Campfire Permits for Lake Tahoe Camping

The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit offers you the opportunity to get your Campfire Permit via the web. Below you will find the web site address and general instructions on how to get a Lake Tahoe campfire permit through the USDA Forest Service.

Even with this permit in hand, it is your responsibility to find out if there are fire restrictions in the forest you will be visiting. In other words, there are often campfire restrictions which means - NO CAMPFIRES!. For instance, the summer of 2001, fire restrictions were in effect from July 18, 2001 through October 23, 2001 in the Lake Tahoe Basin and no campfires were allowed for that period of time. In addition, there may be specific areas like Desolation and Mokelumne Wildernesses where campfires are simply not allowed any time. Please do your homework before lighting your campfire as there can be significant fines (you will be "held liable for the cost of suppression and damages caused etc..." according the the USDA website) not to to mention you being being identified as the cause of a wildfire.

The USDA Forest Service issues California campfire permits including those for the Lake Tahoe basin. This permit is issued to a responsible person, is good for the calendar year and can be obtained in person at one of the USDA offices or online after taking a quiz. You can also obtain a campfire permit at any Forest Service, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection office, Bureau of Land Management office or Forest Service office.

To take the Forest Service quiz and then download and print your permit, go to the following web address:

  • http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sequoia/passes-permits/?cid=fsbdev3_059516
  • You can also obtain additional information on the USDA site including general fire alerts, camping permit information and more. Information presented on this WWW page is considered public information and is provided as a public service by the USDA Forest Service and TahoesBest.com.

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