Established Camping
Lewis Campground
About
USDA Forest Service
Tahoe National Forest
Overview
Lewis Campground is located on French Meadows Reservoir in the Tahoe National Forest, 40 miles east Foresthill. Visitors enjoy the area for its fishing, boating and trail opportunities.
Recreation
Popular activities on the reservoir include boating, canoeing, fishing and swimming. McGuire boat ramp is located within a mile of the campground. The Middle Fork American River can be accessed nearby and provides fishing and swimming. A variety of hiking and biking trails are found in the surrounding area, including the Western States Trail, Tevis Cup Trail, and some that provide access to the nearby Granite Chief Wilderness.
Facilities
The campground offers single-family campsites, a few of which are accessible. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and a grill. Flush and vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Roads and parking spurs are paved.
Natural Features
The campground sits on the north shore of French Meadows Reservoir in a coniferous forest. The reservoir is on the Middle Fork of the American River and is the western gateway to the Granite Chief Wilderness.
Nearby Attractions
Lewis Campground is a recreation site within the French Meadows Recreation Area which includes many other recreation facilities. The Granite Chief Wilderness can be accessed nearby at Talbot Trailhead and access to the Western States Trail and Tevis Cup Trail also can be accessed nearby. Other recreation opportunities include many hiking, equestrian, mountain biking, and motorcycle singletrack trails, Duncan Canyon, Duncan Peak Lookout, Robinson Flat historic ranger station, Placer County Big Tree Grove Botanical Area, and Grouse Falls Scenic Area.
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
For Vehicles
- Big Rig Friendly
ScoutPleasant stay
Lewis at French Meadows is quite a remote campground, 40 miles of winding mountain road from the nearest (small) town. The drive is spectacular though. Unfortunately the section of the reservoir that the campground is on is currently dry due to the drought conditions. You can get to the water about a mile down the road at the boat launch.
The campground itself is nice, mid-size with flush toilets and potable water supply available. Clean with friendly camp hosts who helped suggest activities and hikes. We were visited by deer within feet of our tent in the middle of the night, close enough to hear them breathing and munching on the vegetation. We had a noisy family as neighbors for both nights of our stay… didn’t love it but that’s the luck of the draw.
We did an 11-mile hike in Granite Chief Wilderness which is accessible about 5 miles up a gravel road from the campground. On the way back we stopped for a swim in the river that feeds the reservoir… more of a creek currently, but we found a deep still spot perfect for swimming and soaking our tired feet. That was a highlight of our weekend trip.
Location
Lewis Campground is located in California
Directions
Mosquito Ridge Rd outside of Foresthill is closed. As of June 2023, access to French Meadows Reservoir for low clearance vehicles, trucks pulling any type of trailer, and motorhomes/RVs is best through Georgetown on the Eldorado National Forest, taking Wentworth Springs Rd to Eleven Pines Rd.__ __High clearance vehicles may take Foresthill Rd to the 43 Rd (Robinson Flat Rd) to Mosquito Ridge Rd, snow permitting. Access from Soda Springs and the 43 Rd is not recommended for trucks with trailers, motorhomes/RV's or passenger vehicles that are not high clearance vehicles with four wheel drive. It is 6 miles around the lake to the north shore, Lewis Campground will be on the right.
Address
22830 Foresthill Road
Foresthill, CA 75631
Coordinates
39.132125 N
120.416891 W