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Cottonwood Creek
FSU.S. Forest Service — SIERRAVILLE · California · Tahoe National Forest
| Agency | FSU.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Tahoe National Forest |
| Location | SIERRAVILLE · California · Tahoe National Forest · 39.54944, -120.31639 · Map |
| Sites | 48 public sites counted from the federal listing — 48 standard nonelectric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 0 of 48 sites Water hookups at 0 of 48 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 48 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 48 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 45 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 47 sites · 30 ft: 25 sites · 35 ft: 24 sites · 40 ft: 13 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 2:00 PM · Out 12:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 48 sites, as reported |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | 530-994-3401 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-10-20.
From the official listing
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.
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. 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. 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. Contact Info Between 05/21/2027 and 09/25/2027 this location is staffed. Please call (530) 606-3978 to speak with local staff. From 09/27/2026 to 05/20/2027 this location is unstaffed. Please call (877) 444-6777 for general information.
Directions, from the listing
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.
Nearest federal campgrounds
0 mi straight-line · SIERRAVILLE CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceUpper Little Truckee
6 mi straight-line · SIERRAVILLE CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceLower Little Truckee
6 mi straight-line · SIERRAVILLE CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceSardine Peak Lookout
7 mi straight-line · Sierraville CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceSagehen Creek Campground
9 mi straight-line · California
Trip Card — Cottonwood Creek
SIERRAVILLE · California · Tahoe National Forest
| Agency | FS · U.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Location | SIERRAVILLE · California · Tahoe National Forest |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Up to 45 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 48 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232871 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.