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Choosing a campground in an unfamiliar location is one of the most stressful parts of RVing. If you’ve never been to the Sierra Nevadas in eastern California, it can be overwhelming to pull up Campendium and start searching. There are dozens and dozens of choices within an hour of Lake Tahoe.
We recently stayed at Thousand Trails Snowflower, about 40 miles northwest of Tahoe City. So today, we’ll give you our review. Then, you can decide if it’s a good fit for your travel style when you head to this region of California. Let’s dive in!
What Is Thousand Trails?
Thousand Trails is a network of campgrounds across the U.S. There are different levels of memberships with varying perks and initial costs. But all members above the camping pass level can stay up to 21 nights at a time in one location without paying nightly fees. Members can go from one Thousand Trails campground to another, saving tons of money on campground fees.
Do You Need A Membership To Stay At A Thousand Trails Location?
After all, members receive specific perks, you don’t have to own a Thousand Trails membership to stay at one of these campgrounds. You can pay the retail rate and book a reservation like any other RV park.
However, if you’re going to stay at a Thousand Trails campground, it’s worth comparing the cost of your stay with the lowest membership level, the camping pass. This membership is $670 per year, which averages $55.83 per month.
If you’re going to camp for a week at a Thousand Trails campground for $60 per night, that’s $420. So, if you’re booking more than one camping trip during the year, buying the camping pass is better than paying retail.
Where Is Thousand Trails Snowflower?
Thousand Trails Snowflower is located in the Sierra Nevada region of California. The physical address is 41776 Yuba Gap Drive in Emigrant Gap. This Thousand Trails campground is part of the southwest of the camping pass regions.
Pro Tip: Be sure to check out these 8 Incredible Things You Must See in Lake Tahoe with your RV before making the trek out to CA!
Thousand Trails Snowflower is just off I-80 and runs from Reno, Nevada to Sacramento, California. The campground is about 45 minutes from Tahoe City and Lake Tahoe.
How Many Thousand Trails Campgrounds Are In California?
There are 16 Thousand Trails locations in California. If you add the Trails Collection to your membership, you can access even more campgrounds in the state. Thousand Trails Ponderosa is about 58 miles southwest of Thousand Trails Snowflower.
Another campground, Thousand Trails Lake of the Springs, is about 80 minutes west. Lake Minden is a fourth Thousand Trails campground in this area, about 81 miles from Thousand Trails Snowflower towards Sacramento.
The Pros of Thousand Trails Snowflower
Thousands Trails campgrounds are notorious for having only partial hookups in the West. Most of the campgrounds east of Arizona offer more full hookups.
These campgrounds are also known to have the basic amenities, but many locations are run-down. So we were prepared when we arrived with realistic expectations. Having said that, there are some great features of Thousand Trails Snowflower.
Close To Outdoor Recreation
You can’t beat the location of Thousand Trails Snowflower. Less than an hour from Lake Tahoe, the park sits directly in the Tahoe National Forest. There are so many outdoor recreational opportunities here, including hiking, biking, paddling, boating, and horseback riding.
The campground itself has boat rentals on the lake. There’s also access to a swimming pool, horseshoes, pickleball courts, a playground, tennis courts, and a basketball court.
Surrounding Landscape Is Beautiful
Often, Thousand Trails campgrounds aren’t in the most picturesque locations. Although, Thousands Trails Snowflower is surrounded by forest. There’s also an upper section of the park that’s about 500 feet higher in elevation that provides excellent views. Snowflower Lake is on site, and some RV sites overlook the lake and beach area.
Access To Lake
There’s a swimming pool that guests can enjoy, but we loved having access to the lake. We could fish, kayak, or swim here. Plus, the beach area offers a place for families to hang out for the day.
The Cons of Thousand Trails Snowflower
But there are also some not-so-great features of Thousand Trails Snowflower. Most of these cons are found in campgrounds nationwide, so they’re not unique to this location. But they’re worth considering if you plan to spend a lot of time at this RV park.
Sites Aren’t Always Level
Driving around the campground, we noticed many sites weren’t very level. RVers had to use lots of blocks. Smaller rigs seemed okay, but the larger ones had more problems getting level. This was a common complaint on the Google reviews, too.
Challenging For Larger Rigs
The upper section could be hard to navigate for large rigs. It’s a steep climb along a gravel road. The entire campground is heavily wooded and mountainous, so getting around in a 40-foot Class A or towing a 40-foot toy hauler might be more difficult than it’s worth.
Currently Upgrading Power Pedestals
At the same time, the upgraded power pedestals will be an excellent feature in the future, right now, this means limited service for guests. There were several pedestals with bags and sections closed to camping. This limits the campsites to choose from, which means some RVers had to park in those unlevel sites.
Privately Owned Sections
This may not necessarily be a con to Thousand Trails Snowflower, but it’s unique. This park has sections that are privately owned. We haven’t seen this at other Thousand Trails campgrounds. Despite this, it can be confusing for campers since these private sections are spread throughout the campground.
Is Thousand Trails Snowflower Worth Visiting?
If you’re looking for an affordable campground near Lake Tahoe, Thousand Trails Snowflower is an excellent option. But we would caution RVers with larger rigs and new travelers who may not be used to having to do some serious leveling. For Thousand Trails members, staying this close to the national forest and Lake Tahoe area for free is fantastic. But it may not be the best choice for everyone.
Would you stay at Thousand Trails Snowflower?
