Alpine Meadow Campground is located at a prime location just outside the town of Truckee, downstream from Martis Creek and the area's abundance of trails. And while it is centrally located, it's lack of popularity and the varying accounts of information about it online make it seem an outlier amongst the Lake Tahoe area's campgrounds.
The campground is known by a couple different names, including Martis Creek Campground which seems to be more popular than its official name of Alpine Meadow. Operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, online mentions have listed it as a first come, first serve only campground. However as of 2021, all visitors are required to have reservations prior to arriving. (Reservations can be made on Recreation.gov)
Confusion aside, Alpine Meadow Campground is made up of 25 sites lying around a single loop road. Camp sites are mostly pull-in parking, with a couple in which parking is along the shoulder of the road, making access for larger RVs easier. There are no electric hook ups. Each site is equipped with a tent pad clearing, picnic bench, fire pit, grill, food locker, and hook for hanging food above the reach of critters.
An amphitheater with a couple kiosks displaying historic photos of the area sit in the center of the campground. And vault toilets with sinks and water spigots sit on trails to the center.
Most of the site sits beneath tall pine trees, and if there is a wind, the trees whistle and shake creating an ambiance that feels you are much further from the city than within earshot of the skydiving school and able to smell the local restaurants if the wind blows right.
The campground lies within a wildlife management area that has a network of easy hiking and cycling trails, and a lake open to fishing and paddling.
Alpine Meadow Campground is open seasonally from May 15th through October 15th. The campground closes for winter.
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