Big Reservoir Campground
Closed for the season. Opens around late May for the summer season through early September. Reservations through Recreation.gov must be made at least 3 weeks in advance.
Fireworks and Explosives are always Prohibited
Fireworks and explosives (including explosive targets) are always prohibited on national forest lands. The prohibition of fireworks and exploding targets on national forest system lands is part of a set of permanent fire safety regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), listed below.…
Floriston Fire Closure
Tahoe National Forest and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest has issued a forest closure order for national forest lands impacted by the Floriston Fire.
Fall Prescribed Fire Projects
Tahoe National Forest plans to begin ignitions on prescribed fire projects as early as Oct. 1, 2026, as conditions allow. View more information here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/tahoe/newsroom/releases/tahoe-national-forest-upcoming-fall-2026-prescribed-fire-projects
About
Big Reservoir Campground is a seasonal Forest Service campground located in the Sierra foothills of Tahoe National Forest, adjacent to the privately-operated Big Reservoir (also known as Morning Star Lake). Sites 1-19 are managed by the Forest Service and reservable through Recreation.gov, while sites 20 and above are operated by Morning Star Campground and require separate booking through their office. The campground provides vault toilets and drinking water from faucets. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with cooking grille. Firewood is available for purchase at the Morning Star Campground office. Note that use of the lake and Morning Star facilities requires a separate $25 fee not included in your campsite reservation. The area offers easy access to outdoor recreation including OHV trails at the nearby Sugar Pine staging area and fishing, boating, and swimming at Sugar Pine Reservoir, located 9 miles away. Restrictions prohibit gasoline-powered boats on Big Reservoir, as well as firearms, slingshots, fireworks, and chainsaws.
Directions
From I-80, take the Foresthill Road exit and continue 17 miles to Foresthill. Continue 9 miles to Sugar Pine Road, turn left and drive 3 miles to Forest Road 24, then continue 3 miles to the campground.
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | — |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $24 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | — |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (530) 346-3028 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
Community Posts
No posts yet. Be the first to share your experience!