Sardine Peak Lookout

Lake Tahoe & Sierra

SARDINE PEAK LOOKOUT in Lake Tahoe & Sierra — photo 4

Sardine Peak Lookout

Lake Tahoe & Sierra

About this campsite

Overview

Sardine Peak is a forest fire lookout tower that was constructed in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It is a three story enclosed tower with external stairs. Presently the top room or observation cab is the only rentable space. Sardine sits at an elevation of 8,138 feet in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains of Tahoe National Forest, approximately 20 miles from Truckee, California. The lookout does not have electricity, water or garbage service. It does have a propane tank to operate propane-powered appliances.

Recreation

Hiking, mountain biking and off road vehicle use are popular around this lookout. Stampede and Boca Reservoirs are nearby for fishing, boating and swimming.

Facilities

The interior of the cab is 14 feet long and 14 feet wide and contains two twin beds, a dry sink, a table and four chairs, two propane lights, a propane cast iron heat stove and a propane stove/oven for cooking. A limited assortment of cooking utensils, pots and pans are provided. There is an accessible vault toilet, a picnic table and fire ring are located outside below the lookout. Firewood is not provided. Visitors need to bring their own bedding, toilet paper and other personal items.

Natural Features

The lookout tower sits on a mountain top with spectacular views of Stampede Reservoir, Boca Reservoir, Sardine Valley, Independence Lake, the top of the Sierra Buttes and western Nevada.

Nearby Attractions

Kyburz Flat Interpretive Area, The Boca Townsite Interpretive Area, and a mountain bike loop within Sardine Valley are all nearby.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (530) 430-8912.

Location

SARDINE PEAK LOOKOUT•CA

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Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

FRI☁️

21° / 9°

—

SAT☁️

23° / 12°

💧 3%

SUN☁️

25° / 9°

—

TODAY🌦️

22° / 8°

💧 3%

TUE☁️

24° / 8°

💧 1%

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UPPER LITTLE TRUCKEE

Overview Upper Little Truckee Campground is located on Highway 89, about 12 miles north of Truckee. 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. Recreation Fishing for rainbow and brown trout in the Little Truckee River is a popular activity enjoyed by visitors to the area. The surrounding area offers hiking and biking trails. Facilities The campground offers single-family campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Natural Features The campground is situated on the banks of the Little Truckee River, at an elevation of 6,200 feet. A forest of lodgepole pine, aspen and juniper trees covers the area, offering partial shade. A few sites overlook the river. Contact Info This location has limited staffing. Please call (530) 606-3978 for general information. Nearby Attractions The town of Truckee, 10 minutes south, offers all the amenities of a year-round recreational mountain town including top notch restaraunts, resorts, hotels, grocery stores, gas stations, shopping, and historic sites. Lake Tahoe is located an additional 30 minutes south and offers excellent boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking and scenic driving opportunities as well as dining, shopping and lodging options. Stampede Reservoir and recreation area is a 35-minute drive southeast of the campground. Sardine Lakes, within beautiful Lakes Basin, is a 40-minute drive northwest, via the Golden Chain/Highway 49. Other recreational opportunities include Donner Camp Interpretive Trail, Donner Memorial State Park, Overland Emigrant Commemorative Trial, and numerous hiking, mountain biking, and OHV trails.

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LOWER LITTLE TRUCKEE

Overview Lower Little Truckee Campground is located along the Little Truckee River on Highway 89, about 11 miles north of Truckee. Its convenient 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. Recreation Fishing for rainbow and brown trout in the Little Truckee River is a popular activity enjoyed by visitors to the area. The surrounding area offers hiking and biking trails. Facilities The campground offers single-family campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Natural Features The campground is situated on the banks of the Little Truckee River, at an elevation of 6,100 feet. A forest of lodgepole pine, aspen and juniper trees covers the area, offering partial shade. A few sites overlook the river. Nearby Attractions The Town of Truckee, 10 minutes south, offers all the amenities of a year round recreational mountain town with Interstate highway connectivitiy including top notch restaraunts, resorts, and hotels, grocery stores, gas stations, shopping, and historic sites. Lake Tahoe is located 30 minutes away and offers excellent boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking and scenic driving opportunities as well as dining, shopping and lodging options. Stampede Reservoir and recreation area is a 35-minute drive southeast of the campground. Sardine Lakes, within beautiful Lakes Basin, is a 40-minute drive northwest, via the Golden Chain/Highway 49. Other recreational opportunities include Donner Camp Interpretive Trail, Overland Emigrant Commemorative Trial, Prosser Pits OHV area, and numerous hiking, mountain biking, and OHV trails. Contact Info This location has limited staffing. Please call (530) 606-3978 for general information.

9.9 km away

EMIGRANT GROUP

Overview Emigrant Group Campground is located alongside the beautiful Stampede Reservoir. The campground is located approximately 30 minutes from the town of Truckee, Calif. Visitors enjoy the area for its boating, fishing and abundant hiking and off-road trails. This facility is operated and maintained by the Tahoe National Forest. Recreation Boating, water skiing, swimming and fishing are popular activities on the reservoir. Anglers will find rainbow and brown trout and kokanee salmon. A boat ramp is located a half-mile away. Many miles of hiking and off-road vehicle trails crisscross through the surrounding area. The nearby Overland Emigrant Commemorative Trail is open to hiking and mountain biking. Facilities The campground offers four group sites, the largest of which are called the Woodsman and Prospector sites. They each can accommodate up to 50 people. The Rancher and Trapper sites can accommodate up to 25 people. Each group site has a central cooking and picnic area, equipped with a large campfire ring. Approximately six tables and four grills are provided at each site as well. Horseshoe pits are located at the Woodsman site. Natural Features The campground is situated on the south side of Stampede Reservoir, which is located on the Little Truckee River, approximately eight miles above the confluence of the Little Truckee and Truckee Rivers. A forest of ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine and fir trees covers the area providing ample shade. Nearby Attractions Boca Reservoir is 10 minutes south of the campground, offering additional boating, water skiing, swimming and fishing opportunities. Truckee, 10 minutes south, offers all the amenities of a year round recreational mountain town including interstate highway connectivity, top notch restaurants, resorts and hotels, grocery stores, gas stations, shopping, and historic sites. Lake Tahoe is located 45 minutes south and offers excellent boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking and scenic driving opportunities, as well as dining, shopping and lodging options. Other recreational opportunities include Boca Townsite Interpretive Trail, Donner Camp Interpretive Trail, Overland Emigrant Commemorative Trial, Prosser Pits OHV area, and numerous hiking, mountain biking, and OHV trails.

10.1 km away

LOGGER CAMPGROUND

Overview Logger Campground sits on beautiful Stampede Reservoir on the Tahoe National Forest, 30 minutes from Truckee, Calif. Visitors enjoy the area for its boating, fishing and abundant hiking and off-road trails. This facility is operated and maintained by Lake Tahoe Hospitality LLC for the Tahoe National Forest. Recreation Boating, water skiing, swimming and fishing are popular activities on the reservoir. Anglers will find rainbow and brown trout and kokanee salmon. A boat ramp is located on-site. Many miles of hiking and off-road vehicle trails crisscross the surrounding area. The nearby Commemorative Emigrant Trail is open to hiking and mountain biking. Facilities This large campground offers over 200 single, double, and triple family campsites. Campsites are arranged in six loops: Cross Cut (1-60), Iron Ox (61-115), Steam Donkey (116-161), Whistle Punk (162-187), Ox Bow (188-209), and Double Bit (210-252). Picnic tables and campfire rings with grills are provided, along with vault toilets and drinking water. A boat ramp and boat trailer parking is located less than a mile away. An amphitheater is located within the campground and is accessed by car or the shoreline hiking trail. The dump station is currently closed until repairs can be made and we sincerely apologize for this inconvenience. Natural Features The campground is situated on the south side of Stampede Reservoir, which is located on the Little Truckee River, approximately eight miles above the confluence of the Little Truckee and Truckee Rivers. A forest of ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine and fir trees covers the area. Sagebrush dots the forest floor. Contact Info This location has limited staffing. Please call (530) 606-3978 for general information. Nearby Attractions Boca Reservoir is 10 minutes south of the campground, offering additional boating, water skiing, swimming and fishing opportunities. Truckee, 30 minutes south, offers all the amenities of a year round recreational mountain town including Interstate highway connectivitiy, top notch restaraunts, resorts and hotels, grocery stores, gas stations, shopping, and historic sites. Lake Tahoe is located about an hour south and offers excellent boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking and scenic driving opportunities, as well as dining, shopping and lodging options. Other recreational opportunities include Boca Townsite Interpretive Trail, Donner Camp Interpretive Trail, Overland Emigrant Commemorative Trail, Prosser Reservoir Recreation Area, Prosser Pits OHV area, and numerous hiking, mountain biking, and OHV trails.