South Fork Group - Eldorado NF (CA)

POLLOCK PINES, California

California

Free — you'll pick up right here.

No verdict for this campground

We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.

What we do know

  • Inside Eldorado National Forest

    2 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.

    Boundary data

What's missing

  • No access route mapped

    We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.

Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.

Campsite availability

Live from Recreation.gov for South Fork Group - Eldorado NF (CA).

Book on Recreation.gov
Oct 11 – Oct 18
7 nights

We'll watch 2026-10-11 → 2026-10-18 and email you the moment something frees up. No account needed.

Used only for this alert — not a newsletter, and one click to stop.

Here's your stay, mapped

South Fork Group - Eldorado NF (CA)

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About this campground

Overview South Fork is the largest group campground in the Crystal Basin Recreation Area, nestled in the vast expanse of the Eldorado National Forest. The remote location affords visitors a true outdoor camping experience. Recreation With the South Fork of the Rubicon River located within walking distance, the group camp provides excellent fishing, swimming and other water sports and activities. Facilities While the campground can be used as a single group site that can accommodate up to 125 guests, it can also be reserved as multiple single-family sites. A group cooking area with food preparation tables and double grills is available, as well as campfire rings with grills at each site. Vault toilets are provided, however, drinking water is not available at the campground. Visitors can boil stream water or fill up at nearby boat ramps. A parking area is also available. Natural Features Situated at an elevation of 5,200 feet, the campground sits between the Union Valley Reservoir and Loon Lake. It is also just minutes away from Gerle Creek Reservoir, a serene mountain lake where motorized boating is prohibited in order to preserve a peaceful and quiet atmosphere for visitors. Nearby Attractions Swimming and non-motorized boating are available at Gerle Creek Reservoir, 5 miles north of the campground.

Campsite info

Sites
1
Site types
Group, Tent, Rv
Reservable
Yes
Vault toilets
Reserve a site

Directions & GPX

Facts about this campground

When to go

Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Tahoma, CA weather station, 17 mi away. High / low in °F.

  1. Jan37° high22° low
  2. Feb38° high22° low
  3. Mar43° high25° low
  4. Apr49° high27° low
  5. May58° high34° low
  6. Jun69° high40° low
  7. Jul77° high46° low
  8. Aug76° high46° low
  9. Sep69° high41° low
  10. Oct58° high34° low
  11. Nov44° high27° low
  12. Dec38° high21° low

The station sits about 1,100 ft higher than this spot, so expect it to run a little warmer here.

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020

Where it is

Managed by
Forest Service

Source: USFS EDW boundaries; USGS PAD-US 4.1

Conditions

Active alerts for Eldorado National Forest as of Oct 9, 2026:

Source: USFS forest alerts

Nearby

Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)

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