Spooner Lake State Park Campground

Open — Open year-round, first-come, first-served. No reservations. Note that backcountry trail closures are in effect through 2026 due to Marlette Dam repairs, affecting access to some areas. Limited to 14 days in a 30-day period.

About

Nestled within the 13,000-acre Spooner Backcountry in the Lake Tahoe Basin, these three primitive walk-in campgrounds offer backcountry camping without the need for reservations. Marlette Peak, Hobart, and North Canyon campgrounds each feature basic amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, and bear-resistant food and trash storage boxes. Campers must pack in all supplies and pack out all trash, as no services are provided in the backcountry. The campgrounds serve as excellent base camps for exploring over 50 miles of trails through forested terrain, open meadows, and around subalpine lakes. Popular routes include the Marlette Flume Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, and North Canyon Road leading to Marlette Lake. The area is managed as a non-motorized zone to preserve its ecological and recreational character. Winter visitors enjoy groomed cross-country ski trails on the south side of Spooner Lake and up North Canyon when snow permits. The historic backcountry was once the site of extensive Comstock-era logging operations and features the engineering marvel of the Marlette Water System, still in use today.

Directions

Park entrance is located on US Highway 50 at the junction with State Route 28, on the east shore of Lake Tahoe. Campgrounds are walk-in only and accessed via backcountry trails from Spooner Lake day use area.

Nearby Campgrounds