Best Dispersed Camping near Truckee, CA

Searching for a dispersed camping spot near Truckee? Dispersed camping means that no facilities or amenities are provided, so that you can truly disconnect and get back to nature. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your California camping adventure.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Truckee, CA (29)

    Camper-submitted photo from Big Dog Valley
    Camper-submitted photo from Big Dog Valley
    Camper-submitted photo from Big Dog Valley
    Camper-submitted photo from Big Dog Valley
    Camper-submitted photo from Big Dog Valley
    Camper-submitted photo from Big Dog Valley

    1. Big Dog Valley

    4 Reviews
    16 Photos
    95 Saves
    Verdi, Nevada

    There is no "campground here" Please be aware most of the Dog / Sardine Valley is private property and a working ranch. The places near the valley floor with picnic tables - those are sheep camps. The places with firepits, also sheep camps. Please respect private property and make sure you are camping in the BLM / USDA lands that rim the valley. Located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Dog Valley provides excellent viewing of both wildflowers and flowering shrubs. Forest, meadows, and streams make up Dog Valley’s landscape, creating a cool and refreshing retreat for this popular recreation area. Dog Valley is also home to two rare plant species, Dog Valley ivesia and Webber’s ivesia. Dog Valley ivesia can only be found in Dog Valley. Other attractions include wildlife viewing and the Crystal Peak Mine, a popular spot for crystal-hounds. Dog Valley offers a variety of opportunities to view wildflowers in the Jeffery pine forests and meadows. As you enter Dog Valley from Verdi, you will see the recovery from the 1994 Crystal Fire with displays of mahala mat, silvery lupine, and chokecherry. Explore the openings in the forest with extensive displays of mule’s ear, balsamroot, buckwheats, paintbrushes, yampah, bitterbrush, bare-stem desert parsley, and manzanita. Walking around, it is easy to enjoy the smaller, less visible flowers, including collomia, prairie star flower, and blue-eyed Mary. Wetter areas have displays of shooting stars, delphinium, and Rydberg’s penstemon. Best Viewing Times: The best time to visit is June and July. Safety First: Creeks and streams can cross the road. Be careful when crossing water and watch for washed-out portions of the road. The road can be very muddy. California OHV registration is required for all vehicles. Campfire permits are also required in California and can be obtained from the Carson District Office or the campground host.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • RVs
    • Tents
    • Dispersed
    • Alcohol
    Camper-submitted photo from Loch Leven Lakes
    Camper-submitted photo from Loch Leven Lakes
    Camper-submitted photo from Loch Leven Lakes
    Camper-submitted photo from Loch Leven Lakes
    Camper-submitted photo from Loch Leven Lakes
    Camper-submitted photo from Loch Leven Lakes

    2. Loch Leven Lakes

    2 Reviews
    7 Photos
    109 Saves
    Norden, California

    The Loch Leven begins at Placer County Road Pla-9140-2 and ends at High Loch Leven Lake. At the south end of lower Loch Leven, a trail junction continues left to middle and high Lochs, or right to Salmon Lake. Fishing is generally good, and camping is dispersed throughout the basin. Campfire permits are required for campfires, backpacking stoves, BBQs, and lanterns.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Dispersed
    • Alcohol
    Camper-submitted photo from Grouse Ridge Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Grouse Ridge Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Grouse Ridge Campground

    3. Grouse Ridge Campground

    2 Reviews
    4 Photos
    72 Saves
    Emigrant Gap, California
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Tents
    • Standard (Tent/RV)
    • Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Bowman Lake Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Bowman Lake Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Bowman Lake Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Bowman Lake Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Bowman Lake Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Bowman Lake Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Granite Chief Wilderness - Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Granite Chief Wilderness - Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Granite Chief Wilderness - Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Granite Chief Wilderness - Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Granite Chief Wilderness - Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Granite Chief Wilderness - Dispersed

    6. Granite Chief Wilderness - Dispersed

    2 Reviews
    11 Photos
    144 Saves
    Tahoma, California

    The Granite Chief Wilderness was designated a Wilderness area in 1984 because of its pristine nature, natural beauty, and primitive, non-motorized recreational opportunities. Located on the west shore of beautiful Lake Tahoe, the Granite Chief Wilderness is managed by the Tahoe National Forest. This 25,680 acre wilderness offers beautiful valley meadows and spectacular 9000 foot granite peaks.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Dispersed
    • Alcohol
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Valley Rd Pullout
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Valley Rd Pullout
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Valley Rd Pullout
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Valley Rd Pullout
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Valley Rd Pullout
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Valley Rd Pullout

    7. Lake Valley Rd Pullout

    2 Reviews
    6 Photos
    52 Saves
    Emigrant Gap, California

    Most of Tahoe National Forest is open to camping free of charge which is referred to as “dispersed” camping. Dispersed camping is prohibited in certain areas, generally within a ¼ mile of major highway corridors, in the Lakes Basin Area (Sierra Buttes), near Prosser, Boca, Stampede, French Meadows, and Sugar Pine reservoirs, and other locations. Please see the full list of areas where dispersed camping is not allowed below.

    Maps and staff are available at most Tahoe Forest Service offices to assist visitors in finding a suitable spot.

    Not being in a developed campground means that there will not be certain conveniences:

    Water Quality: Be prepared to bring your own drinking water or have a water filter. Lake, stream or spring water may be contaminated. Human Waste:Proper disposal of human waste is crucial. Human waste can spread disease, lead to contaminated water supplies, contaminate soils, attract wildlife, and spoil a dispersed camping area for future users. Portable eco-friendly human waste disposal systems which allow you to safely "Pack It Out" are commercially available and recommended. As a last resort, choose a spot at least 200' away from water sources and dispersed campsites, dig a small hole at least six inches deep, and cover it when you are through. Seal your toilet paper in a bag, pack it out, and dispose of it properly. No trash service - Pack It In, Pack It Out Maximum stay limit for camping is 14 days per District. Please remove all your equipment and garbage when you leave. The beauty of the natural vegetation around your campsite is probably why you chose it. Keep it healthy and growing by not cutting anything down, not putting nails into trees, and treading carefully along meadows, streamsides, and other sensitive areas. Keep your vehicle at least twelve feet from designated roads and trails to prevent resource damage and to adhere to Travel Management Regulations.

    When you pick your spot, make sure that it is at least 200 feet away (about seventy paces) from streams and lakes, to help protect streamside vegetation, and prevent water degradation and sedimentation. Dispersed campsites must be outside the boundary markings of developed campgrounds and dispersed camping closure areas.

    There are many fine camping spots you can reach on Tahoe National Forest motorized routes and trails, but some routes may be rough, steep, or narrow and not suited for low-clearance or for large recreation vehicles.

    • Pets
    • Phone Service
    • Dispersed
    • Alcohol
    Camper-submitted photo from Peavine Road Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Peavine Road Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Peavine Road Dispersed Camping
    • No image available
      Camper-submitted photo from BLM - Water Tank Road Dispersed
      Camper-submitted photo from BLM - Water Tank Road Dispersed
      Camper-submitted photo from BLM - Water Tank Road Dispersed
      Camper-submitted photo from BLM - Water Tank Road Dispersed
      Camper-submitted photo from BLM - Water Tank Road Dispersed
      Camper-submitted photo from BLM - Water Tank Road Dispersed
    Showing results 1-10 of 29 campgrounds

    Recent Dispersed Reviews in Truckee

    73 Reviews of 29 Truckee Campgrounds


    • Tyler C.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Reno View Dispersed
      Nov. 2, 2024

      Reno View Dispersed

      amazing view

      okay. let’s be real. the road is a beast. I would not drive it with any vehicle other than SUV/Truck. DO NOT bring up an RV/Trailer. you’ll regret it. we stayed and car camped. an awesome view of the lights of Reno. can be very windy but if you get between some of the trees it’s not to bad.

    • MThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
      Oct. 27, 2024

      Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

      Great 1 night stay

      Came on a Saturday around 4pm, there were 2 other campers other than me so it wasn’t busy at all. No service for at&t. Overall had a good stay here with my 2 dogs

    • Ciara W.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Echo Summit Dispersed
      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

    • ron R.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from BLM - Water Tank Road Dispersed
      Oct. 12, 2024

      BLM - Water Tank Road Dispersed

      Not easily accessible

      The two closest roads coming in from the West are blocked off and labeled no unauthorized vehicles. This is due to the construction of the new neighborhoods and they probably annexed the area. You could probably access it from the East but I have no idea how many miles it would be in from where you would come in.

    • ron R.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Peavine Road Dispersed Camping
      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.

    • Paxton B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Merrill Valley Dispersed Camp
      Sep. 30, 2024

      Merrill Valley Dispersed Camp

      The road is terrible

      Not really sure if we camped in the right spot. It isn’t great, but it got the job done to just crash for a night. Felt like we were in a construction zone

    • Anna B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Moon Rocks Camp
      Sep. 8, 2024

      Moon Rocks Camp

      Camping on Mars

      (September 28th, 2023) Got here after dark and found an empty clearing to park in for the night. The moon and the stars were so bright, it felt like we were on another planet. Got to explore the area in the morning, such a cool spot! Very quiet when we were there.

    • SThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Bowman Lake Dispersed
      Sep. 6, 2024

      Bowman Lake Dispersed

      Lake side Campsites

      If you are looking to be near the water and no service, this is perfect. The rough road in I believe must keep some folks out but the lake is amazing.

    • Stephen B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
      Aug. 30, 2024

      Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

      Beautiful, popular, treacherous

      I’m motorcycle camping and the ground level was about half full, mostly RVs, so I attempted to head up Scott Lake Road.

      The dirt was manageable but there are sections of large rocks difficult to pass on two wheels. I crossed several but I dropped my bike before the second circle. Defeated and exhausted from a long day’s ride, I headed back down to set up my camp among the RV set.

      No shade to the lifestyle but this is an awfully long drive to watch TV at top volume.

    • Julia H.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
      Aug. 8, 2024

      Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

      Great

      Lots of people ! come early for a spot. nice views around. lots and lots of bugs. i sleep in my car and crack the windows a little bit and i woke up to a shit ton of bugs that got in my car. even more surrounding the cars. very quiet at night, maybe i just got lucky lol.

    • CThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Echo Summit Dispersed
      Jul. 23, 2024

      Echo Summit Dispersed

      Echo peak free camping

      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. There are some power lines and it might be prettier if it had some unburned trees, but it’s great in a pinch and private. Take echo summit road from El dorado and you will see several places to chose from. The road towards the cabins has a very tight turn that will not allow anyone over 25 feet- though i’d recommend smaller.

      most likely impassable after snowfall.

    • Chris N.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Bowman Lake Dispersed
      Jul. 21, 2024

      Bowman Lake Dispersed

      Great Late Spring Escape

      This place was a slice of heaven, but only accessible by way of 4 x 4 with decent clearance. The trail will take you off road for quite some time , but it's well with the adventure. Traction boards and a winch could help you through unexpected obstacles and are recommended to have on hand, but you most likely won't need them. No running water, but there are restroom buildings, fire rings and bear boxes to use. Mosquitoes are abundant here. Don't forget your repellent. The lake is gorgeous, a great fishery, and there are plenty of inspirational views and solitude to be had.

    • Raymond B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from USFS Silver Fork Dispersed
      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!

    • AThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from BLM FLATTOP
      Jul. 6, 2024

      BLM FLATTOP

      Access Sucks

      The road kinda sucks but VC is a good time. It was nice other than the road. Please remember to pack everything out, there was a lot of trash I had to pick up that was left behind by others.

    • LThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Grouse Ridge Campground
      Jun. 30, 2024

      Grouse Ridge Campground

      Amazing spot for a campground.

      The last five miles to get to this campground was narrow and rocky. Once we got to the campground, I realized narrow and rocky are okay. We were there last weekend in June and there was still snow on the ground. Woot! It was awesome. Quite a few sites there with fire rings, beat up, bear boxes that didn't open and picnic benches that were in bad shape. They had two pot toilets. This was a very busy campground. Lots of traffic on and out, I'm sure to beat the heat. It was 25 degrees cooler up there than in Sacramento. We loved this campground. I can't wait to go back.

    • BThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
      Jun. 21, 2024

      Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

      Burnside lake

      We went just up the road into the wildlife reserve and drove all the way up to burnside lake. Beautiful. Definitely need 4x4 and the road is super bumpy. We had a great spot that looked over the mountains. Would definitely come back. Lots of places to choose from along the way to the lake.

    • BThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Luther Pass Dispersed Camping
      Jun. 21, 2024

      Luther Pass Dispersed Camping

      Good in a pinch

      This place is beautiful but it’s a designated free camp ground and has minimal spots on one side. The other side was so jammed full. We ended up squeezing in a parking space and asked the ranger for permission to use our pop up there (she was super nice about it). Trash, fire pits, bathrooms are all available there. Single lane road getting in to it was a little harry with other cars. Decent place if you need a safe space to rest.

    • BThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Union Valley Reservoir Dispersed Camping
      Jun. 21, 2024

      Union Valley Reservoir Dispersed Camping

      It was okay

      Pretty easy to get to and lots of spaces for dispersed sites. There was trash EVERYWHERE. Broken glass, toilet trash, bottles and cans, we were really disappointed. We found a spot pretty hidden which was rad but someone was shooting litteraly all night long which was frustrating. We probably won’t come back.

    • BThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from USFS Silver Fork Dispersed
      Jun. 21, 2024

      USFS Silver Fork Dispersed

      Great spot

      Not sure if my wife and I found the right spot or went far enough, but we found a great spot about 4 miles before silver fork camp ground. Nice and flat, right next to the stream, already had some stones for a fire ring. Easy road to get out there.

    • Susan L.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
      Jun. 17, 2024

      Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

      What a beautiful place for our 40 ft 5th wheel

      We are new to dispersed camping and have a 40 ft 5th wheel as well as a GMC Denali 350 dually. We need a large space to fit into. We arrived on a Monday at noon and found that the large area about 1/4 mile in was not at all crowded. We had our choice of several places to set up. It is very quiet here, not hearing any road noise. A forest ranger told us there were more spaces up near the lake, but we didn’t venture up there.

    • Jr A.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
      Jun. 9, 2024

      Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

      Easy access and lots of spots

      You follow a dirt road and have camping spots along the road. When I was here it was jammed packed RV, vans and tents all set up along the road. To me it was good for a an overnight stay. No At&t service what so ever. Little highway noise.

    • VThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Luther Pass Dispersed Camping
      May. 31, 2024

      Luther Pass Dispersed Camping

      Good Camping Spot Near SLT

      Parked my car and walked into my campsite 50m? Not ideal if you are car camping but not terrible. Tables, bear boxes, toilets and fire ring provided. First come first serve. Adequate TMobile service.



    Frequently Asked Questions

    • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Truckee, CA?

      According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Truckee, CA is Big Dog Valley with a 4-star rating from 4 reviews.

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

      TheDyrt.com has all 29 dispersed camping locations near Truckee, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.