Best Tent Camping near La Porte, CA
Tent camping options near La Porte, California offer a mix of established sites and secluded locations within Tahoe and Plumas National Forests. Fiddle Creek Campground provides walk-in tent sites with basic amenities, while Goose Lake Campground offers more primitive tent camping experiences with lakeside views. Carlton Flat Campground features tent-only sites accessible by short hikes from parking areas.
Most primitive tent campgrounds in the region provide pit toilets but limited or no potable water, requiring campers to bring their own supplies. Tent campsites at Fiddle Creek include bear boxes, picnic tables, and fire rings, though campfires may be restricted during dry seasons. Bowman Lake tent sites require high-clearance vehicles to access, with one camper noting the road is "rough and can be treacherous driving on a cliff side." Walk-in tent sites typically offer more privacy, though mosquitoes can be prevalent near water sources. Sites at higher elevations like Goose Lake may not be accessible until snow melts, typically by late May.
Tent camping areas around La Porte provide opportunities for hiking, swimming, and fishing. The primitive tent campsites at Bowman Lake offer direct lake access for kayaking and swimming, with campsites situated among trees providing natural shade. Early fall brings cooler temperatures and fewer crowds to many tent-only sites in the region. Sites near creeks and lakes offer refreshing swimming options during summer months, though they tend to attract more visitors. A review for Fiddle Creek mentioned that "the river is cold and refreshing. People pan for gold and some walk up the road to Jackson Hole to float down." Many backcountry tent sites require campers to properly store food in bear canisters or provided bear boxes, particularly in the Tahoe National Forest areas.
