Best Dispersed Camping near Tahoma, CA

Tahoma, CA is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Tahoma is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Discover great camping spots near Tahoma, reviewed by campers like you.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Tahoma, California (33)

    2. Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

    17 Reviews
    Echo Lake, CA
    23 miles

    "Easy access and reasonably good road quality make it very RV friendly - I would say that it was at least 75% RVs/Trailers. Beautiful views of the valley and hills to the east."

    "Easy to see right off the road with plenty of campsites down either side of a nice dirt road. Rocky and steep road access to Scott’s lake, but easy camping on the edge of the valley."

    4. USFS Silver Fork Dispersed

    6 Reviews
    Kyburz, CA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 622-5061

    "The coordinates listed on the app are simply for the entrance to the dispersed camping. There are infinite amounts of primitive roads to drive down and find camp."

    "The area is spacious and conveniently located not too far off the main road, making it easy to access without feeling too isolated."

    5. Union Valley Reservoir Dispersed Camping

    6 Reviews
    Kyburz, CA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 644-2324

    "Pulled off Union valley road and set up camp with our Rooftop tent. Little cold up here in November but made for some great pre-snowfall camping!"

    "Luckily there is a lot of Dispersed camping all the way around the lake! So beautiful, and the lake is really warm in the summer"

    6. Packsaddle Pass - El Dorado National Forest Dispersed

    3 Reviews
    Twin Bridges, CA
    21 miles
    Website

    "Standard dispersed camping on national forest land. Paved main road with dirt roads and areas for camping branching off. Plenty of room. Some areas have beautiful views of strawberry valley!"

    "Great location. Not sure it would be a good location if it's been raining. May hear the occasional road noise"

    7. Echo Summit Dispersed

    2 Reviews
    Echo Lake, CA
    18 miles

    "this location was the site of a fire several years ago, this means that many of the trees have been cleared making it a good site for starlink users like me."

    8. Loch Leven Lakes

    4 Reviews
    Norden, CA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 265-4531

    "We backpacked up to the high loch levens lake where we found many available campsites."

    "We took Salmon lake trailhead which is shorter trail."

    9. Iron MT. Dispersed

    10 Reviews
    Eldorado National Forest, CA
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (916) 324-4442

    "The ground is very flat and many areas are paved with gravel. At 7500 feet above sea level, the view is wide and the scenery is beautiful, especially the sunset view."

    "The Mormon Emigrant Trail can be accessed from there (East side, going West to Sly Park.) You can hear the Highway a little, but nonetheless very peaceful area."

    10. Hope Valley Dispersed

    1 Review
    Echo Lake, CA
    23 miles

    "Free camping"

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Showing results 1-10 of 33 campgrounds

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Tahoma, CA

96 Reviews of 33 Tahoma Campgrounds


  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 8, 2023

    USFS Silver Fork Dispersed

    Endless Possibilities

    The coordinates listed on the app are simply for the entrance to the dispersed camping. There are infinite amounts of primitive roads to drive down and find camp. I stayed at N38.768811• W 120.238630° — on top of a peak that offered 360° views with sunrise and sunset right from my tent. At this specific sight, there are no overhead trees. Despite being primitive, the roads are well kept, even if you have a small SUV. It could get slightly tricky with a car. I stayed here for 7 days (10/31-11/6) and only saw one other person on the primivite roads. The above coordinates are about a 6 mile drive in from US50. You will see a campground on your right about 5 miles down when driving in, about a mile further down the road you will come up on the dirt road leading you up the mountain.

    A couple of notes:

    1. You are required to have a permit for any day/overnight use in Eldorado, including this area. They can be easily acquired at recreation.gov
    2. Cell phone reception is very spotty, in and out of a couple of bars throughout the drive in. — AT&T coverage. At the above coordinates, there were 2 bars of low grade coverage allowing basic texts to send. Not enough service for web browsing or sending photos via text.
    3. This area has been widely burnt by fires last year. There are still large areas unburnt. You will find yourself going in and out of them while driving.
    4. KEEP IT CLEAN — this area is immaculate and besides dug out fire pits, human trace is non-existent. Leave it cleaner than you found it, pick up your trash (and other’s if you see any), respect the area and it will respect you.
    5. NO CAMP SERVICES — There is no trash service or even dumpsters at the signed entrance; pack it in pack it out. There are no restrooms in the area either.
  • Jacqueline G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Dispersed USFS

    Worth the climbs to get here!!

    This is full wilderness camping off the main road between hope valley and the blue lakes. I had no problem getting in with my 30ft bus towing a jeep but the road is steep and winding for about 7 miles to the pull off. There were a lot of other campers for Labor Day weekend but the rest of the time there was no one around. Jugs of water can be filled at the campgrounds about 5 miles in each direction. PLEASE NOTE: There are prolonged climbs to get here (up to about 8% grade) but my bus did fine. Slow and steady and you’ll be fine. Also WATCH THE WEATHER! Rain can cause spots of the road in to get washed out a bit and deep puddles can appear. There are loads of rocks and fallen trees around to fill in holes if needed. If you’re moderate to high clearance rig you’ll be fine just be mindful. The Blue Lakes are just down the road for swimming, boating, kayaking etc and lots of amazing 4x4 trails. Rivers for fishing and endless hiking and biking. Elevation is 8300ft so definitely a bit high. The trees help with the air however. Not nearly as tough as the high desert of Utah (Zion or Brice) but just take it easy if you’re not used to high altitude.

  • Ciara W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 25, 2024

    Echo Summit Dispersed

    Not dispersed camping

    This spot is national forest, and overnight camping is not allowed. We had a knock from someone with the forest service the next morning who was very kind and let us know that overnight is not allowed.

    Look up lakes and forest in this area on google — not many places allow dispersed camping

  • Tim R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2024

    Packsaddle Pass - El Dorado National Forest Dispersed

    Standard Dispersed Camping

    Standard dispersed camping on national forest land. Paved main road with dirt roads and areas for camping branching off. Plenty of room. Some areas have beautiful views of strawberry valley!

  • Shane C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 17, 2022

    Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

    Dispersed camping with campground layout/feel

    Camped here for a night in early October. Easy access and reasonably good road quality make it very RV friendly - I would say that it was at least 75% RVs/Trailers. Beautiful views of the valley and hills to the east. Most sites are obvious, with a driveway and stone fire ring. We like a more "dispersed" feel, but felt comfortable. 

    There are no services - bring all the water you will need and practice "leave no trace." This goes for your waste (human and animal) as well. I wish I could say that we didn't see any dog waste or "TP Flowers" but we did. Not a significant amount, but any is too much.

    The place was pretty much full, but still good vibes and quiet neighbors. Very close to Hwy. 88, so road noise and campers coming in looking for a spot after dark. Gets quiet later in the evening.

    Overall, a nice spot.

  • Raymond B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 15, 2024

    USFS Silver Fork Dispersed

    Overnight stay

    We recently spent a night at this campsite and found it to be perfect for a quick overnight getaway. The area is spacious and conveniently located not too far off the main road, making it easy to access without feeling too isolated.

    There are plenty of sites to choose from, catering to different preferences. However, we recommend taking some time to survey the land before setting up camp, as some spots are slightly sloped.

    A huge plus is the gas station just about 5 minutes down the road. It’s well-stocked with all the convenient store items you might have forgotten at home, making it easy to grab any last-minute necessities.

    Overall, it was a delightful stay. Just remember, always practice Leave No Trace principles—pack out what you pack in!

  • ron R.
    Oct. 12, 2024

    Peavine Road Dispersed Camping

    Complete trash dump

    It's sad where we have this public land to camp on and people just dump tons and tons of trash and abandoned cars and demolished cars on the property would not recommend going. There's some more BLM land about 15 to 20 minutes north on Red Rock road.

  • Genevieve R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 28, 2023

    Peavine Road Dispersed Camping

    Lots of trash and shells

    I live 10 minutes away, so I checked it out. It's sketchy driving in with a lot of trailers and cars along the road closer to the main road. There may or may nor have been people in them. We didn't see people walking around except one guy who was walking his dog on the dirt road and another guy nearby with a table next to his car. Maybe he was flying a drone. The dirt road was very rutted in a few areas. No big deal, but I was in my Jeep Trailhawk 4x4. I didn't have my trailer with me. The view of the city is great, but that's it. The area to pull off is not that big, so I think it would be crowded with more than 2 other trailers. It wasn't windy at all when we were there, but I'm sure it could be because it can be very windy in this area. I wouldn't stay here unless I absolutely had to for the night. I did hear gunshots in the distance. We only stayed a few minutes to take a few pictures. No amenities like fire rings or tables.

  • A
    May. 26, 2021

    Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

    Sweet Spot

    Easy to see right off the road with plenty of campsites down either side of a nice dirt road. Rocky and steep road access to Scott’s lake, but easy camping on the edge of the valley.


Guide to Tahoma

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Tahoma, California, where nature meets tranquility. With a variety of locations to choose from, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the freedom of camping without the constraints of traditional campgrounds.

Dispersed campers should check out Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

  • This spot offers a serene environment with plenty of space for tents and RVs, making it ideal for those seeking solitude. Check it out at Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping.
  • Campers can enjoy campfires, but be prepared to bring your own firewood, as it is not provided on-site.
  • The area is pet-friendly, allowing you to bring your furry friends along for the adventure.

Beautiful views await at USFS Silver Fork Dispersed

  • Located just a short drive from the main road, this area provides easy access to spacious sites with stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Explore more at USFS Silver Fork Dispersed.
  • The nearby gas station is a convenient stop for any last-minute supplies you might need during your stay.
  • While there are no amenities like drinking water or restrooms, the natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere make it a worthwhile destination.

Top activities while free camping near Tahoma at Union Valley Reservoir Dispersed Camping

  • This area is known for its scenic views and offers a variety of dispersed sites, perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in nature. Visit Union Valley Reservoir Dispersed Camping for more details.
  • Campers can enjoy fishing, hiking, and exploring the nearby trails, making it a great spot for outdoor activities.
  • Be mindful of the environment, as some visitors have reported litter in the area; practicing Leave No Trace principles is essential to keep this beautiful location pristine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Tahoma, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Tahoma, CA is Granite Chief Wilderness - Dispersed with a 3-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Tahoma, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 33 dispersed camping locations near Tahoma, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.