Tahoe National Forest

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When was the Tahoe National Forest established?

2. Where does the name "Tahoe" come from?

3. Why isn't Lake Tahoe part of the Tahoe National Forest?

4. Can I purchase maps or books about the Forest?

5. Do you have any cabins for rent?

6. Can I reserve a campsite?

7. When is the main camping season? How long can I stay? Do you have hookups?

8. How can I become a Campground Host?

9. Can I camp in areas outside of developed campgrounds?

10. Where can I ride an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) or Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV)?

11. How can I get a job with the Forest Service?

12. Can I carry a firearm on the forest?

13. What is a "prescribed" fire? 

14. What about the smoke from fires?

15. How can I get a campfire permit? Can you mail one to me?

16. How do I get a fuelwood permit?

17. Do I need a Wilderness permit?

18. Do you auction off used vehicles? Where can I find out about auctions?

19. Do you contract with private businesses for goods and services?

When was the Tahoe National Forest established?

The lands encompassing the Tahoe National Forest were first set aside in 1891 by President Benjamin Harrison as part of the four million acre "Sierra Forest Reserve", which stretched from Yosemite National Park northward. In 1899, President William McKinley created the "Lake Tahoe Forest Reserve", a 136,335 acre portion of the Sierra Reserve, as a "forestry reserve and public park."

Theodore Roosevelt established the Yuba Forest Reserve in 1904, and enlarged the Tahoe Forest Reserve in 1905. Four years later, President Taft created the present Tahoe National Forest in the form we are familiar with today.

Where does the name "Tahoe" come from?

Tahoe is a modernized version of a Washoe word meaning "big water". The forest derives it's name from Lake Tahoe, which was part of the Tahoe Forest Reserve when it was created.

Why isn't Lake Tahoe part of the Tahoe National Forest?

Until the mid-1960s, National Forest lands in Placer County were part of the Tahoe National Forest. National Forest lands within Eldorado County were part of the Eldorado National Forest, and National Forest lands on the Nevada side were part of the Toiyabe National Forest. This made it difficult to coordinate National Forest management around the Lake Tahoe Basin. The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) was created to simplify management in the Lake Tahoe watershed and emphasize watershed protection for waters draining into the Lake. For most intents and purposes, the LTBMU is managed as a separate National Forest, with a Forest Supervisor and staff. The LTBMU's website is www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu/.

Can I purchase maps or books about the forest?

Books and maps that can help you learn and understand more about the forest are available from Ranger Stations and the Visitor Center.

Do you have any cabins for rent?

Yes! Calpine lookout on the Sierraville Ranger District has renovated the 1934 lookout structure as an overnight rental. Reservations can be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service by calling 877-444-6777.

Can I reserve a campsite?

Some campgrounds have sites that can be reserved by contacting the National Reservation Service (www.reserveusa.com/), or call 1-877-444-6777. However, not all campgrounds have reservable sites. For details, check out the recreation report. In general:

• non-fee sites do not have reservable sites.
• not all fee sites have reservable sites, and fee sites that accept reservations also have first come-first served campsites.
• reservations guarantee a site within a campground, but specific sites cannot be reserved.
• group sites must be reserved in advance.

The recreation report has details about campgrounds.

When is the main camping season? How long can I stay? Do you have hookups?

For most people, the ideal time to camp on the Tahoe is May to October, with the peak season between Memorial Day and Labor Day. In the high country, the opening of some campgrounds is often delayed by snow, sometimes into late June. Many of the fee sites close soon after Labor Day, particularly in the high country. Non-fee sites generally remain open "until the snow flies".

Camping is limited to 14 days per year within each family campground, per Ranger District, per individual or family group with the exception of the Truckee river corridor, which has a seven day limit. Camping in dispersed areas outside of campgrounds is limited to 14 days per Ranger District per year.

Most campgrounds fill quickly during holiday weekends, therefore visitors should come prepared to camp in undeveloped areas. Forest employees will assist you in choosing an appropriate location.

Most Forest campgrounds will not accommodate oversized motor homes or camp trailers. Please contact the individual Ranger District nearest your destination to verify space availability in your selected campground. Electric hook-ups are unavailable at Forest campgrounds, however, many privately operated sites located in surrounding communities provide electricity.

How can I become a Campground Host?

Campground Hosts are National Forest volunteers who serve as campground patrons; they greet visitors, provide information, and help with grounds upkeep. Many of our fee campgrounds are now operated by private concessionaires, who hire their own employees, but check our volunteer page for campground host opportunities.

Can I camp in areas outside of developed campgrounds?

In most cases, yes. This is called dispersed area camping. Most National Forest lands are open for camping, with a few exceptions shown on our forest recreation map or under a specific forest order. In general, the few areas closed to camping are set aside to protect water quality, research areas, or other important needs. Wherever you choose to camp, be sure to bring adequate water or be prepared to purify water before drinking. Water throughout the Sierra Nevada can be contaminated with Giardia or other microorganisms.

If you plan to build a fire or use a bar-b-que, gas stove, or lantern, you need a California Campfire Permit. These are free, and available from our Ranger Stations and Visitor Center.

Where can I ride an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) or Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV)?

OHV recreation is just one of the many uses allowed on National Forest lands. OHV travel is regulated by the OHV travel plan; check with the closest Ranger Station for specific areas. It is your responsibility to know and abide by regulations relating to motor vehicle travel.

State law requires registration of all motor vehicles before being operated on public lands. OHVs and OSVs are required to have either a CA green sticker or license and registration, as well as a USFS approved spark arrestor year round. For complete details about green sticker requirements, visit the California DMV or the CA State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division websites.

Many areas are open and accessible to those who enjoy recreating on ATVs and OSVs during the winter months. Motorized over-snow travel is prohibited in some areas. Federal law (36 CFR 261.16(a)) prohibits operation of any mechanical or motorized equipment within the boundaries of a Wilderness. A free map is available showing winter travel regulations. You can get one by contacting the closest Ranger Station.

How can I get a job with the Forest Service?

The Forest Service offers positions for both permanent and temporary employees. Permanent positions are for full-time employees and provide a flexible range of Federal government benefits. Temporary positions are for part-time or seasonal employees and provide benefits that vary with the position and the location. Due to the seasonal nature of many of the responsibilities of the Forest Service, such as wildfire fighting and seasonal recreation programs, many temporary workers are required. On the Tahoe, most temporary employment is in fire suppression and fire management.

The Tahoe NF maintains a jobline at 530-478-6169, TDD 530-478-6118. Online employment information is at http://www.fs.fed.us/fsjobs/forestservice/index.html.

USDA Forest Service is an equal opportunity employer.

Can I carry a firearm on the forest?

National Forest lands are subject to both federal and state regulations. In general, you can carry a firearm on Tahoe NF lands, subject to the requirements of state law. Target shooting and hunting is also allowed, subject to regulation and common sense.

36 CFR 261.10(d) prohibits
Discharging a firearm or any other implement capable of taking human life, causing injury, or damaging property as follows:
(1) In or within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area, or
(2) Across or on a Forest Development road or a body of water adjacent thereto, or in any manner or place whereby any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result in such discharge.

National Forest lands around French Meadows reservoir and the northwest portion of the Granite Chief wilderness are within the boundaries of French Meadows State Game Refuge. State law prohibits possession or discharge of firearms, pellet guns, and bows and arrows within the refuge.

What is a "prescribed" fire?

A prescribed fire is any fire intentionally ignited to meet specific land management objectives (i.e., to reduce flammable fuels, such as the accumulation of brush, logs, etc. on forest floors; or to help restore ecosystem health). Prescribed fires are preplanned ignitions, with predetermined boundaries. They are conducted only under certain weather conditions (i.e., during periods of low wind) when flame length and heat can be controlled. Land managers must obtain approval of prescribed fire plans from applicable federal or state agencies before conducting planned burns. In addition, all applicable requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) must be met on federal lands. Before federal land management activities (i.e., trail building, timber harvesting, use of fire, etc.) are conducted, NEPA requires that the environmental impacts of these activities be analyzed to assess their impacts on cultural resources, wetlands, soil, water quality, air quality, visibility, and other resources.

What about the smoke from fires?

Fire managers must carefully coordinate with State and County agencies responsible for smoke management. Fuel consumption and the emissions produced, trajectory and dispersion can be estimated using computer models. Like forecasting weather, smoke management is not an exact science. Smoke management is also very complicated, because there can be many sources. If air quality levels deteriorate to a point specified by law or other guidelines, fire managers can decide to take appropriate management actions to suppress a fire.

How can I get a campfire permit? Can you mail one to me?

Campfire permits are free permits that serve as reminders of how to have a safe and legal fire, bar-b-que, or gas stove, and are required to have these types of fires on national forest lands. They're not date or location-specific, so you can pick one up at the beginning of the season and use it all year. Campfire permits are available from our Ranger Stations and Visitor Center, and also available from any CDF fire station. We do not issue campfire permits by mail.

How do I get a fuelwood permit?

Please refer to our fuelwood page, which contains information and a link to a mail in application for permits

Do I need a Wilderness permit?

The Granite Chief Wilderness is one of the few wilderness areas where a permit is not required for entry or camping. Wilderness permits are tools for limiting use to reduce human impacts. At this time, the wilderness management plan for Granite Chief does not require a permit program. A campfire permit is required for fires, bar-b-ques, or gas stoves anywhere on National Forest lands.

Do You Auction Off Used Vehicles?

The General Services Administration (GSA) owns fleet vehicles, and manages the auction process for vehicles taken out of the fleet. A region-wide listing of these auctions is available at www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino/vehicle-sales/.

Do You Contract With Private Business for Goods & Services?

Yes. The Tahoe NF is part of a four forest provice referred to as IBET (Inyo, Lake Tahoe Basin, Eldorado, and Tahoe NFs). Contracting is done at the province level. Contract Alan James, Contracting Officer at 530-478-6121 or visit the IBET contracting page.

USDA Forest Service - Tahoe National Forest
Last Modified:  Friday, 16 March 2007 at 12:20:09 EDT