Many campgrounds and recreation sites within the Tahoe National Forest will be open for Memorial Day, however snow is expected to keep some of the more popular sites closed until later in the summer.

“Our recreation crews and campground concessionaires have been working hard to get the campgrounds ready for the Memorial Day weekend,” Tom Quinn, forest supervisor, said in a statement. “The heavy snow and rain received this past winter and spring has delayed the opening of many campgrounds, roads, picnic areas and trails. Considerable snow can still be found at 6,000 feet and above, especially on north facing slopes or in shaded areas.”

The following status report of campgrounds, roads and trails is listed by major transportation corridor or area.

Bullards Bar Reservoir – Yuba County

All campgrounds, picnic areas, boat ramps and trails are open.

Highway 49 – Sierra County

Most all campgrounds, picnic areas and trails in the lower elevations are open or will be by Memorial Day including those along the North Yuba River. These include Indian Valley, Ramshorn, Rocky Rest, Carlton, Cal-Ida, Fiddle Creek, Union Flat, and Loganville. The North Yuba, Fiddle Creek Ridge and Halls Ranch Trails are open.

In the higher elevations, Wild Plum, Yuba Pass, Sierra, and Chapman Campgrounds are still closed and expected to be closed over Memorial Day due to snow levels. At Yuba Pass there is still 4 feet of snow.

Sierra Buttes area – Sierra County

The Gold Lakes Road is only open for 3 miles from Hwy 49. Sardine Lake Road is open to the lodge. Most of the sites at Sardine and Salmon Campgrounds will be open on a first come/first serve basis. Sand Pond trail is open with some snow drifts. Packer Lake Road is not open to the lake or lodge due to snow.

Highway 89 North – Sierra and Nevada Counties

Most of the campgrounds are open including Cottonwood, Cold Creek, and Upper and Lower Little Truckee.

Jackson Meadows Area – Sierra County

The Jackson Meadows Road is only open 6 miles to the Perazzo Meadows Road intersection. Snowmobiling continues along the road.

Reservoirs East of Truckee – Nevada County

Most of the sites are open around Boca, Stampede and Prosser Reservoirs. The Boca Dam Road has been closed by the Bureau of Reclamation. Boca campground is only accessible from Highway 89 north.

The Commemorative Overland Emigrant Trail is open and is a nice trail for mountain biking or hiking.

Highway 89 South – Placer County

Granite Flat Campground is open, however, Goose Meadows and Silver Creek are closed due to snow.

Interstate 80 – Nevada and Placer Counties

The Pacific Crest Trail and other trails along the Sierra crest are still very snowy. Over 8 feet of snow was recorded in mid May at Donner Summit. Campgrounds including Hampshire Rocks, Indian Springs, North Fork, Tunnel Mills and Onion Valley are all closed due to snow.

Rattlesnake Road is closed due to snow and large slide and may not be open for a while. Loch Leven trails are very snowy.

Big Bend Visitor Center is not expected to open due snow damage over the winter. A visitor information office is expected to be available later this summer at Big Bend.

Highway 20 – Nevada County

White Cloud Campground is open. The Pioneer Trail is open from Chalk Bluff to the west. The Burlington Motorcycle Trails are open from Chalk Bluff Staging Area to the west. Those trails to the east are still blocked by snow. Rock Creek Nature Trail is open.

Bowman Lake Road – Nevada County

The road has been plowed to the Fuller Lake dam.

Foresthill Area – Placer County

Sugar Pine Reservoir campgrounds and picnic areas are open, however the water system may not be functional. Campers are advised to bring water. Big Reservoir campground (Morning Star) will be open for Memorial Day weekend. Joshua M. Hardt Trail around Sugar Pine Reservoir is open.

The Sugar Pine OHV Trail system opens May 26. Trails are still quite snowy/muddy. Once the area opens, riders are requested to help protect the trail tread and not damage the trails.

The Foresthill Road is open 2 miles beyond China Wall and then blocked by snow. Visitors are reminded that snowmobiles or Off Highway Vehicles are not permitted on the Foresthill Road.

Grouse Falls Trail is open. Mosquito Ridge Trail is open but has several downed trees. Mumford Bar Trail has large drifts of snow. All other trails are still snow-bound.

Mosquito Ridge Road is open to the Intersection of the Robinson Flat Road (6 feet of snow). A slide on the road restricts traffic to one lane between mile posts 17 and 18. Drivers are urged to drive carefully. Placer Big Trees area is not accessible due to snow. Robinson Flat Campground is not open due to snow. French Meadows area is not accessible due to snow.

River Caution

Rivers are running fast, cold and high. Caution should be taken near the water – especially with children and pets.

Cross Country Skiing/Snowshoeing

Heavy snow loads may hide familiar landmarks, can form dangerous “snow bridges” across drainages, and can cause unpredictable, slippery traveling conditions. Additionally, creeks and streams crossed early in the morning may become increasingly dangerous due to high flows late in the day during times of heavy melting.

For more information, see the Tahoe National Forest website or call one of the Ranger Stations listed below:

Tahoe National Forest Headquarters – in Nevada City (530) 265.4531

American River Ranger District Office – in Foresthill (530) 367.2224

Sierraville Ranger District Office – in Sierraville (530) 994.3401

Truckee Ranger District Office – in Truckee (530) 587.3558

Yuba River Ranger District Office – in Camptonville (530) 288.3231.