Sierraville sits at approximately 5,000 feet elevation in the Sierra Nevada mountains, where summer temperatures typically range from 45-85°F. The region's high-altitude forests provide substantial shade at most campgrounds, with pine-scented air characteristic of the Sierra Nevada. Camping season generally runs from late May through mid-October, with some locations closing earlier depending on weather conditions.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: 3-4 miles from Webber Lake Campground. The shallow waters of Webber Lake Campground provide excellent fishing conditions with a gravel bottom in many areas. "The fishing was awesome. Before the lake opened up to the public, it was a private lake that was used by fishing groups. We are kayak anglers, and we had a blast here," notes Ed E.
Hiking trails: Botanical path and overlook. From Cottonwood Campground, access two notable trails suitable for day hikes. "A very easy 1/2 mile round-trip botanical trail is located at the south end of the campground. It is level, following the creek... An offshoot from the trail takes you up 3/4 miles to the top of a hill overlook - very much worth the exercise and the view," reports S K.
Water activities: Kayaking and swimming at Jackson Meadows Reservoir. The East Meadow Campground provides direct access to the water. "Gravelly shore and bottom, excellent paddleboarding & kayaking, but be aware this is a water sports lake - so expect powerboats & jet skis," mentions Ron G. Many campers bring inflatable rafts for paddling in shallow areas.
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Room between neighbors. Campers appreciate the well-designed layout at many campgrounds. "Sites were well maintained, picnic tables, fire rings and bear boxes... Bathrooms were clean and well stocked, the camp host walked around to check the sites and be sure everyone had paid," reports Heather P. about Cottonwood Campground.
Lake proximity: Direct water access. At Logger Campground, the lake is steps away from camping spots. "Sights are right on the lake and in the shade of the trees most of the day so it doesn't get too hot," says Beverly C. This makes loading and unloading water equipment particularly convenient.
Quiet weekday camping: Best Sunday-Wednesday. For those seeking solitude, midweek visits offer the best experience. "In mid-summer mid-week, there were less than 10 campers in the whole campground. Every week is different, but most people appeared to have reservations starting on Wednesday, so Monday-Tuesday are very light," explains S K. about camping at Cottonwood Creek.
What you should know
Road noise concerns: Highway-adjacent campgrounds. Some campgrounds sit close to main roads, affecting the wilderness experience. At Upper Little Truckee, "You're about 30 feet from highway 89. Traffic nonstop... No cell service and you'll definitely have road noise during the day. However, it quieted substantially for nighttime sleeping hours so we slept fine," explains Char P.
Limited cell service: Download maps beforehand. Most campgrounds have minimal or no cell coverage. "There is no dump station or hookups. There is no cell service either although if you have 4 wheel drive you could drive up to one of the local mountain tops and get service there," advises B. Douglas J. about Webber Lake.
Bear country precautions: Food storage requirements. Bears are active throughout the region. "They do not have bear lockers and the site suggests you store your food in your locked vehicle," notes one camper at Cottonwood Campground. Other locations provide bear boxes at individual sites.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly swimming areas: Shallow water access. Sardine Lake offers excellent options for families with children. "Great place for active families. Gorgeous view of sardine lake and sand pond in walking distance and lots of other lakes around the area," shares Jekaterina M. Sand Pond is particularly noted for swimming.
Campgrounds with amenities: Clean facilities for children. When camping with families, basic comforts matter. "The campground hosts were absolutely wonderful and kept the place immaculate," says Clancy H. about Cottonwood Campground, which features vault toilets and potable water spigots within walking distance of each site.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Morning animal sightings. Early risers have the best chances to spot wildlife. "I saw a deer," reports maricarmen P. about Logger Campground. Fall camping often provides more wildlife viewing as fewer people are present at the campgrounds.
Tips from RVers
Site access limitations: RV size restrictions. Large rigs face challenges at several campgrounds. "Large rigs will not fit in this campground. We reserved a spot that said it would fit a 30' camper but we could not get our 29' 5th wheel into the space because of the angle and posts along the loop," warns Clancy H. about Cottonwood Creek. Only sites 10, 20, and 44 had suitable angles for larger vehicles.
RV-friendly campgrounds: Best options for larger vehicles. For easier access, consider Boca Rest Campground which accommodates bigger rigs. "The sites were dirt/gravel and pretty level and big," notes Laura M. The campground is marked as big-rig friendly with sites that provide sufficient turning radius for larger vehicles.
Water fill locations: Limited on-site options. RVers should arrive with full tanks. "They are not allowing RV's to fill up with water anymore. I personally think this stinks. So there's a USFS campground about 10 miles away on highway 89 (Upper Little Truckee Campground) with hose bibs and the camp host is very nice," advises B. Douglas J. about Webber Lake.
