Recreation at Sugar Pine Reservoir is managed by Tahoe National Forest under an agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation. Sugar Pine Reservoir was created by Sugar Pine Dam across Shirttail Creek. The dam is a feature of the Central Valley project, American River Division, Folsom Auburn Unit. The reservoir offers four main recreation areas around the lake. The complex, which opened in May 1985, contains two campgrounds, boat ramp, hiking trails, picnic area, swimming beach, and a trailer dump station. The facilities are operated under a concession agreement between the U.S. Forest Service and the L&L Inc. Most facilities have been designed to accommodate wheelchairs. Some facilities are available on a reservation basis only. Fishing for warm and cold water species is good. There is a boating speed limit on the lake of ten miles per hour.

Sugar Pine Reservoir is located off Foresthill Road northeast of the city of Auburn.