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Hope Valley is a beautiful area located in Alpine County south of Lake Tahoe and off of Highway 88. The area is comprised of public and private land and offers a wide range of camping and exploring opportunities.
As you enter the valley you’ll notice cars parked along side the road in various places. If you look closely you will most likely see that off in the distance from the car is a fly fisherman going after the abundant trout swimming along the West Fork Carson River or one of the other smaller creeks such as Maxwell Creek.
Off of Hwy 88 you’ll turn onto Blue Lake Rd. and into the heart of the valley. The first campground you come to is Hope Valley Campground, which is run by the National Forest Service. The campground is a small loop made up of 22 sites complete with fire rings, bear boxes, level pads and picnic tables. Centrally located are several pit toilets throughout the campground as well as a water spigot. A camp host is onsite to help with finding a spot or also purchasing firewood as long as there are no burn restrictions at the time. Several of the spaces are by reservation and the rest are first come first serve.
The back side of the campground also has a smaller loop which includes several tent sites separate from the main loop. Most of the campground is pretty heavily shaded so it keeps it cooler during the summer. If you’d like to explore from the campground you can walk right across the street to the river. You can hike along the river, fish or pack a picnic for lunch on one of the little beaches lining the river. Each time I have stayed there it’s been quite and a very nice stay.
Continuing past the Hope Valley Campground is a nice drive further back into the mountains. Most, not all, but a big chunk of the land along the road is open to camping. Many times during the year you’ll see people pulled off the side to camp because campgrounds are full. There are actually some nice places near the river to camp and you do have some OHV access to trails as well.
10 miles in from the turn off from Hwy 88 you will find the Pacific Crest Trail crossing Blue Lakes Rd. This trail provides a great opportunity for a day hike if you head out and back in either direction.
After continuing along Blue Lakes Rd for another couple of mile you will run into a T at Lower Blue Lake. Lower Blue Lake offers another camping opportunity with a smaller, first come first serve campground bordering the shoreline. Spaces are paved and include fire rings, bear boxes and picnic tables. Pit toilets are within the campground as well as a camp host and a nearby boat ramp.
Taking a right at the T will bring you along Lower Blue Lake where you can stop to fish or swim or you can continue along to Upper Blue Lake.
As you close in on Upper Blue Lake you’ll see Damsite Campground near the south end of the lake and eventually Upper Blue Lake Campground further in. Both of these campgrounds offer first come first serve spaces. Both offer the same amenities such as level pads, picnic tables, bear boxes, fire rings and nearby pit toilets. Each are also nestled into the woods with some spaces providing easy access to the lake. It’s a good idea to explore between the two campgrounds to find an available space but also, if you have the option, pick just the right spot for you. I’ve seen some very nice spots that are tucked back in and spaced farther out from other campers.
If you are into off-roading whether it be in a Jeep, OHV, motorcycle or even MTB, a cool option here is to continue up the road, which is called Forestdale Rd. The smooth road turns into a rocky Jeep trail that goes up over the mountain and reconnects with Hwy 88.
For a good time for the entire family, Hope Valley is a beautiful area within an hour and a half of Reno which provides for all sorts of outdoor activities.
| Hope Valley Camping Options | |
|---|---|
| National Forest Camping | Dry Camping – On the north side of Highway 88 (right hand side if you are coming from Carson) just before you turn onto Blue Lakes Rd. you will see a turnoff into a meadow with signs for camping. This is national forest area with no hook-ups or designated camping spaces. Also, once you get onto Blue Lakes Rd. you can watch for several areas where people camp not far from the road and it is a similar situation with no designated camp site and no hook-ups. |
| Hope Valley Campground | National Forest Campground. Reservations and first come first serve spaces. Reservations are available through https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232185 |
| Lower Blue Lake CG, Upper Blue Lake CG, Middle Creek CG, Middle Creek Expansion, Upper Dam CG | All of these are run by PG&E. As of May 2021 they are open, except for group sites, and available on a first come first serve basis. Reservations will be happening this summer so it is best to check the PG&E reservation system for updates on the campground you would like to stay at. https://recreation.pge.com/reservation/camping/ |
| Extras | Sunset Lake Road – While this areas does technically fall under dry camping I wanted to mention it separately because it is easy to miss and a fairly large area. This road is a gravel forest road with options for camping along the side of it as well as along smaller spur roads that lead into the woods. You will also pass by Tamarack Lake on the way to the Wet Meadows reservoir Trailhead. |
| Type | RV and tent camping |
| Roads | Mountainous drive in on Hwy 88 |
| Elevation | 7300′ |
| Environment | Wooded, mountains and lake |
| Kid Friendly | Yes |
| Dog Friendly | Yes, with leash. Trails and swimming. |
| Family Friendly | Yes! |
| Activities | Hiking, equestrian camping and trails, motorcycle trails, mountain biking. Dirt roads for street licensed UTV’s and Jeeps. Swimming and fishing at the lake. Lots of exploring to do. |
| Cell Service | Spotty in the campground. Random signal throughout Hope Valley, some places you will have nothing and others a couple of bars. |
| Closest Services | Kirkwood Resort, Wylder General Store, Gardnerville, Carson City or South Lake Tahoe |
| Facilities | Picnic tables, fire rings, water. |
| Hookups | None |
| Reservations | Book as early as possible! recreation.gov |
| Contact | https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/htnf/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd573315 |
Hope Valley Camping Options
| National Forest Camping | Dry Camping – On the north side of Highway 88 (right hand side if you are coming from Carson) just before you turn onto Blue Lakes Rd. you will see a turnoff into a meadow with signs for camping. This is national forest area with no hook-ups or designated camping spaces. Also, once you get onto Blue Lakes Rd. you can watch for several areas where people camp not far from the road and it is a similar situation with no designated camp site and no hook-ups. |
| Hope Valley Campground | National Forest Campground. Reservations and first come first serve spaces. Reservations are available through https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232185 |
| Lower Blue Lake CG, Upper Blue Lake CG, Middle Creek CG, Middle Creek Expansion, Upper Dam CG | All of these are run by PG&E. As of May 2021 they are open, except for group sites, and available on a first come first serve basis. Reservations will be happening this summer so it is best to check the PG&E reservation system for updates on the campground you would like to stay at. https://recreation.pge.com/reservation/camping/ |
| Extras | Sunset Lake Road – While this areas does technically fall under dry camping I wanted to mention it separately because it is easy to miss and a fairly large area. This road is a gravel forest road with options for camping along the side of it as well as along smaller spur roads that lead into the woods. You will also pass by Tamarack Lake on the way to the Wet Meadows reservoir Trailhead. |
| National Forest Camping | Dry Camping – On the north side of Highway 88 (right hand side if you are coming from Carson) just before you turn onto Blue Lakes Rd. you will see a turnoff into a meadow with signs for camping. This is national forest area with no hook-ups or designated camping spaces. Also, once you get onto Blue Lakes Rd. you can watch for several areas where people camp not far from the road and it is a similar situation with no designated camp site and no hook-ups. |
| Hope Valley Campground | National Forest Campground. Reservations and first come first serve spaces. Reservations are available through https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232185 |
