The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
The Bureau of Land Management administers federally owned land in the United States. BLM sites offer seclusion and the opportunity to commune with nature. While many BLM wilderness areas are found west of the Mississippi, they can be found all over. Search "BLM camping near me" to find what's available in your area.
The Indian Creek Recreation Area is situated between the towns of Markleeville and Woodfords in Alpine County, California. It is a pine tree and sagebrush environment near the East Fork of the Carson River. Recreation opportunities include hiking, mountain biking, road biking, climbing, boating, swimming, fishing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, and picnicking. This is Sierra high country, with elevations of about 5,600 feet in town and at the reservoir. A big nearby draw for tourists is the South Lake Tahoe area, around 30 miles away. Yosemite National Park is about 110 miles away to the south, with access from a drive mostly on Highways 49 and 4.
Within the recreation area, this short trail is an interpretive loop. It is an easy, pancake-flat stroll through what is left of the pine and sage forest going from lake to lake.
Length: 1.8 miles
Intensity: Easy
This is a short hike from the nearby Grover Hot Springs State Park to a spectacular waterfall. Check before you go, however, because the area is sometimes closed as a result of wildfires in the area.
Length: 2.3 miles
Intensity: Easy
This hike will take you uphill from just outside the state park area up to and along Charity Valley Creek to Hope Valley. It is part of the famous Carson Trail.
Length: 14 miles
Intensity: Strenuous
A popular fishing access spot is found on the East Fork of the Carson River at Hangman’s Bridge, which is just past the town of Markleeville on the left. You will have the chance to catch wild trout, such as browns, rainbows, and Lahontan cutthroats, as well as mountain whitefish. There are boat ramps at Indian Creek Reservoir and further west on Highway 88 at Silver Lake and in South Lake Tahoe. Whitewater rafting and kayaking are also popular on the East Fork of the Carson River. You can literally float from California to Nevada if you have cars at the entry and exit points.
The Fortress is a climb found along Highway 88 just east of the Crystal Springs Campground. There are other popular climbs in this area known as Woodfords Canyon. True Value Crag is out on Highway 4 south of Markleeville about two miles south of Monitor Pass. There is a bridge to the left near the access.
There are bears, deer, golden and bald eagles, squirrels, and chipmunks that can be readily spotted at the Indian Creek Recreation Area. There are also coyotes, Clark’s nutcrackers, and white-headed woodpeckers, as well as waterfowl in the lake.
Indian Creek Recreation Area has a day use area at the reservoir with four picnic tables, a boat ramp, and a flush toilet restroom facility. There is also another nice picnic area in the town of Markleeville right beside the most beautiful stone library in the Sierra. It has a shaded area, a mini park for your children, and picnic tables.
If you go into the Markleeville visitor center, they will provide you with a brochure that will guide you on a tour of the historical sites in town. The best spot on the tour is the incredibly well-preserved and maintained schoolhouse.
Bureau of Land Management camping can be found in the Indian Creek Reservoir Campground within the recreation area. There are 19 sites that are suitable for RVs and 30 sites total. Your RV can be up to 34 feet in length. There are the usual fire rings and picnic tables, and water is on site with no hookups. Unusually for a BLM RV camping location, there are restrooms with flush toilets and hot showers.
Other nearby campgrounds include Turtle Rock Campground with RV sites and similar amenities to Indian Creek, as well as the Forest Service campground Markleeville with fire pits, picnic tables, and vault toilets only. Grover Hot Springs State Campground is near Markleeville and can accommodate smaller RVs. It boasts similar amenities, including a huge hot spring.
There is Bureau of Land Management free camping available in a dispersed area about two miles from the entry gate to the recreation area at the big bend in the road near the airstrip. Free National Forest Service camping can be found down Highway 4 at the Centerville site. The latter has fire pits and vault toilets, but the former has no amenities. Both Bureau of Land Management campgrounds are suitable for tents and RVs.
Indian Creek Recreation Area is a really great place for dispersed camping in the early fall or mid-April shoulder seasons when it begins to cool off. Temperatures can get into the 90s in the summer. Once the snows start flying and sticking in earnest, the entire recreation area closes. The only campground open after late September and year-round in the area is the Grover Hot Springs State Park, which can accommodate up to 18-foot RVs at that time of year. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
Leave No Trace ethics allow everyone to be able to enjoy our public lands. Remove everything that you brought to your campsite when you leave. Also, heed fire conditions. Even in developed campgrounds, campfires may be restricted at times. Put your fire out fully, and when you're dispersed camping, set up in areas where there has obviously been previous camping.
From South Lake Tahoe, proceed west on Highway 50 for four miles to the town of Meyers. At the traffic circle, take Highway 89 for 12 miles south to its intersection with Highway 88. Head east on 88 for six miles to the Markleeville turnoff in Woodfords. The signed recreation area is five miles down on the road to your left.
BLM Carson City Field Office: 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, NV 89701.
Ready to visit Indian Creek Recreation Area? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.