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Activities

Established Camping

Wolf Creek Campground

Wolf Creek Campground, near Eldorado, California, is a lively spot that draws campers looking for a mix of nature and socializing. With spacious sites and a beautiful reservoir right at your doorstep, it’s a great place to kick back and enjoy the outdoors.

The campground allows for campfires, which makes for cozy evenings under the stars. Visitors have noted the clean bathrooms and the availability of drinking water, which adds to the convenience of your stay. As one camper put it, “The sites are nice and spacious, and not too close to each other,” making it easier to find your own slice of tranquility.

If you’re up for some fun in the water, the reservoir is warm enough for swimming, though you might want to bring water shoes to navigate the rocky areas. Campers have mentioned that weekdays are the best time to visit for a quieter experience, while weekends can get a bit busier with boat traffic and fellow campers. Just remember to use the bear boxes to keep your food safe; bears are known to wander through the area.

Located in Eldorado National Forest, this campground is a great base for exploring the stunning natural beauty of the region. Whether you’re fishing, hiking, or just soaking in the scenery, Wolf Creek Campground offers a solid camping experience for those looking to connect with nature and each other.

Description

USDA Forest Service

Eldorado National Forest

Overview

Wolf Creek Campground is a modern facility on the north shore of Union Valley Reservoir. The reservoir offers plenty of opportunities for water activities like sailing, boating, swimming and fishing. Bring a bike to explore the neighboring bike trail. Eldorado National Forest includes the famed gold mining territory of the 1800s. Remnants of the days of the California Gold Rush are all around the region.

Recreation

The paved Union Valley Bike Trail spans 4.8 miles with an easy climb of 300 feet. The trail connects campgrounds on the east side of the lake, starting from Wench Creek on down to Jones Fork Campground. Interpretive signs along the trail tell the story of the use and development of water resources in Union Valley. This trail can be used by both hikers and bikers. Anglers seek rainbow, brown and mackinaw trout or kokanee salmon. The reservoir also offers opportunities for swimming, water skiing and boating. The nearest boat ramp is at Yellowjacket Campground.

Natural Features

At an elevation of 4,900 feet, Wolf Creek sits in the Crystal Basin of the Sierra Nevadas. This is an area known for granite peaks, alpine lakes and pine forest. The climate is similar to that of the Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters. An abundance of wildlife can be found within the Sierra Nevada Range, including black bears, mule deer, bobcat, gray fox, bighorn sheep, pikas, martens and a variety of squirrels. Several species of reptiles, amphibians and birds also inhabit the area.

Nearby Attractions

The Desolation Wilderness is nearby, offering the opportunity to get away from the crowds and enjoy the serenity of nature.

Charges & Cancellations

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. Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).

Fee Info

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.

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Location

Wolf Creek Campground is located in California

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Placerville, get on Highway 50 and head east for 21 miles to Icehouse Road. Turn left 21 miles to turnoff. Then go three-quarters of a mile to campground.

Address

ELDORADO
CA

Coordinates

38.8830556 N
120.4 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Available

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • Trash
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

Reviews

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5.0

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4 Reviews

Reviewed Jun. 8, 2024

Beautiful area but too many people

First off, the name is actually WOLF CREEK GROUP CAMPGROUND, and that should be your first clue that this is one of those big campgrounds with a lot of sites all packed in together.  (Technically, there are several Wolf Creek Group Campgrounds along the road--this review is for the first one you come to after Yellowjacket.)  Anyway, this is my own personal bias but I’m really over big campgrounds with lots of people and their music, screaming kids, and campfire smoke. Although the site is absolutely beautiful—right on the reservoir—the campground is big and noisy. The reservoir is warm and fun to swim in but the rocks are sharp in places (bring water shoes). Boat traffic is pretty steady on the weekend, less so during the week. Another camper told me the weekdays are the best time to come: the campground and lake are much quieter. We did FCFS but ended up with an excellent campsite. Now, the particulars: They seem to be having a problem with marauding bears lately.  One cub literally walked right up to us while we were playing cards and stood there, watching.  Our German shepherd, truck alarm, and a little yelling was enough to scare it off, but that was not good behavior for a bear who wants to live a long life.  Ditto for the other adult bears who scoured the campground all night long, looking (and sadly, finding) things to eat.  There wasn't much sleeping going on and you could hear dogs barking and people yelling pretty much through the night.  USE THE BEAR BOXES AND DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING OUT (including fish you catch in ice chests).  These bears will pay with their lives if they keep scavenging like this.  Finally, bathrooms were clean on Friday but by Saturday (again, a lot of people) they were disgusting.  I felt sorry for the camp hosts, trying to keep them clean.  Water and dumpsters are available.

Site12
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Wolf Creek Campground by L , June 8, 2024
  • Review photo of Wolf Creek Campground by L , June 8, 2024
  • Review photo of Wolf Creek Campground by L , June 8, 2024
Reviewed Jul. 28, 2022

Great campsite!

This place has reserved and first come first serve sites. The sites are nice and spacious, and not too close to each other. The weekend nights had more people, but only a few neighbors during the week. Bathrooms were kept as nice as possible by staff. There were bears in the site at least two nights and bears are common up here so use the lockers! Some sites are closer to the water than others but even the farther ones aren’t too far of a walk. Beach was never crowded, always easy to find a spot to yourself. Overall, when you prefer dispersed camping but can’t due to fire restrictions, this campground is the next best thing!

Site28
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Wolf Creek Campground by Jessica , July 28, 2022
Reviewed Jun. 30, 2020

Beautiful location

Clean bathrooms, trash cans, water. The Host was friendly and informed us this year has been full everyday due to Covid and you should make a reservation or you probably won’t get a site, they have filled up every day.

  • Review photo of Wolf Creek Campground by Cassidy Y., June 30, 2020
  • Review photo of Wolf Creek Campground by Cassidy Y., June 30, 2020
Reviewed Jul. 28, 2016

loved it

camping here is great. peaceful and quiet. great place to relax and find yourself

  • Review photo of Wolf Creek Campground by Kelly W., July 28, 2016

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the max vehicle length at Wolf Creek Campground?

    Wolf Creek Campground allows vehicles up to 50 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Wolf Creek Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Wolf Creek Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Wolf Creek Campground have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Wolf Creek Campground does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Wolf Creek Campground?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is unknown, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is available.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Wolf Creek Campground?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Wolf Creek Campground. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Wolf Creek Campground, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Wolf Creek Campground?

    There are 44 campsites at Wolf Creek Campground and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts