Connectivity
No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Cottonwood Creek
Tahoe National Forest, California
About this campground
Cottonwood Creek Campground is located on Highway 89, four miles south of Sierraville.
The campground sits along Cottonwood Creek, in a stand of Jeffrey pine, and red and white fir trees.
Cottonwood Creek Botanical Trail and Overlook Trail are both short, foot trails that begin in the campground.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 39.549444° N
- Longitude
- 120.316389° 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-inCommunity report
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sites
- Standard campsites
- Group sitesCommunity report
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Drinking water
- Picnic table
- FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
- Trash serviceVerify whether the assigned site is pack-in/pack-out
- Alcohol allowedCommunity report
- Firewood availableCommunity report
- Phone 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
- Big rig friendlyPublished vehicle length up to 45 ft
- Back-in sitesCommunity report
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
Cottonwood Creek Campground is located on Highway 89, four miles south of Sierraville. 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.
Facilities
The campground offers several single-family campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided.
Recreation
Cottonwood Creek Botanical Trail and Overlook Trail are both short, foot trails that begin in the campground. The surrounding area offers additional trails and fishing opportunities.
Natural Features
The campground sits along Cottonwood Creek, in a stand of Jeffrey pine, and red and white fir trees. The forest provides shade and privacy between sites, but noise from the highway can be heard within the campground.
Nearby Attractions
Lake Tahoe is located about 40 minutes from the campground. Scenic Tahoe offers excellent boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking and scenic driving opportunities.
Sardine Lakes, within the beautiful Lakes Basin, is a 35-minute drive northwest of the campground, 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
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hunting
- Hiking
- Camping
- Biking
Amenities and facility features
- Vault or pit toilets
- Potable water
- Picnic tables
- Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame
- Trash serviceVerify whether the assigned site is pack-in/pack-out
- Drinking Water
- Self Pay Station
- Vault Toilets
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Standard Non-Electric
48 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Fifth Wheel, Pickup Camper, Pop Up, RV, Small Tent, Tent, Trailer, Vehicle
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 45 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 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
- 2 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Food storage
- The current official campground record does not publish a campground-specific food-storage rule. Check posted rules before leaving food, trash, toiletries, or scented items unattended.
- Fire and stove use
- Cottonwood Creek's official facility record states: The campground offers several 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 | $20 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 27, 2026 – Oct 11, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $20 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 21, 2027 – Sep 25, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $20 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 19, 2028 – Sep 23, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $20 | — | — |
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.
- Off-road vehicle use is prohibited within 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 if not paid online.
- Campsite check-out time is 12:00pm. Check-in time is 2:00pm.
- 6 people and 2 dogs maximum per single site. Dogs shall always be kept on leash no longer than six feet or otherwise confined. Violation notices WILL be issued for non-compliance.
Getting there & contact
Official directions
From Truckee, travel north on Highway 80 to Highway 89 approximately 20 miles to the campground. From Sierraville, travel approximately 5 miles south on Hwy 89, the campground will be on the left side of the highway.
Facility contact
530-994-3401