Lake Spaulding Campground California
Highway 20Soda Springs, California 95718
916 386-5164
Lat / Long:
Lake Spaulding is a PG&E managed campground with 25 campsites (13 are walk-in tent campsites) in a beautiful ponderosa pine forest on the shores of Lake Spaulding. Some sites are reservable but most are usually first-come, first-serve.
Campsites are best suited for tent camping and/or small campers. RVs (up to 30 feet) are allowed over in overflow parking area by boat ramp. Each campsite also has a table, fire ring, rate and food storage locker.
Campground amenities include drinking water, vault toilets and trash collection. Cell service is not available. Generators are okay to use from 8am to 10pm. Check in time is 2pm and check out is 11am.
Lake Spaulding – Area Recreation
Outdoor recreation activities include boating, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, water sports, hiking, mountain biking, backpacking and picnicking. There is also a boat ramp at the lake, but water level will determine if it is open.
The town of Truckee is about 33 miles from the campground and has many restaurants, shops and stores. Lake Tahoe is also 45 miles away.
Other campgrounds in the area include Hampshire Rocks, Lodgepole (Tahoe), and Indian Springs.
Make a Reservation for Lake Spaulding
Best Campsites
3, 4, 5, 6, 12
Regions
Campsite Types
- ADA
- Primitive
- RV
- Tent
- Trailer
- Walk-To
Season:
Late May – September (weather permitting)
Elevation:
5,050
# of Campsites:
25
Amenities
- BBQ Grills
- Boat Launch/Ramp
- Boat Ramp
- Campground Host
- Campsite Tables
- Cell Service - None
- Comfort Station
- Drinking Water
- Equestrian trail
- Fire Pit
- Fire Rings
- Firewood Available
- Food Storage Locker
- Grills
- Pets OK
- Picnic Tables
- Restrooms (Vault Toilets)
- Trash Collection
Activities
- Backpacking
- Biking
- Bird Watching
- Boating
- Boating (non motorized)
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Hiking
- Historic Sites
- Horseback riding
- Jet Skiing
- Kayaking
- Lake
- Mountain Biking
- Nature Trails
- Photography
- Picnicking
- Stargazing
- Swimming
- Walking Trails
- Water Skiing
- Water Sports
- Wildlife Viewing
Lake Spaulding Photos
Lake Spaulding Comments & Reviews
Visited Lake Spaulding Campground lately? We'd love to hear about your adventure. Did you find us useful? Did we forget something? Anything our community should know before heading out to Lake Spaulding?
48 Replies to “Lake Spaulding”
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Can we just visit lake spaulding to go to the lake for a day?
Hi Mary,
Lake Spaulding is available for day use (camping not required). You can picnic, fish, boat, swim, etc.
Are there showers? Hit /cold?
Hi Terry,
Lake Spaulding campground does not have showers.
Is the lake closed this season?
Hi Faith,
Due to heavy snow, the season opening at Lake Spaulding (campground and lake access) was delayed this year, but is open now. You can visit HERE for more information.
Can I camp in the parking lot with a rv ? Can I reserve a spot in the parking lot ?
Hi JP,
I doubt they will let you (your RV) stay overnight in the parking lot at Lake Spaulding campground. I recommend you call Lake Spaulding campground directly to find out their policy: 916 386-5164
When I was up there the other week they did let an RV stay in the overflow area of the parking lot.
Thanks Joe – good to know.
How early on a friday do suggest we come if we want to try and camp for a weekend?
Hi Cherie,
Lake Spaulding campground is small (25 sites / 13 walk-in) and popular. You should probably try and arrive before 10am on Friday to get an walk-in site.
Someone should speak the truth about the upper campgrounds. They are not the best to say the least. The train coming by with screeching brakes during the night is awful. You can hear the freeway and traffic noise. This Lake is appropriate for day use or as a rest stop only. The campgrounds suck.
Hello! I’m trying to extend my camping reservation by a single day. I made the reservation yesterday and have not been able to get in contact with anyone. Any suggestions?
Hi Katie,
Here are the change policies/procedures for Lake Spaulding campground (A PG&E Campground):
Changes to the reservation are not allowed within 3 business days of the scheduled check-in date and are subject to a minimum $10 change fee.
Reservations and their associated fees are non-transferable to other camp sites within the campground or to other recreational facilities.
If an emergency or natural disaster forces a closure of a campground, we will attement to notify you as early as possible and refund all camping fees.
If you leave early, stay reductions do not qualify for a refund.
To make changes please e-mail recinfo@pge.com.
Couple of Questions: 1. Are there any OHV trails/roads near Spaulding? 2. Do you think the Day Use area would be super crowded on Saturday of Labor Day weekend?
Hi Joy,
There are a few dirt/OHV roads in the Black Mountain region – about 5 miles south of Lake Spaulding. These can be accessed via Texas Hill Road. And yes, you can expect a pretty big crowd in the Day Use area of Lake Spaulding on Labor Day weekend.
The online reservation system will only let me book a minimum of 7 nights. We only want to reserve 2 nights. Is this not possible?
also, if we reserve a spot, can we move to a walk-up only spot if one is available upon our arrival?
Thank you so much!
Hi Monica,
Reservations for Lake Spaulding (a PG&E campground) are a bit different than other campgrounds:
April 6, 2020 at 8:00am PT – reservations will open for camping from 7 to 14 days.
April 20, 2020 at 8:00am PT – reservations will open for camping from 2 to 14 days.
So, you can make a reservations for 2 nights, but you won’t be able to try and April 20 at 8:00am.
Also, you can move to a walk-up site if one is available, but you won’t get a refund on your reserved site.
Hope this helps!
Love this place! Family comes back every year. Beautiful campgrounds and awesome lake. 11/10
this camp grond is the worst place ever i can not belive
how dumb it is you have to pay 10 dolers to lanch the bote ramp
do not get number 6 2 1 or 4 unbelivabl i do noe whant to go back ever agin
Hi when will you be open for camping? Thank you
Hi Laura,
Unfortunately Lake Spaulding campground is not scheduled to reopen before June 29. However, they may reopen on a first-come, fist-serve basis prior to that date “if conditions allow”. You can check status at this website:http://recreation.pge.com/reservation/camping/
any idea when lake spaulding will be open for camping either walk in or reservations?
Hi Amber,
Unfortunately we don’t have a date. Hopefully it’ll be no later than late June.
Is the lake/campground open or closed due to COVID?
Lake Spaulding is open.
I’m trying to make reservations for this weekend but I don’t see Lake Spaulding on the list from the PG&E website the link on this site takes me to.
Hi Jimmy,
All PG&E campgrounds are closed to reservations for the rest of 2020, but they are starting to open up on a first-come, first-serve basis. Still, not sure why it does not appear in the drop down list. Perhaps they temporarily removed it. You can click HERE for more info.
Appreciate the wrong information you gave me. Lake Spaulding was not open. Plenty of signs saying it was shut down for the season. Killed my weekend.
Are the “first come first serve” campsites open for the summer?
Hi David,
Lake Spaulding campgrounds/campsites are all closed for the remainder of 2020 due to a construction project at the dam.
Is the campground at Lake Spaulding still closed? We went by there today and there were “No Trespassing” signs all over the place and a new fence and gate that weren’t there the last time we were there. The gate was open, but the signs looked very intimidating, so we turned around and left.
Hi David,
We just checked and Lake Spaulding Campground opened May 24, 2021. You can click on the “Make A Reservation” button to check availability, pricing and make reservations.
I’m not seeing directions to Lake Spaulding. If I input the lat/lon listed above, will this be taking me to the middle of the lake or the check in site for campgrounds?
Thank you
Hi Jessica,
Thanks for headsup on the coordinates. We have adjusted those and the map should now show a better location for Lake Spaulding Campground.
Is the boat ramp currently open?
(July 6)
Hi Sam,
I’m not sure if the boat ramp is open. That is determinant on the level of the lake water. I recommend you call Lake Spaulding to check: 916 386-5164
I have a reservations for july, 6th 7th and the 8th , 2021 but I will not be arriving until the early morning on the 7th I’m just wanting to make sure that they don’t give my campsite away.
Hi Julia,
I recommend you login to your account on the reservation page (link below) to change your reservation to a July 7th arrival if you think you will arrive after 7am on the 7th. Still, it may also be a good idea to call to let them know. I’m not sure of their policy on releasing campsites if you don’t show on July 6.
https://recreation.pge.com/reservation/camping/Index.asp
Why can’t I make a reservation for Lake Spaulding? Is there something I am missing? The Make a Reservation link keeps sending me to a page where I don’t see how I can select the campground and campsite and make the payment.
Hi Tommy,
Once you click on the ‘Make A Reservation’ button, it will take you to the PG&E Campground reservation page. From there you can select ‘Lake Spaulding Campground’ from the ‘Which Park?” scrolling menu (see screen shot below). Here is also a direct link to the PG&E Campground Reservation page: https://recreation.pge.com/reservation/camping/Index.asp
Hello! I have plans to stay at Lake Spaulding from August 3 – 7 with a group of 6. Unfortunately, all reserved sites are unavailable. What would you recommend we get there to get a spot that is FCFS on a Thursday?
Hi JP,
I recommend trying to get there by mid morning to try and get a FCFS campsite. You should have a very good chance with a Thursday arrival. Best of luck!
Is there a store or place to buy ice and or firewood nearby?
Hi Kara,
The town of Truckee is about 33 miles from the campground and has many restaurants, shops and stores. Lake Tahoe is also 45 miles away. Those are the closest locations for ice, firewood, etc.
We does the gate open for kayaking?
Hi Gordon,
I’m not sure when the gate opens for kayaking at Lake Spaulding (no info online). You may try calling PG&E’s Regional Land Department to check: 916-386-5164