Sardine Peak Lookout in CA -- Campground & RV Camping
Sardine Peak Lookout in CA
CampgroundUSFS
11 mi from Verdi
Official campground & reservations ↗
Road Access
- Road difficulty 4 of 5: a difficult drive in.
- Recorded as maintained for high-clearance vehicles, dirt, pitching to 12%, 100% of it on a shelf.
Rig fit
- Maximum published vehicle length: 15 ft.
- Driveway grade: moderate.
Campground details
Setting
Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935, Sardine Peak Lookout is a three-story enclosed tower with external stairs, offering a rentable 14-by-14-foot enclosed top cab at an elevation of 8,138 feet. The cab is furnished with two twin beds, a dry sink, table, chairs, propane lights, a propane heat stove, and a propane cookstove. Below the tower sits an accessible vault toilet, picnic table, and fire ring. There is no electricity, drinking water, or trash service. The peak overlooks Stampede Reservoir, Boca Reservoir, and Sardine Valley.
Getting there: From the Sierraville Ranger District Office, proceed south on Highway 89 for 12 miles to Sierra County Road S450. Turn left onto road S450 and proceed east for 4 miles to Sierra County Road S650, the Lemon Canyon Road. Turn left onto County Road S650 and proceed north for 2 miles to Forest Service Road 650-75, the Sardine Peak Lookout Road and proceed 4 miles to the locked gate. Sardine Peak Lookout is about 250 yards beyond the locked gate.
- Well separated here, a single-site campground with the nearest through road 1.2 miles off.
- Flat ground is scarce: under a tenth of the terrain within a few hundred yards is level.
- Cabins and shelters rather than pads.
- Sardine Spring lies 0.6 mi off.
Climate averages
October normals 27–54°F, 2.0″ precipitation. Monthly averages, PRISM 1991–2020.
Starlink Radar
Open sky · Terrain & buildings · Tree canopy
Estimated horizon in eight compass directions, using 10 m USGS elevation. Sky clearance 66 of 100.