D.L. Bliss Campground

D.L. Bliss state park is right on Lake Tahoe. Campsites are in the pine forest across the parking lot from the lake. They are quite, as the highway is up the hill from the park. It is just north of Emerald Lake on highway 89. The fine white sand and rocky backdrop makes playing on D.L. Bliss beach like playing at the ocean. Only during the late summer is the lake warm enough for someone of sound mind to swim in. Rubicon Trail runs between the campground and the beach.

Make your camping reservations using Reserve America. If you tried to make reservations in mid-June, you would not be able to get a Friday or Saturday night until the last week of August. If you just want to play on the beach, arrive before 9am. They reserve the parking for people with camping reservations.

Kaspian Campground

Kaspian Campground is very small and most of the sites have a view of Lake Tahoe.  We enjoyed watching the boats pass by. Walk just a few feet to a picnic table right on the beach and swimming access. You have to drive to get to a sandy beach. It is considered a “biking campground” because it is across the road from the bike path and you cannot park your car at your campsite. There is a two lane, level Bike path around much of Lake Tahoe.

The sites are walk or bike in, meaning you can’t park your car right next to where you put your tent. It is a very short walk to the parking lot; about 75 feet in our case. Three of the sites are on a flat trail to the parking lot and the remaining six sites are up a set of stairs. The restrooms are new and have running water.

The campground is across a busy road from Lake Tahoe. We arrived on a Friday night after midnight and we could hear the waves lapping the beach. The road was too loud the rest of the weekend to hear the waves, but come Monday it was quiet again. Visit the Destination Page For more information on our trip to Lake Tahoe.

Make your camping reservations using Recreation.gov When we made our reservations in mid-July, for early August, it was the last campground on Lake Tahoe with anything available.

Giant Gap at Sugar Pine Lake

Giant Gap and Shirttail Creek campgrounds at Sugar Pine Reservoir are in the Sierra Nevada between highway 80 and 50. We stayed at Giant Gap. The campsites are in a pine forest and nicely spaced. Some are closer to the lake than others, but none are far away. There is a nice trail all around the lake and motor boats aren't allowed on the lake so it is good for swimming. The elevation is pretty high so nights are cool; a welcome relief in the summer.

From Auburn, California, take Highway 80 to the Foresthill Road, travel 18 miles east to Foresthill. Travel another 9 miles, turn left on Sugar Pine Road and travel northwest 6 miles to the Sugar Pine Reservoir, the Giant Gap Campground is located on the north shore. The road is slow, so it will take longer to get there than you think. If you follow the road to the north, you will cross the North Fork of the American River (and another lovely place to swim) and meet up with Highway 80. Make your camping reservations using Recreation.gov

Wawona Campground, Yosemite National Park

Wawona Campground is on the Merced River on Highway 41 at the south entrance to Yosemite, in California. When we camped there in July, we went swimming in the river every day to cool off. The campground is near Mariposa Grove and somewhat close to Badger Pass. You have to go over Badger Pass to get to Yosemite Valley. For more information about Yosemite visit the Destinations Pages.

Reservations are required much of the year. There were groups there while we visited in January. All of the campsites are a short walk from the river among the pine trees. The sites are fairly close together. For a photo of every site see this website. Make your camping reservations using Recreation.gov I tried to make reservations in mid-June, the first available weekend site available was the 2nd week of September.

When camping anywhere in Yosemite, you must think about BEARS. To learn more see the National Park Service website. All of the campsites have secure bear boxes. You must put everything that has to do with food, in the box. Do not leave coolers or supplies in your car. Bears can open cars. Use the bear box.