Highway 89: Highway 395 Junction to Highway 88: March 2008 Archives

Wolf Creek to the West Fork / High 89

Road condition:    Paved    

Region: Alpine County / Markleeville    Tributaries: Silver Creek and Wolf Creek

Description:

Species: Stocked rainbows

Closest town or supplies: Markleeville

Contacts:

Nearest campground: Silver Creek Campground, Markleeville Campground, Grover Hot Springs State Park, Turtle Rock County Campground, Indian Creek Reservoir Campground

Fishing season: General season

Tips:

Favorite lures or bait:

Favorite fly patterns:

Stocking information: 20,000+ trout in the 10-12-inch range

Nearby fishing: Indian Creek Reservoir, West Fork Carson River

Additional information: The East Fork of the Carson River from Hangman's Bridge to the Nevada border is designated as a Wild Trout section along its twelve my course to the border.  Although the size and catch rates have been disappointing to some, it nonetheless offers a chance at catching wild fish.  Bank fishing access is from the bridge downstream or a trail from the Indian Creek Recreation Area leads to the river. Access from the south side of Hangman's Bridge is through private property that so far has not been restricted. 

Directions: From Highway 395, turn left at the junction with Highway 89 and proceed over Monitor Pass to the junction with Highway 4.  Turn left on Highway 4 to access the upper portion of the East Fork, or continue on Highway 89 to Markleeville and the junction with Highway 88, where the West Fork joins the East Fork.

Markleeville:  For tourism information contact: The Alpine County Visitor’s Bureau, #3 Webster Street, Markleeville, CA 96120; (530) 694-2475.  Email: aplenty@telis.org

Markleeville Campground / Highway 89

Area: South of Lake Tahoe

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Administered by: Carson Ranger District (775) 882-2766

Elevation: 5,500

Season Length: Subject to weather conditions, April - September

Number of sites: 10

Fee: $14.  Extra vehicle: $5   Day Use: $5.

RV sites:  Yes   RV’s up to:     Hook-ups:   Garbage: containers  Pack-it-out!

Toilets: Vault    Water: Yes      Picnic tables and fire grills

Bear-proof food storage lockers                                                         

Nearest town: Markleeville

Nearby facilities: Markleeville

Nearby fishing: The campground is located on Markleeville Creek, which holds small trout.  The East and West Forks of the Carson River, Silver Creek and Wolf Creek offer better fishing opportunities.

Reservations:  No

Additional information:  The access road to the campground is paved, although the campground road is not.  Pets must be kept on a leash.  Please note that the dates and prices above are subject to change and reflect 2008 data.  If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions.

Directions: From Highway 395, turn north on Highway 89.  Proceed to the town of Markleeville.  The campground is ½ mile south of town.

Grover Hot Springs State Park

Area: 30 miles south of Lake Tahoe, California / Highway 89 at Markleeville

Elevation: 6,000

Administered by: California State Parks (www.parks.ca.gov/) General information: (530) 694-2248; Pool information: (530) 694-2249

Features: The state park has a pool complex with a hot pool and a swimming pool fed by hot springs, along with a campground, picnic area and hiking trails.  Hot Springs Creek is stocked with trout providing there is sufficient water flow.

Season: Open-year-round.  The facilities are closed during severe storms, and seasonal hours and days of operation change during the off-season months so it is best to call in advance.  During the winter months, the pool is closed on Wednesdays. The pool facilities are closed for two weeks in September for cleaning and maintenance.

Number of camping sites: 76, two of which are designed for wheelchair use and accessible restrooms are nearby.  The campgrounds are closed from early October to May.  Camping is permitted in the day-use area adjacent to the park entrance during the winter for a $20 fee. (No showers) 

Fee: $20-25, $6. for additional vehicle.  Pool fees are $5 for adults and $2 for children

Tent sites: 26  RV sites:  50   RV’s up to: 27-feet and trailers up to 24-feet   No Hook-ups  

Garbage: containers   Bear-proof food storage lockers

Toilets: Flush    Water: Yes      Picnic tables and fire grills

Showers: Coin operated – summer only                                                 

Nearest town: Markleeville

Facilities: A small grocery store is four miles away.

Nearby fishing: East and West Forks of the Carson River  (See Highway 89, 4,88)

Reservations:  Yes.  (Reservation fee)

Additional information:  Pets must be kept on a leash.  Please note that the dates and prices above are subject to change and reflect 2008 data.  For a reservable campsite, phone toll free at 877-444-7275.  For on-line reservations: www.reserveamerica.com.

Directions: From Markleeville take the Hot Springs Road four miles to the park.

Turtle Rock County Campground / Highway 89

Area: Markleeville area

Administered by: Alpine County Public Works Department, (530) 694-2140

Elevation: 5,900

Setting: The park offers a wooded setting.

Season Length: Subject to weather conditions, May-September

Number of sites: 28

Fee: $10 and $3. for additional vehicle

RV sites:  Yes   RV’s up to: 34-feet   No Hook-ups:   Garbage: containers

Toilets: Vault    Water: Yes    Showers: Yes    Picnic tables and fire grills      

Nearest town: Markleeville

Nearby facilities: Markleeville

Nearby fishing: East and West Fork of the Carson River

Reservations:  No

Additional information:  A camp host is on site.  Pets must be kept on a leash.  Please note that the dates and prices below are subject to change and reflect 2007 data.  If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions.

Directions: From Highway 395, turn left on Highway 89 and drive _____miles to Markleeville.  Continue another _____ miles to the campground entrance on the left side of the road.

Indian Creek Reservoir / Highway 89

Elevation: 5,600

Road condition:   Paved     

Region: Highway 89 north of Markleeville         

Description: Indian Creek Recreation Reservoir is a popular destination for Nevada residents, especially on weekends.  In addition to the campground, the developed BLM recreation site offers an environmental study area and numerous hiking trails to Curtz Lake, to the East Fork Carson River and to the Carson River.

Lake size: 160 acres     Depth:      Species: Stocked rainbows

Closest town or supplies: Markleeville

Contacts:

Facilities: Lodge, marina, grocery store, bait and tackle, coin-laundry, coin-showers, RV campground

Nearest campground:

Boating:

Fishing season: General season

Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: Trolling is by far the most popular fishing method.  The reservoir is not known for good fishing throughout the season.

Favorite fly patterns:

Stocking information: 15,000 fingerling rainbows yearly

Additional information:

Nearby fishing: Carson River

Directions:  : From Highway 395, turn left on Highway 89 and drive _____miles to Markleeville.  Continue another four miles to Airport Road and drive another four miles to Indian Creek Reservoir.  Veer left and continue to the campground on the west side of the lake.

Indian Creek BLM Campground / Highway 89

Map courtesy of mytopo.com

Area: Markleeville area

Bureau of Land Management

Administered by: Carson City Field Office, (775) 885-6000

Elevation: 5,600

Setting: Surrounded by ponderosa and Jeffrey pines on the west shore of Indian Creek Reservoir, the campground is a first-come, first served campground with paved loop roads and a facility for hot showers. 

Season Length: Subject to weather conditions, late April to early October

Number of sites: 19 (10 walk-in sites for tents only and one group tent site, which requires a reservation.)

Fee: $20 and double sites are $32.  Walk-in sites range from $14 to $20.  Add $5 for each additional vehicle.

RV sites:  Yes   RV’s up to: 30-feet     No Hook-ups:   Garbage: containers

Toilets: Flush    Water: Yes    Showers: Yes     Picnic tables and fire grills

Boat Launch: The maximum speed limit on the lake is 5 mph.                

Nearest town: Markleeville

Nearby facilities: Markleeville

Nearby fishing: The 160 acre lake offers fair trout fishing.  Nearby is the Carson River.

Reservations:  No

Additional information:  Pets must be kept on a leash.  Please note that the dates and prices above are subject to change and reflect 2007 data.  If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions.  Dead and down wood may be gathered from BLM lands for campfires. 

Directions: From Highway 395, turn left on Highway 89 and drive _____miles to Markleeville.  Continue another four miles to Airport Road and drive another four miles to Indian Creek Reservoir.  Veer left and continue to the campground on the west side of the lake.