Open Year-round
No
Reservations possible?
No
RV Hookups
No
Potable water
No
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Also called Kirkwood Lake Campground, Kirkwood Campground was closed temporarily following 2021's Caldor Fire however has reopened and is tucked into a scenic and often overlooked area along the Northern Sierra.

Generally passed by in favor of the more developed larger lakes and campgrounds such as Caples Lake and Silver Lake, Kirkwood Lake is a smaller, quieter and debatably more scenic alpine lake, with a campground too small and narrow to accommodate RVs and trailers. The 11 camp sites instead feel quiet and distant from each other.

Campers get the benefit of being a short walk from the shores of Kirkwood Lake, and ideal spot for paddling or swimming during warmer temperatures. As only non-motorized boats are allowed on the lake, and the campground is down a hill from the highway, the area remains quiet for the most part.

Each site has a small parking spot and table with a food locker and fire pit. Two vault toilets serve the campground, and to make the whole experience feel even more quaint, there's a functioning payphone in a handmade enclosure at the entrance of the campground.

No reservations are accepted. All sites are available on a first come, first serve basis. 

A camp host is onsite. Water is available, however it is signed as non-potable and requires boiling before drinking.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer

Congestion

Occasionally full

Parking Pass

Camping fee

Open from

June 10 to September 17

Price per night (basic site)

28.00 $ (23.51 €)

Pros

Easy access to Kirkwood Lake.

Cons

Toilets a several minute walk from some sites.

Pets allowed

Allowed with Restrictions

Managed by

US Forest Service

Features

Vault toilet
Fishing
Family friendly
Picnic tables
Near lake or river

Access

Vehicle

Total number of sites

11

Lodging type

Bed + Breakfast

Location

Nearby Adventures

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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