## Overview

 Sunset Campground is situated on the shores of Union Valley Reservoir, among the towering cedar and ponderosa pines of Eldorado National Forest. Aptly named, the campground is a fantastic destination for colorful sunset views over the lake. All water activities are popular here, but it\'s also fun to bring a bike and explore the neighboring bike trail. Eldorado includes the famed gold mining territory of the 1800s. Remnants of the days of the California Gold Rush can be found all around the region.
## Recreation

 On the water, sailing, boating and swimming are very popular. For hikers and bikers, the Union Valley Bike Trail and Bassi Falls Hiking Trail are great for exploring. Fishing in the lake includes rainbow, brown, mackinaw trout and kokanee salmon. The bike trail connects with the campground, near the boat ramp, and stretches for 4.8 miles along the eastern shores of the lake.
## Facilities

 The large campground has 121 single-unit sites including 30 tent-only spots. Amenities include a boat ramp with an accessible boarding dock, a paved parking area, dump station, vault toilets and drinking water. A swimming beach is also located onsite.\_\_ The First Come First Serve sites located at this campground remain listed as FF for the entire season. They will not show occupied/available as the status of these sites is ever changing. You must be on site at the campground to claim a FF site. No guarantees upon arrival that these FF sites will be avaiable. 
## Natural Features

 Sunset Campground sits in the Crystal Basin at an elevation of 5,000 feet. Some sites are fully shaded while others sit in a meadow. The climate is similar to that of the Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Venture to the nearby lake, Ice House Reservoir or hike up Twin Peaks to look down over Union Valley Reservoir. A restaurant and general store are within 5 miles of the campground. 
## contact\_info

 This location has limited staffing. Please call (831) 245-6891 for general information.
## Charges &amp; 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. Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night\'s use fee. 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.

Union Valley Reservoir

We arrived after dark and had no idea what was around us. We were so pleasantly surprised when the sun came up to find ourselves surrounded by trees and so close to the lake. Wish we could have stayed longer! A really ideal campsite for getting away.

Beautiful, quiet, private

Full cell service at campground; host was not friendly at all; campfire wood available for purchase; nice small beach area; wouldn't recommend for weekends b/c it gets more crowded/noisy, but good option if needing first come first serve option. Site 15 is a great reservable spot (see photo) that's right next to a beach access pathway; but 14 right next door is a good FCFS option. All sites also have a camp fire ring, picnic table, and bear storage bins.

Nice option with beach access - great for weekdays, crowded/noisy weekends

Pretty standard campground.  My site was a short walk to the lake, which was huge!  The campsites themselves were fairly large.  The sites could accommodate anywhere from 6  people up to 20.  The camp host was great.  She was very friendly and would stop and chat when she came around.  Firewood was available for purchase from the host.  This campground is ideal for larger groups of people.

Good campground

Clean campground, friendly hosts, all the amenities you could need while enjoying time spent not too far away from the greater Sacramento area. Tons of trails nearby and perfect for boating and water sports! An all around win!