Campsite Sniper
California · Recreation.gov

Sardine Peak Lookout

39.5402° N / 120.1879° W · Data Sep 18 2026, checked hourly
1 monitored site

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Sardine Peak Lookout

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Opening record
No detected openings in the last 90 days

No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors Sardine Peak Lookout continuously and will alert you if that changes.

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01 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Oct 5, 2026 · of 1 monitored site

Of the 18 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Oct 5, 2026): 18 reserved.

Currently fully reserved online

All 18 tracked site-nights are currently reserved. Openings appear when inventory returns to Recreation.gov; a free alert catches them the moment Campsite Sniper detects one.

Load status

Sep 18 – Oct 5, 2026
Not open online100%
Open site-nights0 / 18
Reserved (of online inventory)18 / 18

Of the 18 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Oct 5, 2026): 18 reserved.

Open dates by month

Sep 2026 – Oct 2026
04812160 OPEN0 OPENSEPOCTSOLID = OPEN SITE-NIGHTS · DASHED OUTLINE = TOTAL BOOKABLE

No month in range currently shows online availability. 0 open site-nights across the tracked window — all tracked site-nights are reserved.

Holiday windows

Sites open per night · of 1 cabin
WindowNightSites openStatus
Labor DaySAT Sep 50None open
SUN Sep 60None open
MON Sep 70None open

Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.

About Sardine Peak Lookout

Overview

Sardine Peak is a forest fire lookout tower that was constructed in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It is a three story enclosed tower with external stairs. Presently the top room or observation cab is the only rentable space. Sardine sits at an elevation of 8,138 feet in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains of Tahoe National Forest, approximately 20 miles from Truckee, California. The lookout does not have electricity, water or garbage service. It does have a propane tank to operate propane-powered appliances.

Recreation

Hiking, mountain biking and off road vehicle use are popular around this lookout. Stampede and Boca Reservoirs are nearby for fishing, boating and swimming.

Facilities

The interior of the cab is 14 feet long and 14 feet wide and contains two twin beds, a dry sink, a table and four chairs, two propane lights, a propane cast iron heat stove and a propane stove/oven for cooking. A limited assortment of cooking utensils, pots and pans are provided. There is an accessible vault toilet, a picnic table and fire ring are located outside below the lookout. Firewood is not provided. Visitors need to bring their own bedding, toilet paper and other personal items.

Natural Features

The lookout tower sits on a mountain top with spectacular views of Stampede Reservoir, Boca Reservoir, Sardine Valley, Independence Lake, the top of the Sierra Buttes and western Nevada.

Nearby Attractions

Kyburz Flat Interpretive Area, The Boca Townsite Interpretive Area, and a mountain bike loop within Sardine Valley are all nearby.

1 monitored cabinRVs up to 15 ftNo hookupsPets OKFire pitsMax party 4

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.

Sierraville Ranger District, Sierraville, CA 96126(530) 994-3401
CampingHistoric & Cultural Site

View on Recreation.gov ↗   Get directions ↗

FAQ

How do I get a reservation at Sardine Peak Lookout?

Reservations for Sardine Peak Lookout are made through Recreation.gov. All 18 tracked site-nights are currently reserved; a free alert catches the next detected opening. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.

Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?

No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.

How current is this availability data?

Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.

Which sites at Sardine Peak Lookout fit a 35-foot RV?

No RV-analyzable site here has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 15 ft.

Does Sardine Peak Lookout have online availability right now?

As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot, all 18 tracked site-nights are currently reserved. A free Campsite Sniper alert catches the next detected opening.

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