USDA Forest Service · California
Cottonwood Creek
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 48
- Hookups
- 48 no hookups
- Season
- May 22 to October 11
- Max RV length
- 45 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 5,689 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (NFSR 0089-060) · asphalt · high degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Tahoe National Forest
- Nearest town
- SIERRAVILLE
- Address
- SIERRAVILLE RANGER DISTRICT, SIERRAVILLE, CA, 96126
- Phone
- 530-994-3401
- Activities
- Biking, Camping, Hiking, Hunting, Wildlife Viewing
48 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
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.
Contact Info
This location has limited staffing. Please call (530) 606-3978 for general information.
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41° | 26° | 7° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 41° | 26° | 10° | 57° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 43° | 28° | 10° | 70° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 50° | 30° | 11° | 63° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 63° | 40° | 26° | 75° | 3 of 11 |
| June | 74° | 48° | 34° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 86° | 57° | 46° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 84° | 59° | 50° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 75° | 52° | 42° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 66° | 41° | 30° | 79° | 3 of 10 |
| November | 51° | 34° | 14° | 70° | 8 of 10 |
| December | 42° | 27° | 12° | 60° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Cold Creek · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi · 13 sites
- Bear Valley Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Lake Of The Woods Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
- Upper Little Truckee · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 22 sites
- Lower Little Truckee · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 15 sites
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-07-21. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.