Bayview Campground
Forest Service Notice: "The Bayview Campground at Emerald Bay is temporarily closed for conversion to a day-use area, and parking in other nearby lots is in high demand. The trailhead remains open."
(3/2024)
Bayview Campground is located near Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe. The campground is one of the few in the area that does not take reservations. All sites are first come, first served.
Bayview Campground is popular with those who like to use it as a jumping off point for hikes or horseback rides into the Desolation Wilderness. Two corrals, a loading dock, and seasonal watering sources for horses are available, but the creek water often runs dry by mid-summer. There is no piped water at the campground.
Bayview Campground is an often-overlooked destination with pleasant campsites set among the trees. Although it is close to the road, sites farther back up the creek hardly notice the sounds of passing cars.
General Camping Information
Opening and closing dates of campgrounds are only estimates, usually dependent on weather conditions. Not all campsites can accommodate trailers or RVs of all lengths. If using a reservation website, check to be sure your vehicles will fit in the parking space for your campsite.
In order to prevent the spread of invasive insects, obtain firewood locally.
Accessible Sites
Designated Accessible sites are usually reserved for people with disabilities who have a vehicle displaying an accessible parking placard or license plate
