Before visiting

Plan Your Trip

1. Submit a reservation through the RAMS online system.
2. Complete the supplemental application and waiver packet for your entire group. These materials will be sent to the primary applicant after submitting the reservation and must be returned before your visit.
3. Carpool whenever possible — parking is limited, and carpooling helps reduce our environmental footprint.
4. WiFi is limited. Download any podcasts, videos, or music you’ll want beforehand. Streaming is not allowed.

Recommended Phone Apps

• iNaturalist
  Help us document plants, animals, and fungi in the Sagehen Creek Basin. Your casual observations support long-term ecological monitoring.
• eBird
  Track bird sightings and contribute to a global database used by researchers and conservationists.
• Merlin Bird ID
  Instantly identify birds by sound or photo—even offline—using AI powered by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
• Watch Duty
  Get wildfire alerts, safety tips, and evacuation resources in real-time from CAL FIRE and local sources.

Recommended Packing List

• Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, sunscreen, medications, etc.
• Soap: Bring hand soap, dish soap, and body wash. Liquid soaps are highly recommended.
• Towels: Bring your own shower towel and washcloth—these are not provided.
• Clothing: Durable clothing for dusty/wet conditions, warm layers, rain jacket, and extra socks.
• Shoes: Trail runners or hiking boots.
• Linens: Fitted twin sheet, pillow, and sleeping bag or blanket.
• Gear: Daypack, refillable water bottle, sunhat, and headlamp.
• Food: Fridge, freezer, cookware, dishware provided. Bring oil and spices. Grocery stores in Truckee (10 mi); Reno (45 mi) offers bulk stores like Costco and WinCo.
• Tools: Bring any specialized gear you need.
• Optional: Earplugs, tent, camera, flip-flops, waders, books, board games, etc.
• Winter Gear: Insulated jacket, waterproof layers, snow gaiters, wool socks, and synthetic base layers.
• Car Essentials: Tire chains (required in winter).

🌦️ Current & Forecasted Weather

• Primary Weather Dashboard: Sagehen Creek Dendra Station
  Start here for current Sagehen Creek station conditions, sensor status, and recent environmental data.
• Sagehen Creek Weather Station (WRCC Live Data)
  Additional real-time temperature, wind speed, and humidity data from Sagehen’s WRCC station.
• NOAA Forecast (Short-Term Outlook)
  Updated local weather forecast for the Sagehen basin and surrounding Sierra Nevada.
• Windy.com (Interactive Weather Map)
  Live radar, wind, and precipitation data centered on the Sagehen watershed.
• NOAA GOES-West Satellite Animation
  Real-time satellite imagery showing cloud cover, wildfire smoke, and storm systems across the region.

🔥 Fire Conditions

• Sagehen ALERTWildfire Camera
  Live camera feed from Sagehen Ridge — monitor visibility, smoke, and weather conditions.
• Watch Duty (Live Fire Map)
  Real-time fire alerts, incident updates, and evacuation information for the Sagehen region.

❄️ Snowpack & Watershed Conditions

• Independence Lake SNOTEL (USDA)
  Real-time snow depth, snow-water equivalent (SWE), and air temperature from the nearest SNOTEL site to Sagehen.
• CDEC Snow Pillow Quantile Dashboard (Independence Creek)
  Interactive California DWR tool showing current SWE at nearby snow pillows, compared to historical percentiles. Select “Northern Region” and “Independence Creek” for conditions closest to Sagehen.
• California Snow Water Equivalent Map (CDEC)
  Statewide interactive map showing snowpack levels as a percent of normal — useful for assessing runoff potential.
• USGS Sagehen Creek Stream Gauge
  Live streamflow measurements near the lower reach of Sagehen Creek, upstream of Stampede Reservoir.
• Sagehen Phenocam
  Time-lapse imagery documenting seasonal vegetation changes and snow dynamics in the Sagehen Basin.