Silver Lake East - Eldorado, near Kirkwood, California, is a fantastic spot for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle. This campground offers a laid-back vibe with sites that are perfect for tent camping, RVs, or even glamping if you’re feeling fancy.

Visitors rave about the easy access to Silver Lake, just a short walk away, where you can enjoy kayaking, fishing, or simply soaking in the stunning views. The campground is surrounded by beautiful trees and has fire pits at each site, making it ideal for cozy evenings under the stars. One camper noted, “The lake has a beautiful, and easy to walk to from the campground,” which sums up the convenience perfectly.

Amenities are basic but functional, with vault toilets and drinking water available. While there are no showers or electric hookups, the peaceful atmosphere and proximity to nature more than make up for it. Campers have mentioned that the area can feel a bit off-grid, so be prepared for limited cell service—perfect for disconnecting and enjoying the great outdoors.

For those who want to explore further, the nearby lodge offers a grocery store and gear rentals for water activities. Plus, hiking trails abound, giving you plenty of options to stretch your legs. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Silver Lake East - Eldorado is a solid choice for a relaxing camping experience.

## Overview

 Silver Lake East is located 50 miles east of Jackson, California, just a short distance from the shores of Silver lake, where activities like boating, fishing, swimming and hiking, provide campers with the perfect outdoors retreat. Numerous trails leaving the campground connect with the lake and swimming beaches. Silver Lake West is adjacent to Silver Lake East on the other side of Highway 88, and offers additional trails and access to the Silver Fork of the American River. 
## Recreation

 Because the campground is already at such a high elevation, hiking is particularly popular, allowing visitors to access high alpine lakes and other destinations through short but spectacular hikes. In addition to the trails which connect this campground to Silver Lake and other swimming areas, the Granite Lake Trail, which gives way to the Hidden Lake Trail, begins on the east shore of Silver Lake at the Minkalo TH. The trail ascends and crosses Squaw Creek on a wooden bridge. Approximately one-half mile beyond the bridge is a junction. The right fork will take you to Plasse's and the left fork will take you to Granite Lake. At the southeast end of the lake you will find the trail to Hidden Lake. Anglers will be happy to know that Silver Lake boasts stocked populations of Rainbow, German Brown and Mackinaw trout. 
## Facilities

 Vault toilets, drinking water, campfire rings and picnic tables are provided. Some sites have bear-proof food storage containers as well. Single units are limited to a maximum of 2 vehicles and 6 people. A pay phone, restaurant, boat rentals and boat ramp are located at a nearby lodge. 
## Natural Features

 The campground is situated at the base of Thunder Mountain at an elevation of 7,200 feet, on the north end of beautiful Silver Lake. A small pond in the middle of the campground attracts ducks, but cannot be seen from any of the camp sites. Silver Lake spans 200 acres in a large granite basin surrounded by a forest of mixed conifers. The lake's mirror-like waters are known to reflect the colors of the sky above, attracting both hikers and photographers to its scenic shores. The Silver Lake area blooms with bright wildflowers in the summer months, delighting visitors with their presence around the lakes and high in the mountain meadows. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Take a scenic drive on Carson Pass Highway, which runs past Silver Lake along the mountains and crosses the picturesque Carson Pass. It is a must-do activity for those who love mountain views and landscape photography. The campground is an easy drive south of Lake Tahoe, the popular lake and ski area. 
## Charges & Cancellations

 Recreation Fee: Recreation fees are the fees a visitor pays for things like overnight camping, a day-use pavilion, group facilities, a tour or a permit. Recreation fees vary by location and/or activity. Reservation Fee: A fee may be charged at the time a reservation is made to cover the cost of reservation services. This fee is in addition to the Recreation Fee and is non-refundable. Fees for camping, day use, group sites, cabins and lookouts: $8 if made on-line; $9 if made through the call center; $3 if made in-person. Change Fee: A service fee may be charged at the time a modification is made depending on the changes. Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation. Cut-Off Window: The latest date and/or time that you can make an advanced reservation or a change to an existing reservation. Cut-off windows can vary by location, but are typically 4 days before your arrival date. A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (see Late Cancellation below). Late Cancellation: If you cancel your reservation too close to the start date, additional service fees may be withheld.

Silver Lake East- Eldorado

Markleeville, CA is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that California camping has to offer. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Markleeville, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.

Markleeville

The Best Camping Near Markleeville, California

**Campground Review**

The campground is off Hwy 88 in the El Dorado National Forest just a few miles from the Kirkwood Resort. It sits on the northeastern side of Silver Lake. I drove up to this campground for an overnight stay on Saturday last August to escape the heat of the Central Valley. I didn’t have reservations and got the last campsite in the campground, which was very lucky. You can make reservations online, though the campground is pretty popular and gets booked up early! There were many sites that appeared to have large groups camping together making it a very family friendly campground. It’s not the most secluded atmosphere as a result but still quiet and relaxing.

It was a big spacious tent site (55) that required a bit of a walk-in, but not too far. The site was wooded and pleasant. I have camped in the area before and it can be a bit cold in the late spring. However, by this point in summer it was beautiful. The campground is a short 5 minute walk away from the lake. I brought fishing gear, relaxed by the shore and spent some time kayaking. Silver Lake has a boat launch and was a beautiful lake to go kayaking. There was also plenty of hiking nearby for those staying more than one night.

The campground has vault toilets, drinking water, fire rings, picnic tables and bear proof storage boxes. The fee was $24 per night for a tent site. The campground is also adjacent to a small resort ([the Kit Carson Lodge](http://www.kitcarsonlodge.com/)) which had a general store and a restaurant if you forget anything or don’t feel like cooking. For more info click [here](https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/eldorado/recarea/?recid=78522) and to make reservations click [here](https://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/silver-lake-east-eldorado/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&amp;parkId=70555)!

**Product Review**

As a Dyrt Ranger, I also get products to test and review in the field. At this campground I tested a few pairs of Optic Nerve Sunglasses including these styles:

[Mashup](https://www.opticnerve.com/collections/one/products/mashup)

[Steelhead](https://www.opticnerve.com/products/steelhead?variant=23727334150)

[Kindred](https://www.opticnerve.com/products/kindred)

[Bonnaroo](https://www.opticnerve.com/products/bonnaroo)

As an avid Kayaker, these sunglasses are great for watersports, and I can’t wait to bring them up to the ski slopes with me come winter! Here are my favorite aspects of these glasses:

1.    Quality construction – solid frame construction ensures the hinges won’t bust anytime soon and they should be able to endure a fall

2.    Quality lenses – the lenses were amazingly crystal clear while still offering the protection you expect from sunglasses, especially when you’re out on highly reflective surfaces like water/snow

3.    Affordability – all of these styles were under $40, as someone who loses sunglasses often to canyons and rivers I can easily replace these without too much heartache

Of all the glasses, my favorite style were definitely the Bonnaroo as they were lightweight, comfortable and stylish! My adventure partner and real life boyfriend tried some out as well. He tends to have more difficulty finding affordable good quality sunglasses to fit his wider face shape. He loved all of the styles though his favorite were the Kindred, as they were highly stylish, fit his wider face perfectly and were still incredibly durable. Plus at $35 they are a steal! When purchasing these sunglasses I really appreciated the option to filter for face width. Anyone with a wider face knows the struggle of getting a pair of beautiful sunglasses in the mail only to have them be way too tight! The Mashup and Steelhead are also both great glasses. The cool blue lenses add style to the hip Mashup frame. The Steelheads are great for long days on the water either on a boat or fishing (for steelheads!) as the thicker sides provide extra protection. Overall these are all solid glasses and I would definitely recommend Optic Nerve to any adventurer who needs some high quality affordable sun protection.

Ranger Review: Optic Nerve Sunglasses at Silver Lake East Campground

Stayed here a couple of times, and recommend staying away from the road as it is very busy and you can hear traffic noise at night. The small pond has lots of ducks and birds and is quieter if you can get a spot nearby. It was a tight squeeze to fit two tents in our campsite, but they vary in size. There is a host so the vault toilets are kept clean. Picnic table, piped water, fire ring.

This is close to several lakes and good hiking.

Nice camping for families

Stayed at this Campground in the beginning of August. It was absolutely stunning. Super close to this place called The Pots. We arrived near sundown. Unpacked our gear and then walked to The Pots from our campsites. The views were amazing. The campsite host had fire wood for sale. There were new bathroom facilities installed. There were no showers or sinks. There was a fire pit at every campsite and a picnic table as well. Well worth it! Would definitely come here again.

Beautiful Serene Campground

I’ve camped here 4 times- 2 times tent camping and 2 times trailer camping.  The lake has a beautiful, and easy to walk to from the campground, especially from the sites in the 40s and 50s. The vault toilets can be a bummer if you are tent camping, and there are no hookups for rvs.  But the campground has beautiful trees, and there is a restaurant and camp store for your convenience.  Also, across the highway at the Silver Lake East campground is an awesome hidden secret called “Potholes.”  Shhhhh!

Great Lake access

Sweet campground.  Quiet and peaceful. There were several sites available on a Saturday night (Smokey skies from Sierra fires may have lessened the demand).  Easy access sites.  Some more private than others.  But beautiful setting all around.  Can walk 5 minutes to Silver Lake, and to the private lodge /restaurant adjacent if you don’t feel like cooking. 

Nice campground 

We stayed at silver lake Eldorado east for 2 nights and loved it. Lots of things to explore… there is a lodge by the lake with a grocery store, and you can rent some gear for water activities. But be prepared to be off grid, there practically no cell service in the area.. you can get weak connection here and there but if you need to use internet best place to do that is kirkwood meadows. It’s about 7miles away. 

Photos of Silver Lake East- Eldorado

Real photos from real campers