Lookout rental · U.S. Forest Service · Tahoe National Forest · Sierraville, CA

Sardine Peak Lookout

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.

Lookout rentalReservable · Recreation.gov1 site15 ft maxPets okFires ok
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
SARDINE PEAK LOOKOUTSardine Lookout 10-04-2025SARDINE PEAK LOOKOUT 2025Sardine Peal Lookout 10/20/2025
Photos courtesy of Forest Service · Recreation.gov
1fire
active
Tmu Rx Support (prescribed burn) · 44 mi away
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-16
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Fire lookouts1
This lookout is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfacePeople / vehiclesFiresRating
01Back-in100Gravel4 / 2YesPrime

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

Max vehicle length15 ft
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

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. Visitors need to bring their own bedding, toilet paper and other personal items.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Sardine Peak Lookout20°30°40°50°60°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 27.7°F averageFebruary: 27.7°F averageMarch: 33.4°F averageApril: 37.5°F averageMay: 45.1°F averageJune: 52.2°F averageJuly: 58.4°F averageAugust: 57.3°F averageSeptember: 51.6°F averageOctober: 42.9°F averageNovember: 34.8°F averageDecember: 26.5°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Sagehen Creek, 8 miles from the campground at 6,337 feet, station USC00047641 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

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.

Nearest townSierraville, California
Coordinates39.5402° N, 120.1879° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Firewood is not provided.

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Tmu Rx Support

    44 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearCabela's ↗11.8 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗12.1 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗32.1 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Worth a stop

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

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 1.5 mi
    Winch Hill Shortcut
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 1.6 mi
    Bear Valley OHV Connector
    0.08 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 1.8 mi
    Knob Hill
    0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 2.4 mi
    Ball Peen
    0.07 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 2.5 mi
    Old Muck
    0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 2.8 mi
    Kyburz
    2 mi trail · snowshoe, ski

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Tahoe National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

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.

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.

Guidebooks for California

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Sardine Peak Lookout?

Sites at Sardine Peak Lookout are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Sardine Peak Lookout?

Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Sardine Peak Lookout have?

1 site, including 1 lookout.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Sardine Peak Lookout?

The longest site here provides 15 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Sardine Peak Lookout?

Yes, pets are allowed at Sardine Peak Lookout. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Sardine Peak Lookout?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

Is there cell service at Sardine Peak Lookout?

FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE and T-Mobile 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Sardine Peak Lookout?

Hiking, mountain biking and off road vehicle use are popular around this lookout. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Sardine Peak Lookout?

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

Source: Getting there

What if Sardine Peak Lookout is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Bear Valley Campground (2.8 mi, first-come), Upper Little Truckee (4.5 mi), and Lower Little Truckee (4.6 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby