USDA Forest Service · California
Sardine Peak Lookout
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Season
- July 3 to October 5
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 8,081 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · T-Mobile good · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- SARDINE PK LO (NFSR 0650-075-10) · native material · high clearance vehicles
- Lake
- Tahoe National Forest
- Nearest town
- Sierraville
- Address
- SIERRAVILLE RANGER DISTRICT, Sierraville, CA, 96126
- Phone
- (530) 994-3401
- Activities
- Archeological Sites, Camping
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32° | 17° | -1° | 48° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 32° | 17° | 0° | 47° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 34° | 19° | 1° | 62° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 41° | 22° | 2° | 55° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 55° | 32° | 16° | 68° | 10 of 11 |
| June | 67° | 40° | 25° | 84° | 5 of 11 |
| July | 79° | 49° | 38° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 76° | 50° | 41° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 67° | 43° | 33° | 78° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 56° | 33° | 21° | 69° | 7 of 10 |
| November | 41° | 25° | 5° | 61° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 18° | 3° | 51° | 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
- Bear Valley Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- Upper Little Truckee · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 22 sites
- Lower Little Truckee · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 15 sites
- Emigrant Group · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 6 sites
- Logger Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 205 sites
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.