Eldorado National Forest campgrounds span elevations from 2,000 to over 8,000 feet, creating diverse camping conditions across seasons. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during days with nights dropping to 45-55°F, while spring and fall bring significant temperature swings between day and night. Winter access becomes limited as snow accumulates on forest roads, particularly at higher elevations.
What to do
Hiking at Silver Fork Campground: The area connects to multiple trail systems with various difficulty levels, allowing day hikes ranging from 1-5 miles. "Beautiful river area, friendly people, hills to hike around! There's a fire pit and bbq set up at each site and bathrooms and drinking water around the campgrounds," notes a camper at Silver Fork Campground.
Rock climbing access: The area near Lovers Leap offers numerous climbing routes ranging from beginner to advanced difficulty ratings. "The cliffs at Lovers Leap are spectacular, and this valley is beautiful. The town of Strawberry has a friendly general store. This is a destination for climbing, and there is also hiking along the old Pony Express trail," explains a visitor to Lovers Leap Campground.
Winter camping options: Unlike most seasonal sites, some campgrounds remain accessible year-round with modified facilities. A winter visitor shared their experience: "We ended up camping in a truck camper at Tahoe Valley Campground after being caught in a snow storm. For a last minute find, it turned out to be an awesome choice. It was the weekend after Thanksgiving and snowing so there were a handful of people at the campground and the entire place was very quiet."
What campers like
Proximity to water features: Multiple campgrounds offer direct water access with designated swimming areas. At Jenkinson Campground, a recent visitor noted, "This was perfect. We brought our paddle board and were walking distance to the lake front. Lake was quiet, trails well maintained and facilities were cleaned regularly."
Cleanliness of facilities: Campground maintenance receives consistent praise across reviews. "Our site was nice level and clean. We loved the bike paths all though out the area. Rode in to south Tahoe and had a great experience," shares a camper from Fallen Leaf Campground.
Accessibility options: Several glamping locations near Eldorado National Forest provide accessible amenities. "This campground is handicapped friendly. Its not large but rests along the Cosumnes River with a boardwalk and cement walking trail good for wheelchairs and canes. Family friendly and well developed," explains a visitor to Pipi Campground.
What you should know
Bear activity: Bears frequently visit campgrounds in this region, requiring proper food storage. "Be prepared. It's going to be full of kids and dogs and campers who are not necessarily out there to experience nature but to see family and friends and likely drink a caseload of Bud Light a day. There may also be bears. Bears are everywhere here," cautions a visitor to Fallen Leaf.
Seasonal water availability: Water systems at many campgrounds shut down during colder months. A winter visitor noted, "Water level was low and this time of year the water spickets are off. This site is right next to one of the vault toilets and a trash dumpster. Not many people stay this time of year and the gates are closed just past the marina so the usual trail access is extended."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "It is a very popular camping spot, so I recommend planning and reserving sometimes several months in advance. Weekends book up quickly, but weekday camping is easy to find," advises a regular at Sly Park Recreation Area.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming access: Look for campgrounds with gentle water entry points for children. "The lake is GORGEOUS and amazingly cool during the summer, and we also love winter camping in the snow as well. Sites have fire rings and picnic tables, and the reservation page has detailed descriptions of each site for you," recommends a long-time visitor to Sly Park.
Organized activities: Some glamping sites near Eldorado National Forest offer structured programs. "They put on a ton of events like karaoke nights, live music, and smores nights. Hot showers and well lit clean bathrooms. Hard to find solitude or silence," explains a visitor describing the family-friendly atmosphere at Tahoe Valley Campground.
Site selection for privacy: Request outer loop sites for more separation from neighbors. "The outer loop is where you want to be if you are looking for any privacy or traveling alone. The inner loop, with its lack of privacy, was the spot for large groups," advises an experienced camper at Fallen Leaf Campground.
Tips from RVers
Hookup limitations: Most Forest Service campgrounds provide minimal services for RVs. "Nice and quaint," notes a visitor to Ghost Mountain RV Campground, which offers more extensive amenities including "water and electricity only. There is Honeybucket truck that comes around Monday Wednesday and Friday. A dump station on site."
Site dimensions: Many campgrounds have size restrictions making large rigs difficult to accommodate. "Rainbow, Kam Loop, Dogwood and Hazel Creek camping loops are nicely shaded and stay much cooler than the camping loops toward the front of the park but it can be tough to get a larger motorhome or travel trailer into the back of the park. The roads are very narrow with plenty of blind corners," explains a host from Sly Park.
Year-round access considerations: Winter camping requires specific preparation and route planning. "Easy to access, even for larger rigs. We stayed in 39 foot 5th wheel. Plenty of pull thru spots, full hookups, regularly spaced bathroom/showers. Nice store for basic needs, nice laundry room," shares an RVer describing Tahoe Valley Campground's accessibility.
