HELPING THE ELDORADO NATIONAL FOREST SERVE THE PUBLIC

CAMPING IN THE CARSON PASS MANAGEMENT AREA

Camping in the Carson Pass Management Area (CPMA) is now limited to designated campsites located at Winnemucca, Round Top, and Fourth of July Lakes. Camping is not permitted at Frog Lake.   At Emigrant Lake, camping is permitted 300 feet or more away from the lake.

As shown on the map, there are three designated campsites at Winnemucca Lake, six designated campsites at Round Top Lake, and six at Fourth of July Lake.   Camping elsewhere in the CPMA (the area shown in gray on the map above) is not permitted. OTHER CPMA REGULATIONS Permits for camping in the designated campsites will be issued on an in-person, first-come-first-served basis only at the Carson Pass Information Station during the summer.   Reservations are not accepted. During the winter when the Information Station is closed, permits will be issued at the Amador Ranger District Office. For information about when these locations are open, see the Locations page. There is an overnight stay limit at the designated campsites of 2 nights during the period from the Memorial Day Weekend through the Labor Day Weekend. Campfires are not allowed anyplace in the CPMA due to the limited availability of firewood. Camping is not limited to designated campsites when there is at least one foot of snow on the ground. There is a $3.00 per stay fee charged for parking at the Carson Pass Trailhead parking lot during the summer.  This fee is also charged at the Carson Pass Overflow and Meiss Trailhead parking lots. During the winter, a SnoPark permit is required to park in these parking lots. Day use permits for hiking in the CPMA are not required.           The Eldorado National Forest was forced to impose these camping regulation because the area between Carson Pass and Round Top Mountain and the Fourth of July Lake area is being "loved to death."   There are just too many people visiting this area. The regulations now in effect hopefully will permit future visitors to enjoy the area as much as we have been enjoying it up to now.   Camping at Frog Lake and camping within 300 feet of Emigrant Lake is no longer permitted to allow the area around these lakes to recover from too much use.

CAMPING OUTSIDE THE CPMA           There are many other beautiful locations in the greater Carson Pass area where you can hike or drive to and then camp overnight.   For help in finding these locations, ask one of the docents on duty at the Carson Pass Information Station.   In addition, the Trails & Places page provides some information about other camping locations.           Please note that if you choose to camp someplace in the Eldorado National Forest other than in the Carson Pass Management Area, there are other regulations in effect.   These include, for example, open fire restrictions, length of stay restrictions, and several areas where camping is not permitted any time.   For information about these regulations, see the Eldorado National Forest Web Site.

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ENFIA -- THE ELDORADO NATIONAL FOREST INTERPRETIVE ASSOCIATION