About this Adventure
Join us for a queer camping trip in Tahoe National Forest. We're looking for 12 campers to spend three nights together at a quiet reservoir in the northern Sierra. This trip is specifically for members of the LGBTQ+ community - sorry, allies, this one's just for us.
It's a chance to connect with fellow queer folks in a welcoming, relaxed, nature-filled setting: swimming, hiking, lounging in hammocks, making s'mores under the stars, and soaking up the beauty of summer together.
Cost: $30 per person to help cover the campsite share.
What you'll need: You're responsible for your own transportation and camping gear. We'll set up a shared spreadsheet so people can offer or request rides and gear once accepted.
Questions? Reach out to hello@wildernessqueers.com.
Eligibility
To participate, you must have attended at least one past Wilderness Queers event. If you haven't, you can share a link to a public social profile so we can get a sense of you. This helps us build a safer, more connected community.
Selection
Spots are by application. We'll review applications after submissions close and let you know by email whether you're in. The exact campsite number, address, and meeting details are only shared with final attendees before the trip.
RSVP to see the full plan
We share the exact location, itinerary, packing list, and travel details with confirmed attendees only.
Safety
This is black bear country. The campground provides bear-proof food boxes; all food and garbage must be stored in approved containers or inside a hard-sided vehicle. Don't keep food, medicine, chap-stick, shampoo, sunscreen, or anything that smells inside tents or sleeping areas. Stoves, barbeques, and cooking tools should be locked up when not in use, and food scraps and trash should never go in the campfire. Bears at this reservoir have also been known to investigate motor oil, insect repellent, and liquor, so secure those too.
The reservoir is open to swimming, paddling, and motorized and non-motorized boating, with a boat ramp adjacent to the campground. Reservoir water sits in the high 30s to low 50s Fahrenheit through the early season, which is cold enough to trigger involuntary gasping and rapid loss of strength if you fall in unprepared. We strongly encourage everyone going in the water to wear a life jacket, especially when the water is still cold or you're swimming away from the bank.
A few site-specific things to plan for. Cell service is unavailable at the campground. Top off your fuel tank before leaving Foresthill; there are no services beyond that. Bring extra drinking water, since the campground's water system can be unreliable. The area is inside a State Game Refuge, so firearms, bows, and slingshots are prohibited. Fire restrictions can be imposed on short notice in summer, which would prohibit campfires and charcoal fires for the duration of our stay. As of now we are planning to have campfires each night, but that can change quickly if conditions shift, so check with us or the ranger district before lighting up. Buy firewood locally near the campground rather than hauling it in from home, since moving wood between regions spreads invasive pests that kill native trees.
For current bear activity reports, water and weather conditions, or fire restrictions on the days we'll be there, call the American River Ranger District at 530-367-2224 - they're the authoritative source. The office is staffed 8:30 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday.
Weather forecast
- Sun, Jun 7Sunny67° / 48°
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Updated 22d ago.
Accessibility
Per recreation.gov, a few sites at this campground are wheelchair-accessible and the roads and parking spurs throughout the campground are paved. There are vault toilets, and a handicap-accessible restroom serves the section we'll be at. Drinking water is on-site.
Recreation.gov doesn't publish a full list of which specific sites are wheelchair-designated, and access details like distance from each site to water or to the nearest paved trail aren't published per site. For site-specific access questions, the American River Ranger District (Tahoe National Forest) at 530-492-5631 is the authoritative source.
Disclaimer & Media Release
By attending this Wilderness Queers event, you accept full responsibility for your own safety and acknowledge that the organizers are not liable for any injury, loss, or damage that may occur during the activity.
For application-only trips, you'll also review and sign a formal liability waiver as part of confirming your spot - the banner above will walk you through it.
Photos and videos may be taken and shared on social media. By participating, you consent to being included. Please inform the host if you prefer not to be photographed.
Your host
Carmen
Event organizer