The outdoor vacation outlook for Fourth of July Weekend provides a preview for the rest of summer: The best opportunities are at off-the grid, first-come-first-serve campsites and at lakes in remote national forests.
“I would say, the more remote, hard-to-get places are going to be your best bet,” said Eli Ilano, forest supervisor for Tahoe National Forest and the coordinator for the U.S. National Forest’s public information office for the region’s COVID Emergency Team.
Most well-known campgrounds at state and national parks and in national forests, have been booked online by now — or they have yet to reopen from shelter-in-place mandates.
Tahoe National Forest, which covers a region north of Truckee and Interstate 80, including campgrounds at Stampede, Boca, Prosser, Jackson Meadow, French Meadows reservoirs, and along the upper Yuba River, provides a picture of what to expect across the state, Ilano said.
“On the Tahoe National Forest, around 90% of our campsites are in the reservations system and about 10% are available for walkup,” Ilano said. “Of the 90% in the reservations system, they are 100% booked for the weekend, and in some cases, for the next few weeks.”
The Forest Service manages roughly 800 campgrounds at lakes, streams and wilderness trailheads at 19 national forests that span about 20 million acres in California. Of these, about 250 are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, according to my research. In addition, 190 small, remote lakes that don’t have boat ramps are accessible by SUV, often with campsites in the vicinity.
“That’s where I’d go,” Ilano said. “Get away from the crowds.”
There are five major regions in national forests across Northern California where vast areas are sprinkled with dozens of small lakes, many with first-come, first-serve campgrounds.
Ilano urged vacationers to clean up their trash, make sure campfires are wet, cold and dead when left behind, and to keep their distance from others and wear a mask when they cannot. “It really takes a concerted effort to retrain yourself,” Ilano said.
Out of regional headquarters, the Forest Service issued new orders last week that bans campfires outside of rings at designated campsites. For the weekend, the service called for “all hands on deck” to enforce regulations.
“About 80% to 90% of people are doing the right thing,” Ilano said. “We have these little yellow pieces of paper when they just won’t listen.”
Here are five regions with first-come, first-serve campgrounds at small lakes in national forest, from the central Sierra north to the Shasta Cascade. The best advice, Ilano said, is to claim your spot by Thursday or face the weekend crowds:
Carson Pass lakes, Eldorado National Forest
This region is also called the “Highway 88 Corridor,” where in the span of 30 miles, you arrive at a series of gorgeous lakes and trailheads. Lakes with campgrounds include Bear River Reservoir, Silver, Kirkwood, Caples and Woods lakes. Elevations range from 5,900 feet at Bear River Reservoir to Woods Lake at 8,200 feet. Trailheads with short hikes to lakes with campsites include to Shealor, Margaret, Winnemucca, Fourth of July and Round Top lakes. Collectively, there are 15 drive-to campgrounds, and of these, all Forest Service campgrounds will be open except for at Woods Lake (likely to open in early July).
Eldorado National Forest, Amador Ranger District, 209-259-3774 (during pandemic), office at 209-295-4251, www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado.
Crystal Basin, Eldorado National Forest
From U.S. 50, up the hill from Placerville, a paved road leads 29 miles into national forest and past an array of gorgeous lakes. The biggest is Union Valley. The best for fishing is Ice House. The best for kayaking and small boats are Loon, Pleasant, Wrights and Gerle Creek Reservoir. Collectively, there are 12 campgrounds with about 150 sites available, first-come, first-serves. Dozens of others in the vicinity are accessible by trail, backpack-style. The Crystal Range is located west of the Tahoe rim (and Desolatio Wilderness), named for how the ice in winter looks like crystal against the granite. Elevations at lakes range from 5,500 feet at Ice House to 6,378 feet at Loon Lake.
Eldorado National Forest, Pacific Ranger District, 916-500-4712 (during pandemic), office at 530-644-2349, www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado
Bowman Lakes Recreation Area, Tahoe National Forest
This is a hiker’s paradise, with the primary access road off of Highway 20 near Emigrant Gap (on I-80), which delivers visitors to 18,000 acres of wildlands and dozens of lakes with trail camps. Trailhead parking and campsites can fill, especially at the popular launch point out of Carr and Feely lakes. Other drive-in sites are at Rucker, Lindsey Lake, Bowman Lake, Jackson Creek, Canyon Creek, Grouse Ridge, and dispersed, primitive boat-in sites at Fuller Lake. The best backpack sites are at Milk Lake and Glacier Lake, with many others available. My favorite is Faucherie Lake (no drive-to campground), where there is a boat-in campsite are the far side of the lake, and a wilderness trailhead.
Tahoe National Forest, Nevada City Ranger District, 530-265-4531, www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe.
Lakes Basin Recreation Area, Plumas National Forest
The Gold Lake Highway spans 17 miles from Bassetts to Graeagle linkes Plumas and Tahoe national forests and access to dozens of lakes, five lodges with cabins, and nine campgrounds, with another five campgrounds in nearby range. While reservations are full at several campgrounds, little Goose, Snag and Haven lakes have secluded sites, first-come, first-served. Lower Sardine Lake and Salmon Lake are two of the prettiest drive-to lakes to paddle around in a kayak or SUP in the Sierra.
Tahoe National Forest, Yuba River Ranger District, 530-362-8259, www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe; Plumas National Forest, Beckwourth Ranger District, 530-836-2575, www.fs.usda.gov/plumas.
Trinity-Divide, Shasta-Trinity National Forest
To do it right here, you need a 4-wheel-drive, and bring your camping gear and a kayak or canoe. The “Trinity-Divide” refers to national forest and a dividing ridge, where all rivers flow west to the Trinity on one side, and to the east to the Sacramento River on the other. This expanse is filled with backroads that lead to 40 lakes, many which require short hikes. The well-known ones, Castle (camp is nearby, not at the lake), Gumboot and Mumbo often fill with campers on summer weekends. Others not so much. Others require 4-wheel-drive or high-clearance and short walks, including to Toad, Tamarack, Lily Pad, Picayune and many others, and excellent short backpack trips to Deadfall, Porcupine or Bull.
Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Mount Shasta District, 530-926-4511, www.fs.usda.gov/stnf.
Tom Stienstra is The Chronicle’s outdoor writer. He is the author of the book Moon California Camping. Email: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @StienstraTom.
Other Fourth of July options
Bay Area getaways: For day trips, more than 300 recreation destinations available. See The Chronicle’s interactive Outdoor Guide at: https://projects.sfchronicle.com/guides/outdoors-guide/
Major recreation lakes: Pardee (99% full), Whiskeytown (99), Tulloch (98), Cherry (97), Union Valley (97), Loon (96), Lewiston (96), Donner (94), Englebright (94), Bullards Bar (88), Beardsley (85), Don Pedro (84), Berryessa (82), Independence (82), Folsom (74), New Melones (72), Trinity Lake (72), Shasta Lake (70), Camanche (69), Stampede (68), Ice House (68), Oroville (62), Sonoma (54).
State Parks, first-come first-serve: Gold Country: Auburn State Recreation Area at Lake Clementine, Mineral Bar, Ruck-a-Chucky; Shasta Cascade: Ahjumawi Lava Springs, boat-in access from Rat Farm Boat Launch near McArthur to Big Lake and primitive sites.
--Tom Stienstra
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