U.S. Forest Service · Eldorado National Forest · California

China Flat

Recreation Opportunity Guides (ROG) - These guides contains information, maps, and directions to assist you in enjoying your trip to the Eldorado National Forest. China Flat Campground. Fees and Passes. Non-motorized Trails

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov24 sitesPets okFires ok

More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
China FlatChina Flat
Photo from the area. This image was created by user Kingman Bond Graham (Kingman) (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
1fire
active
Tmu Rx Support (prescribed burn) · 20 mi away
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-16
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard, no hookups13
Walk-in11
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Amenities & rules

PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonJune to September
ForestEldorado National Forest
BookingNo reservations.
Fees$28/single $56/double

Eldorado National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near China Flat30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 9.62 inches of precipitation, 10.1 inches of snowFebruary: 8.77 inches of precipitation, 17.3 inches of snowMarch: 8.83 inches of precipitation, 13.5 inches of snowApril: 4.90 inches of precipitation, 5.4 inches of snowMay: 3.17 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowJune: 0.93 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.03 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.06 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.55 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 2.92 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowNovember: 5.30 inches of precipitation, 3.8 inches of snowDecember: 9.38 inches of precipitation, 7.4 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 37.9°F averageFebruary: 40.6°F averageMarch: 44.3°F averageApril: 49.3°F averageMay: 57.2°F averageJune: 64.5°F averageJuly: 71.9°F averageAugust: 70.6°F averageSeptember: 65.9°F averageOctober: 53.5°F averageNovember: 42.9°F averageDecember: 36.6°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Pacific House, 13 miles from the campground at 3,450 feet, station USC00046597 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 54 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 58 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Coordinates38.7550° N, 120.2680° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Tmu Rx Support

    20 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 stationDump station ↗7.4 mi
Outdoor gearSierra ↗17.8 mi
RV sales & serviceCustom Truck Accessories ↗37.7 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

China Flat Campground - El Dorado National Forest, CA

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.1 mi
    China Flat
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.7 mi
    Long Canyon 4WD Trail
    4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD and 1 more
  • 2.5 mi
    Sugarloaf Peak
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.4 mi
    Bald Mtn Spur 4WD Trail
    1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD and 1 more
  • 3.7 mi
    North Shanty 4WD Trail
    3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD and 1 more
  • 4.1 mi
    Lyons ↗
    5.1 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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Eldorado National Forest.

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.

Guidebooks for California

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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at China Flat?

Sites at China Flat are reservable on Recreation.gov. No reservations. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at China Flat?

$28/single $56/double

Source: Recreation.gov

Is China Flat open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season June to September.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does China Flat have?

24 sites, including 13 standard sites without power and 11 walk-in sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at China Flat?

Yes, pets are allowed at China Flat. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at China Flat?

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.

Source: Fire nearby

What if China Flat is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Sand Flat (3.1 mi), Silver Fork (5.1 mi), and Wrights Lake Equestrian Campground (6.3 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby