Cottonwood Creek
Tahoe National Forest — lakeside, hiking
Location: SIERRAVILLE, CA, CA
Price: From $20 per night
Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (83 reviews)
Season: May through October
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.The campground offers several single-family campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cottonwood-creek to be notified when sites open up.
Federal campground in Tahoe National Forest offering excellent base camp for fishing, hunting, hiking, and biking with well-maintained facilities and family-oriented atmosphere.
Wildlife alert: American Wolverine, Gray Wolf, Mountain Garter Snake, and various bird species including Sage Thrasher and Common Nighthawk documented in surrounding area.
Insider tips for Cottonwood Creek: Book early — this is a popular federal campground that fills quickly. Request larger sites or book two adjacent sites if camping with groups, as some sites are small. Bring a self-contained RV as there are no hookups available.
Skip Cottonwood Creek if: You need RV hookups — facility has no hookups.. You're visiting outside May through October — campground is seasonally closed.. You prefer spacious individual campsites — some sites are noted as small..
Best time to visit Cottonwood Creek: May through October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only..
Nearby campgrounds: Cold Creek (SIERRAVILLE, CA), Upper Little Truckee (SIERRAVILLE, CA), Sardine Peak Lookout (Sierraville, CA), Yuba Pass Campground (Nevada City, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Cottonwood Creek
Cell signal at Cottonwood Creek (SIERRAVILLE, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
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.The campground offers several single-family campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a popular federal campground that fills quickly.
Request larger sites or book two adjacent sites if camping with groups, as some sites are small.
Bring a self-contained RV as there are no hookups available.
Campground operates seasonally during these months only.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
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.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Tahoe National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Tahoe National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Cottonwood Creek cost per night?+
What season is Cottonwood Creek open?+
Does Cottonwood Creek have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Cottonwood Creek?+
How do I make reservations at Cottonwood Creek?+
What is the cell service like at Cottonwood Creek?+
What season is Cottonwood Creek open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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