Caples Lake Campground
Campground
Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
California · Camping · Near Bear Valley
Caples Lake Campground
- May–Oct
- best months
Is Caples Lake Campground open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Eldorado National Forest.
Help Halt Golden Mussel Invasion
Agency alert covering Eldorado National Forest · USFS · Eldorado National Forest
Deer Valley Trail (19E01) & Meadow Lake Road (09N01)
Agency alert covering Eldorado National Forest · Order 03-24-05 · USFS · Eldorado National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Eldorado National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
- At 7,827 ft
- Amador Ranger DistrictEldorado National Forest
Caples Lake Campground is a Forest Service campground in California's Eldorado National Forest, within the Amador Ranger District. The nearest town is likely the community around Caples Lake itself, about a mile away. The most comfortable stretch for a visit runs from June through September, when typical averages from a nearby weather station at Dagget Pass, Nevada, reach highs of about 66 to 75°F and see only one or two wet days a month. Winter is far colder, with typical January highs around 36°F. The campground sits right beside Caples Lake Resort, which offers lake fishing about 0.1 mile away. Hikers can reach Emigrant Lake within a mile and Lake Margaret just beyond it. Climbers will find the Caples Lake climbing area about 1.2 miles off.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after The Restaurant at Caples Lake
Restaurant
On your way back · 1 miIf it rains Alpine County Museum
Museum
Museum · 15 mi from Bear Valley
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Bear ValleyBest time to go · May–Oct
Best time to visit Caples Lake Campground
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
36° / 23°
9 wet
Feb
37° / 23°
8 wet
Mar
42° / 26°
7 wet
Apr
48° / 29°
5 wet
May
56° / 35°
4 wet
Jun
66° / 42°
2 wet
Jul
75° / 49°
2 wet
Aug
74° / 49°
1 wet
Sep
67° / 44°
2 wet
Oct
55° / 36°
3 wet
Nov
43° / 28°
5 wet
Dec
35° / 23°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dagget Pass, NV, 20.8 mi away at 7,334 ft. 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
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Caples Lake Campground
Book on Recreation.gov
