South Fork Group - Eldorado NF

- May–Oct
- best months
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.
Local outfitters
- Obexer's Boat Company16 mi away
- Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters23 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
South Fork Group - Eldorado NF (CA)CampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain0.1 mi- South Fork GcgCamping0.1 mi
Hunsucter TrailHikingPhoto: Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)1 mi
South Fork TrailHikingPhoto: Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)1.2 mi- South Fork Rubicon RiverCanoeing2.3 mi
- Little Silver CreekCanoeing4 mi
Loon LakeRock climbingPhoto: UncleVinny, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)5.7 mi- Lower ButtressRock climbing7.5 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Junction ReservoirLake fishing · ~12 min drive
- Fallen Leaf CampgroundSaltwater fishing · ~33 min drive
- Stony Ridge LakeLake fishing · ~25 min drive
- Eagle LakeLake fishing · ~26 min drive
- Lake Tahoe - West ShoreLake fishing · ~28 min drive
- Angora LakesLake fishing · ~33 min drive
- Foresthill Divide RoadLake fishing · ~35 min drive
- Sawmill Pond Recreation SiteLake fishing · ~35 min drive
- Lake AudrianLake fishing · ~36 min drive
- Lake Tahoe - South ShoreLake fishing · ~37 min drive
Best time to visit South Fork Group - Eldorado NF
Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
37° / 22°
Feb
38° / 22°
Mar
43° / 25°
Apr
49° / 27°
May
58° / 34°
Jun
69° / 40°
Jul
77° / 46°
Aug
76° / 46°
Sep
69° / 41°
Oct
58° / 34°
Nov
44° / 27°
Dec
38° / 21°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tahoma, CA, 16.6 mi away at 6,315 ft. The station sits about 1,100 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Closures we've recorded since August 2026
Fire Restrictions are in Effect Forest Wide
Eldorado National Forest · Order dated September 22, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Nov 2, 2026 · Forest Service

