Fallen Leaf Campground South Lake Tahoe Camping Fallen Leaf Lake USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

While Lake Tahoe’s deep blue waters are the region’s biggest draw for summertime visitors, the under-the-radar Fallen Leaf Lake is a jewel in its own right. Fallen Leaf Campground is a great basecamp for exploring both lakes, thanks to its central location about 1/4 mile from the north end of Fallen Leaf Lake and a mile from the south end of Lake Tahoe. Fallen Leaf Campground is spread through a forest of towering pines, providing access to a variety of recreational activities, both on and off the water.

About the Campground

Fallen Leaf Campground is large, with 192 campsites spaced out along multiple loops. Each campsite is suitable for tents, RVs, and trailers (this count excludes several host campsites). All campsites are non-electric. Parking pads are long and paved. Some sites can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet long.

Campsites have picnic tables, fire rings, BBQ grills, food storage boxes (for bear safety), and access to potable water. Showers are available and firewood can be purchased on site. Fallen Leaf Store, located at the campground entrance, sells souvenirs and those common forgotten items that you need for camping, like ketchup and mustard.

Additionally, Fallen Leaf Campground has 6 yurts that have a light and space heater, but no outlets for personal electronics.

Snow can cover the ground around Lake Tahoe until Memorial Day. This campground opens for the summer season from mid-May through mid-October and is closed the rest of the year. The tent/RV sites are $44 per night with $2 added to that price on holidays. The yurts are $118 per night with $2 added to that rate on holidays (all prices as of 2024). Campsites and yurts can be reserved in advance on recreation.gov.

Fallen Leaf Campground Yurt — A Yurt at Fallen Leaf Campground

About the Area

Fallen Leaf Lake is nearly 3 miles long and almost a mile wide (compared to Lake Tahoe itself, which is 22 miles long and 12 miles wide). Swimming is allowed in Fallen Leaf Lake, but there is not a designated swimming area or boat launch at the campground. For swimming in Lake Tahoe, both Pope Peach and Baldwin Beach are nearby.

The Taylor Creek Visitor Center, operated by the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (just like Fallen Leaf Campground), is conveniently located across Highway 89 from the campground and has interpretive programs and self-guided nature trails.

To get to Fallen Leaf Lake from the campground, and go for a pleasant hike, campers can explore the 1.1-mile long Moraine Trail, which leaves the campground near site 72.

Be Bear Aware

At check-in, campers receive a leaflet warning that the campground is bear country. This is true for the Lake Tahoe region and is especially important at Fallen Leaf Campground because of the area’s topography. Fallen Leaf Campground sits in a narrow valley between Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake. For animals like bears, the campground occupies the easiest pathway between the two lakes. Bear activity can occur in the campground at any time of day or night, either when bears are passing through or stopping to try to eat. Be mindful to follow the storage rules for food and trash.

Store food, toiletries, coolers, grills, and other scented items in storage lockers
Close and lock the storage lockers when not in use
Keep trash in your storage locker or in the bear-resistant dumpsters
Do not leave scented items in your tent or car

Bears can detect odors from long distances and are attracted to food and scented items that might smell like something to eat, such as toiletries and trash. Bears will travel to find the source of the smell, so be a responsible camper and follow proper food storage procedures to prevent:

Interactions with bears
Food conditioning of bears
Potential human and bear injuries

If you encounter a bear in the campground the recommendation is not to approach, confront, or chase the bear. Back away slowly and keep yourself, your children, and pets a safe distance away. Report the bear sighting to the camp host. Because of the frequent bear activity, this campground attracts more people camping in RVs and trailers than people camping in tents.

To get to the campground: From the state line in South Lake Tahoe, take Lake Tahoe Boulevard (Highway 50) west for 5 miles to Tahoe Village and turn right onto Emerald Bay Road (Highway 89), heading northwest toward Tahoe City. Drive 3 miles (passing through Camp Richardson), and turn left onto Fallen Leaf Lake Road. Drive 2/3 of a mile to the entrance to Fallen Leaf Campground. Make two right turns to approach the campground entrance booth.

Campground address: Fallen Leaf Campground, 2165 Fallen Leaf Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Campground coordinates: 38.9264, -120.04695 (38° 55’35″N 119° 120° 02’49″W)

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Photos
Nearby Trails
More Info

Photos

These photos were taken in May of 2019. Click to enlarge.

Nearby Trails

	Moraine Trail To Fallen Leaf Lake This 1.1-mile loop sets out from Fallen Leaf Campground in South Lake Tahoe to visit a forest creek and a gorgeous mountain lake.
	Cave Rock Trail This 0.9-mile hike above the east shore of Lake Tahoe finishes with a scramble up a rocky crown that has panoramic views.
	Chimney Beach Trail This 1.1-hike descends to a scenic and unique cove on the shore of Lake Tahoe that houses a stand-along chimney lingering from an old cabin.
	Hikes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains Explore more trail in the range’s great national parks, national forests, and other park lands.