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

Pardoes Point

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

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Pardoes PointPardoes Point
Photo from the area. This image was created by user Kingman Bond Graham (Kingman) (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Site mix

Tent-only5
Standard, no hookups4
Host/management1
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 October
ForestEldorado National Forest
BookingNo reservations.
Fees$28/single $56/double $5/extra vehicle fee

Eldorado National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Pardoes Point30°40°50°60°70°January: 10.57 inches of precipitation, 19.3 inches of snowFebruary: 9.82 inches of precipitation, 25.9 inches of snowMarch: 8.48 inches of precipitation, 19.2 inches of snowApril: 4.59 inches of precipitation, 11.4 inches of snowMay: 2.79 inches of precipitation, 2.2 inches of snowJune: 0.95 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowJuly: 0.11 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.06 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.39 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 2.93 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowNovember: 5.17 inches of precipitation, 7.7 inches of snowDecember: 9.65 inches of precipitation, 18.7 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 37.7°F averageFebruary: 37.9°F averageMarch: 40.3°F averageApril: 44.5°F averageMay: 52.1°F averageJune: 61.0°F averageJuly: 68.1°F averageAugust: 67.3°F averageSeptember: 62.1°F averageOctober: 53.0°F averageNovember: 43.2°F averageDecember: 36.8°F average0 in10 in20 in30 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Calaveras Big Trees, 18 miles from the campground at 4,695 feet, station USC00041277 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 56 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 105 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Coordinates38.5360° N, 120.2382° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Tmu Rx Support

    31 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearBear Valley Adventure Company ↗11.8 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗21.4 mi
RV sales & serviceCustom Truck Accessories ↗48.7 mi

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

Explore

  • 0.2 mi
    Cole Creek Loop ↗
    7.6 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 1.3 mi
    Dufrene ↗
    5.6 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 1.3 mi
    Bear River Reservoir ↗
    8.8 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 1.7 mi
    Salt Sprs. Overlook
    2.1 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 1.8 mi
    Sugarpine Loop
    4.3 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 2.6 mi
    Foster Meadow ↗
    9.1 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski

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 Pardoes Point?

Sites at Pardoes Point 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 Pardoes Point?

$28/single $56/double $5/extra vehicle fee

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Pardoes Point open right now?

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

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Pardoes Point have?

10 sites, including 5 tent-only sites and 4 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Pardoes Point?

Yes, pets are allowed at Pardoes Point. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Pardoes Point?

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 Pardoes Point is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are South Shore Campground (0.3 mi), Bear Group Campground (0.4 mi), and Sugar Pine Point (0.8 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby