Echo Lake Sno-Park | Informal Campsite

June 18th, 2024 by milannguyen

The road up to the parking lot is steep, narrow , and curvy with switch backs. Not recommended to drive at night . Spent 1 night with about 10 other cars. Good T mobile reception.

June 6th, 2024 by shaderfx

Seems fine at the moment. Clean and quiet. Its a parking lot with trees around it so not too special, but does the job if you want to explore the area and need a place for the night. Verizon seemed glitchy. It says 2 bars but internet was spotty.

Edit: stayed here a few more days later and this place turned busy and loud over the weekend. Just two people who don’t know how to be respectful. Everyone else was fine.

May 16th, 2024 by lisa.hunt59

This place was perfect for the night. We got here late and there was only one other van. Easy to get to.

January 2nd, 2024 by rickihoffman537

Stayed one night. No issue with Sno park permit. Probably would have been fine without permit but didn’t want to risk it. 2 bars ATT and Verizon. Was the only van here

October 15th, 2023 by sreid

It was a little tricky to find in the dark but it was a nice spot for the night.

September 8th, 2023 by hannahoneill535

This was a great place to stay the night in the off season and the others around us in the morning were super friendly! The only thing that I didn’t see anyone else mention is that the road to get up is super steep and twisty with no railings. We got there at night and are driving a small bus, and it was a bit scary getting up to the top. There’s not room for two cars to pass each other so you’re relying on someone moving over as far as they can for one of you to get through. It wasn’t too bad, just wanted to give a heads up for anyone with a larger vehicle that it might be better to get there with daylight!

August 26th, 2023 by m.dirlt4

very nice spot! big level paved carpark in the forest with pit toilet. can hear the Highway but only see trees around and very calm night. stood here with 3 others. good place to start early for Echo lake trail, that carpark is completetly full. can recommend!

August 1st, 2023 by howardh

Only 5 vehicles in the lot at this time and could hold 50 if needed. So plenty of space. 4 bar ATT 5G. Quiet and peaceful.

July 27th, 2023 by howardh

I stayed here for one night as part of a hiking trip that started from Echo Lake. The lot is flat and paved, and could hold 10's of vehicles including large RVs. There were only 4 other vehicles in the lot the night I was there. Very quiet and peaceful. There is a pit toilet that was in good working order. No water or hookups, no trash cans. Great spot. Great ATT service connection.

July 21st, 2023 by Project Soul Quest (Tori and Dylan)

Nice place to stay just outside of Tahoe, Echo lake was crazy busy. Overflow parking made it all the way to this lot. Quiet at night though

May 12th, 2023 by munroks89

Permit required Nov 1 to May 30. Looks nice though

September 10th, 2022 by AskHoyle

LOTS of room this time of year, and relatively quiet. Pit toilet has been cleaned since the earlier review. It's not great but it's acceptable. Good altitude means cooler temps. Flat enough i didn't need to level

September 7th, 2022 by smilkoslens.com

Perfect quiet place to stay for the night. About 6 other vehicles when we stayed, and one tent. Everyone was very quiet and respectful. There are no trash can on premise. Only free until Nov. 1 and then a permit is required. Remember to leave no trace. ✌🏽

August 3rd, 2022 by calebb4231

It's a parking lot that has sadly been overrun by dirty, "I-don't-care" campers. There is an obscene amount of trash being thrown into the pit toilet, which I fear will soon be the end of overnight parking here. Last night there was a young pair who parked a van and a car next to each other, rolled out a carpet, strung up lights between the vehicles, and started a propane barbecue fire in the middle of the parking lot *while there is a very high fire risk posted on every sign in the Tahoe area*. Disgraceful.

If you park here, pack out your garbage and don't "spread out." This is the ONLY free overnight parking within an hour drive of the lake. It's heartbreaking and infuriating to see so many people disrespect the space and do everything they can to make sure it will be closed to vehicle sleepers.

July 9th, 2022 by Joe

Nice place for a night. I just recommend to not follow Google Maps because you will pass by a narrow road to get there if you arrive from Tahoe Lake. Just continue a little more on the highway 50 and you will get to the easy road (the only one in the winter). Enjoy and leave no trace behind.

July 6th, 2022 by Science education and more

Nice place for a stop. With Xfinity wireless (Verizon towers) I got between 3 and 50 MBS, the higher speeds were outside my van.

June 27th, 2022 by Humble Bumble

3 parking lots with only a few people staying. It's nothing great but is a place to stay night near Tahoe and the wilderness. Decent AT&T LTE but Verizon LTE better at night than day. A permit needed during winter season. Pit toilet that is clean and maintained. Yours to enjoy protect and keep clean 🌲

March 16th, 2022 by alyssayourfunny

Decent cell service (2 bars 5G for Mint Mobile/TMobile). Three lots as said, bottom lot was still icy but no one was down there so that’s where I stayed in my RAV4. Similar to another person, saw about 8-10 cars in top lot but no one inside. Then middle lot had 3 and I was alone at the bottom. I bought a permit online when I arrived and wrote the number on a napkin and put it in my windshield. No one bothered me. Restroom is a single hole in the ground with something to sit on but I wasn’t expecting much. No sink. Just my experience but I got some bad vibes from this place. I’m glad I didn’t read about someone trying to get into a vehicle before I stayed here. I wish there were more winter options around. I got stuck on a trail to another camp spot prior to this so I just gave in and came here. Happy and safe camping y’all! :-)

February 19th, 2022 by npb0812

There's a few parking areas. All are accessible, though the lower level has a lot of snow. (Nothing special needed but a bit icy) I showed up at night and there were only a bunch of cars.

Did not see any campers of vans just a bunch of trucks and Subaru's. Didn't seem like anyone was in them either which seemed odd.

Permit required. We bought a season one for $25 in town but you could also get a day one for $5.

I didn't like this place too much but it was one of the only places I could find open during winter.

August 1st, 2021 by steveandnoelle.com

Pros: Plenty of parking, three lots. There were probably 8-10 other RVs & camper vans, all with plenty of space. 1 bar of AT&T cell service. It’s a nice area with small trails off the parking. About a mile to Echo Lake, which is beautiful (& super crowded).

Con: 3:00 am awakened to truck doors being checked. Sat straight up and threw on my glasses just in time to see the person at the back door trying to get in. Yelled for them to go away and they did. Needless to say there was very little sleep after that.

Recommend for the proximity to Echo Lake and South Lake Tahoe. Don’t recommend for the car prowler.

July 15th, 2021 by creadire

Lots of parking. Not much shade and bring leveling blocks there is a few degrees of slope. As stated, there is a vault toilet. Pack it in and pack it out.

3 bars service with AT&T Straight Talk.

June 13th, 2021 by rickihoffman537

Stayed 2 nights. Only about 3 cars. Cleans bathroom. 2 bars Att

October 23rd, 2020 by thetrepidtravelers.com

Sno-Park lot just outside of South Lake Tahoe. We stayed before the pass was needed for the season (starting Nov. 1).
It is a mostly level lot with some traffic noise from highway 50. We had 1 bar of LTE Verizon service.