Tahoe National Forest — Welcome!

The Tahoe National Forest is located in the northern Sierra Nevada (east of Sacramento) and extends from the foothills across the Sierra crest to the California state line. (It does not include Lake Tahoe - visit the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit website for more information.) The Tahoe National Forest includes 800,000 acres of public land interspersed with 400,000 acres of private land in a checker board ownership pattern.

Rivers, rocks, snow capped peaks and scenic forests offer outstanding recreation year round. A complex set of ecosystems are found as the forest ascends from 1500 feet along the western boundary to over 9,000 feet along the crest. The forest provides a variety of resources and opportunities and is managed by the Forest Service. We hope your visit to this webpage provides helpful information and answers your questions.

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District Ranger Jeannie Masquelier Leaves the Tahoe National Forest for Washington DC

Jeannie Masquelier, District Ranger for the Yuba River Ranger District which includes portions of Sierra, Yuba, and Nevada Counties will be leaving the Tahoe National Forest for a job in Legislative Affairs at the Forest Service National Office in Washington DC on Jan 6, 2010. Masquelier arrived on the TNF in 1988 as the Natural Resource Staff Officer responsible for timber, fuel reduction, wildlife, soils and watershed restoration. In 1992, she was selected as the District Ranger for the Downieville District responsible for the National Forest lands in the western part of Sierra County and in Yuba County near Camptonville. In 2004, her duties were expanded to include portions of Nevada County when the Downieville and Nevada City Districts were consolidated.   » news release

Over 1,000 Acres Added to the Tahoe National Forest

In 4 separate transactions, over 1,000 acres of upper elevation land has been added to the Tahoe National Forest. With contributions from private entities and funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) totaling $3 million, these acquisitions have been finalized during the past 2 months. "I would once again like to thank the Trust for Public Land, the Truckee Donner Land Trust, Northern Sierra Partnership and the Smith family," stated Tom Quinn, Tahoe National Forest Supervisor. "These are very scenic lands along the Middle Yuba River, the Little Truckee River, Rubicon River and in Pierce Meadow. They are especially valuable for recreation and wildlife habitat."
» news release     » photos

Prospectus for Campground and Related Granger-Thye Concessions

The Tahoe National Forest is pleased to announce the availability of a prospectus issued to solicit applications for a concession special-use permit. One special use permit will be issued to provide high-quality public service in the operation and maintenance of Government-owned campgrounds and other developed recreation facilities on the American River, Yuba River, and Truckee Ranger Districts. The prospectus includes facilities located at five separate recreation complexes located within the three ranger districts.   » Prospectus Information

National Forest Recreation Survey to Start in October

Beginning in October, the Forest Service will be conducting visitor surveys over the next 12 months to help determine a statistically accurate estimate of how many people use the Tahoe National Forest for recreation. The surveys are expected to take about 5 to 10 minutes and will be conducted at over 70 locations throughout the Forest including picnic grounds, downhill ski resorts, campgrounds, non-motorized trails, boat ramps, lodges, and off highway vehicle or snowmobile staging areas. Some surveys will also ask about the level of satisfaction experienced by forest visitors, and the economic expenditures made in local economies during those visits. The survey is voluntary and all information will be confidential.
» news release

Travel Management - Temporary Forest Order

In October, 2007, a temporary forest order was signed requiring all motorized vehicles to stay on existing roads and motorized trails. This order has expired. On July 13, 2009, a new temporary order was signed which also requires motor vehicles to stay on existing roads and motorized trails. The purpose of these orders has been to protect forest resources and reduce the proliferation of user created trails.   »   Forest Order