facility record states: The campground offers single-family campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring.
- Pets
- Dogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
Inventory window
Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.
- Currently bookable through
- Oct 11, 2026
- Next release
- Nov 21, 2026, 7:00 AM PST
- Next book-through date
- May 21, 2027
- Group sites bookable through
- Sep 25, 2027
Published seasons & rates
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2026 – Sep 26, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $16 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2026 – Sep 26, 2026 | Walk To | $16 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 27, 2026 – Oct 11, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $16 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 27, 2026 – Oct 11, 2026 | Walk To | $16 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 21, 2027 – Sep 25, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $16 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 21, 2027 – Sep 25, 2027 | Walk To | $16 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 19, 2028 – Sep 23, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $16 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 19, 2028 – Sep 23, 2028 | Walk To | $16 | — | — |
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- Bears frequent the area; all food should be kept in approved containers.
- No water available; bring your own supply or fill up at Cottonwood Creek Campground
- No off-road vehicle use in the campground
- Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed. For current fire conditions or weather closures contact the Sierraville Ranger District (530) 994-3401 (voice), (530) 994-3521 (TDD).
- Click here for more information on the Tahoe National Forest
- Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.
- One vehicle included with reservation. Additional vehicle fee cost is $10/each per night for all vehicles. All operable, highway legal vehicles must pay extra vehicle fee, excluding the single vehicle included with the reservation. Please pay extra vehicle fee at the self-serve fee tube located near campground entrance.
- Modifications for this campground must be made PRIOR to your reservation start date. Customers and contact center agents cannot modify reservations on or after the check-in date.
Getting there & contact
Official directions
From Truckee, California, take Highway 80 north to Highway 89 approximately 20 miles. The campground is on the left side of the highway. From Sierraville, head south on Highway 89 approximately 5 miles, the campground will be on the right side of the highway.
Facility contact
(530) 994-3401