USDA Forest Service · California
Sterling Lake Campground
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Cost
- Overnight Use: Single Site: $15 per night
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 7,051 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- LAKE STERLING (NFSR 0085-002) · native material · high clearance vehicles
- Nearest town
- Soda Springs, CA
Season dates aren't confirmed for this campground yet - opening and closing dates haven't been verified. Check the operator's page or call ahead before you plan a trip.
Site map
The imagery of the campground. Press and hold the map to drop your own pins and notes; the operator publishes no site points here. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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About
US Forest Service campground. Sterling Lake Campground is adjacent to Sterling Lake. Campground is located on a steep, winding road and supplies must be hiked in a short distance (approx. 400 feet) after parking your car. Pack out what you pack in. Not reservable through Recreation.gov, so plan on first-come, first-served; check with the ranger district for current conditions and fees.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38° | 24° | 5° | 53° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 38° | 23° | 7° | 51° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 40° | 25° | 8° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 44° | 26° | 5° | 58° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 58° | 35° | 21° | 68° | 6 of 11 |
| June | 68° | 44° | 28° | 86° | 2 of 11 |
| July | 80° | 52° | 41° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 78° | 53° | 45° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 70° | 47° | 36° | 80° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 62° | 37° | 23° | 75° | 6 of 10 |
| November | 46° | 30° | 10° | 66° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 38° | 24° | 11° | 58° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Trails nearby
All 451 trails in Tahoe National Forest
Trailheads the Park Service and the Forest Service map; each trail's page has its length, climbing and the Service's description.
Nearby campgrounds
- Hampshire Rocks · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 33 sites
- Big Bend Group (Yuba River) · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 2 sites
- Meadow Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Meadow Lake Shoreline Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Indian Springs · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 36 sites
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-06. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.