Northshore Campground
23 miles east of Placerville on Highway 50 and 31 miles north on Ice House Road (Forest Road 3), take the Loon Lake fork.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in California · reservable in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 16 |
| RV, no hookups | 8 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 50 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
24 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Loop 1 | Standard | 50 | Paved | 12 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 3 | Loop 1 | RV | 62 | Paved | 12 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 4 | Loop 1 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Paved | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 5 | Loop 1 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Paved | 12 / 4 | Yes | |
| 6 | Loop 1 | RV | Back-in | 30 | Paved | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 7 | Loop 1 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 8 | Loop 1 | RV | Back-in | 40 | Paved | 12 / 2 | Yes | |
| 9 | Loop 1 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Paved | 12 / 2 | Yes | |
| 10 | Loop 1 | Standard | 25 | Paved | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 11 | Loop 1 | Standard | 20 | Paved | 6 / 1 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 01:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | 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. |
| Accessibility | Site 20 is listed accessible |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | late June to September |
| Forest | Eldorado National Forest |
| Booking | CALL 1-877-444-6777, four days to 6 months in advance of your first night’s stay. www.Recreation.gov. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover accepted. |
| Fees | $28/ single family site, $28/ double family site, $5 for extra vehicle. |
| Rules | Single units are limited to 1 vehicle and 6 people per site. Double units are 2 vehicles and 12 people. An additional fee will be charged for extra vehicles if the parking spur will accommodate it. Vehicle = Any equipment that is required to be licensed/registered. Includes RVs, trailers, cars/trucks, boat/car trailer, motorcycle/atv, etc. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 38.9996° N, 120.3187° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Swimming and Fishing Boat Ramp at Loon Lake Campground Picnic Area (5 sites) at the Loon Lake Boat Ramp Rubicon OHV Trail (summer) Hiking and horseback riding in Desolation Wilderness, permits availab
Charges and 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 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 ret
Fire nearby
- PrescribedTmu Rx Support
19 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 12 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Alpenglow Sports ↗ | 15.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Custom Truck Accessories ↗ | 31 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Northshore Landing KOA Walkthrough | Honest Campground Review
Worth a stop
- 1.3 miLoon Lake Day Use And Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 4.3 miGerle Creek Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 4.3 miAngel Creek Day Use ↗Day use
- 8.5 miMckinney/Rubicon Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 8.5 miMckinney/Rubicon Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 9.7 miFrench Meadows Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
Show all 7Hide
- 14.1 miBaldwin Beach ↗Swimming
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miTelemark Loop1.1 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 0.5 miPolaris2.3 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 1.1 miVan Vleck XC1.5 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 1.1 miChipmunk Bluff1.3 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 1.2 miZephyr Trail0.8 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 1.2 miRubicon ↗21.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Eldorado National Forest.
- inEldorado National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 793,653 acres
- 2.8 miLake Tahoe Basin Management Unit ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 331,807 acres
- 3.9 miDesolation Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 64,041 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Laura Russ Westphal HouseBuilding · Homewood · 12.2 mi
- Chapel of the TransfigurationBuilding · Tahoe City · 14.1 mi
- Lake Tahoe DamStructure · Tahoe City · 14.9 mi
Recreation
- Swimming and Fishing
- Boat Ramp at Loon Lake Campground
- Picnic Area (5 sites) at the Loon Lake Boat Ramp
- Rubicon OHV Trail (summer)
- Hiking and horseback riding in Desolation Wilderness, permits available in Recreation.gov or the Placerville Ranger Station on Highway 50, Exit 54 in Camino. Day use permits area available at the Loon Lake trailhead in the summer and Placerville Ranger Station year‐round.
- Loon Lake Chalet rental cabin, reservations required.
Guidebooks for California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Northshore Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Northshore Campground?
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.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Northshore Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 01:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Northshore Campground?
Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Northshore Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season late June to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Northshore Campground have?
25 sites, including 16 standard sites without power and 8 RV sites without hookups.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Northshore Campground?
Northshore Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Northshore Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Northshore Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Northshore Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Single units are limited to 1 vehicle and 6 people per site.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Northshore Campground?
Site 20 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Northshore Campground?
Swimming and Fishing The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Northshore Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Red Fir (0.4 mi), Wentworth Springs Campground (0.9 mi, first-come), and Loon Lake (1.3 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby