Preserved around Lake Tahoe is the old forest of Douglas fur, Lodgepol Pine, Giant Sequoia, Colorado Blue Spruce, Western Juniper, Aspen and Ponderosa Pine. Many people looking for a natural setting and wilderness areas for camping often think they need to reserve at one of our national parks. Yet at the south end of Lake Tahoe is a magnificent area preserved by a commercial entity, Camp Richardson.

Surrounded and intermingled between the sap producing tall fir trees and situated at the shores of beautiful, crystal clear Lake Tahoe is Camp Richardson. Filled with wild flowers of early summer, snow flowers of late winter, Manzanita and lilac bushes, and the warm beaches by cool Lake Tahoe is a wonderful wilderness experience awaiting the busy worker. Fire pits, Bar-B-Ques, sand volleyball, horseshoes, picnic tables and boat rentals and rides are all available. A marina is provided in case you would like to moor your boat at Lake Tahoe for the season. Gasoline and ferry service are provided to the boats at the marina. Fishing, charter cruises, and nearby ballooning, para-sailing, water skiing and downhill skiing are all available.

Camp Richardson offers a wide variety of housing. Several multi-acre areas are preserved for tent camping, another for recreational vehicle camping, another contains winterized cabins, another summer only cabins and for those who like to "condo-camp", Camp Richardson offers a rustic lodge decorated in wilderness themes - moose, deer, pinecones, logs and woods of all types. Each room comes with a coffee maker, natural wood furniture and fluffy comforters and rustic décor furniture filled with wilderness themes.

The common area has a huge fireplace with rocking chairs and a sofa around it. Tables are available for working, books for reading and a TV for staying in touch with the rest of the world if you want. Just outdoors is a heated patio - keeps the snow melted - a hot tub and acres of natural paths for cross country skiing, snow shoeing or hiking depending on the season you prefer.

Camp Richardson can accommodate individuals, families and conference personnel, weddings and parties for over 1000 people. One large meeting room is at the boat dock complete with kitchen and seating or dining for up to 140 people. A country store, café, gift and ice cream shops are other rustic buildings on the premises to support the variety of campers who come to Camp Richardson. A full restaurant is provided on the beach complete with weekly entertainment for those who prefer not to cook. "Rum Runners" are the drinks to try at the Beacon Grill.

Near Stateline (between California and Nevada), access to shopping, hotels and casinos is just a short 20-minute drive away. Yet, here at Camp Richardson, you are miles from the hustle and bustle of city life. Filled will paved bike paths (and bike rentals), historic places, hiking trails and horses for horseback riding with stables, Camp Richardson sweeps you away to a place we've forgotten exists.

After biking, you can take a cruise or a sail boat to Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe and see the likeness to the fjords of Norway. Lake Tahoe is 99.97% clear and up to 1600 feet deep - beautiful in any season.

With views of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, Camp Richardson offers the most spectacular views from any of its beach areas (beaches are all public, but automobile access to the beach is controlled in some areas.) Camp Richardson offers old Tahoe charm with a wilderness experience and as many amenities and activities as you may need.

Camp Richardson is on highway 89 at the south end of Lake Tahoe in California. It is close to the scenic overlooks of Emerald Bay. A trolley runs during the summer to take visitors to the bay and to paths you can hike to the beach level of the bay to visit the Vikingshouse. The trolley takes you back to Camp Richardson.

Live the wilderness adventure you seek at the highest alpine lake in the states at Camp Richardson. Book early. You can see pictures of the rooms and amenities of Camp Richardson at their website: