Big Meadows (TRT)
Campground · Lake Tahoe corridor
Big Meadows (TRT) is a 7,438-foot campground in the Lake Tahoe corridor's high Sierra. A sheltered meadow setting north of Highway 50, it runs calmer than exposed lake-view camps.
Morning air is still and cold; wind picks up by midday from the west-southwest, averaging 8 mph but gusting to 20 mph by afternoon. The meadow itself sits in a basin that traps cold air overnight. Clear days warm to the low 40s Fahrenheit; cloud cover stalls temperatures 10 degrees lower.
Over the last 30 days, Big Meadows averaged a NoGo Score of 12.0 with winds at 8 mph and temperatures near 39 degrees Fahrenheit. The week ahead shows typical spring variability: watch for afternoon wind spikes and crowding jumps when Highway 50 access improves.
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About Big Meadows (TRT)
Big Meadows (TRT) sits on the Tahoe Rim Trail corridor about 15 miles south of Lake Tahoe, accessed via Highway 50 from the Placerville side or US 395 from the Carson side. The campground occupies a meadow basin at 7,438 feet, well removed from the lake's alpine exposure. Parking and overflow lots fill first on weekends when Highway 50 snow clears, but weekday traffic remains light through spring. The primary drive is 90 minutes from Sacramento via Highway 50.
Conditions here are shaped by elevation and shelter. Spring temperatures average 39 degrees Fahrenheit over a rolling 30-day window, with nights dropping to the low 20s and days rarely climbing above the mid-40s until late May. The 30-day average wind of 8 mph is mild by Sierra standards, but afternoon thermals reliably push gusts to 15 to 20 mph by 3 PM. Snow persists in shaded patches through April; ground becomes muddy in May as snowmelt saturates the meadow. Crowding averages 6 out of 10, lower than Yosemite or South Lake Tahoe campgrounds at the same elevation.
Big Meadows suits hikers and backpackers using the TRT network who want reliable base-camp access without summiting peaks. Families with young children prefer it over higher, more exposed Sierra camps because wind is manageable and meadow terrain is gentle. Experienced Sierra travelers plan morning departures to avoid afternoon wind and schedule trips for Tuesday through Thursday to sidestep weekend parking constraints. Bring layers; the temperature swing from dawn (low 20s) to afternoon (low 40s) is sharp. Water is reliable from creeks; filtering or treating is essential. The meadow drains to the Upper Truckee River system.
Nearby alternatives include Carson Pass TRT sections to the south (slightly higher, windier) and Echo Lakes to the north (lower elevation, often 5 to 10 degrees warmer but more crowded). Meiss Lake and Round Top Reservoir sit within a day's hike and offer solitude. Highway 88 over Carson Pass opens later than Highway 50, so Big Meadows fills the spring window before the highest passes clear. Winter access is spotty; the campground typically closes November through April depending on snow.