California · Camping · Near Nevada City

Watson Lake Campground

Jan–Jun, Oct–Nov
best months
  • At 3,711 ft
  • Mother Lode Field Office

Watson Lake Campground is a small, remote campground on Bureau of Land Management land in north Lake Tahoe, about 1.2 miles from the Sugar Pine Trail and the Sugar Pine Boat Ramp. It sits above Tahoe City, and the Forest Service operates the site. The campground has vault toilets, and no fees are required to use it. That makes it a simple base for a day on the trail or a stop on the way to the lake. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Colfax show May highs around 74°F and October highs around 75°F, while July and August average in the low 90s. Giant Gap and Shirttail Creek campgrounds are both about 1.3 to 1.7 miles away, and the Rocky Ridge hike is about 1.8 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Watson Lake Campground

    Campground

    Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Dutch Flat Trading Post

    Pub

    On your way back · 5 mi
  • If it rains

    Golden Drift Museum

    Museum

    On your way back · 5 mi

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More in Nevada City
  • Best time to go · Jan–Jun, Oct–Nov

    Best time to visit Watson Lake Campground

    Best months: January–June and October–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      55° / 37°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      57° / 37°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      60° / 40°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      66° / 43°

      8 wet

    5. May

      74° / 49°

      5 wet

    6. Jun

      83° / 56°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      92° / 63°

      0 wet

    8. Aug

      91° / 61°

      1 wet

    9. Sep

      86° / 57°

      1 wet

    10. Oct

      75° / 49°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      61° / 41°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      54° / 36°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Colfax, CA, 7.7 mi away at 2,380 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.