Wrights Lake
Wrights Lake Campground is situated in the timber belt, close to the lake shore, looking up at the majestic rocky peaks of the Sierra Nevadas and Desolation Wilderness. The area is well-known for its hiking, wildflowers and birding.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 37 |
| Tent-only | 19 |
| Walk-in | 9 |
| Host/management | 12 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 99 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
65 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 031 | DBLK | Standard | Pull-through | 50 | Paved | Full | 12 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 056 | DBLK | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Full | 12 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 001 | TENT | Tent only | Back-in | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes | |
| 002 | TENT | Tent only | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes | ||
| 003 | TENT | Tent only | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes | ||
| 004 | TENT | Tent only | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes | ||
| 005 | TENT | Tent only | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes | ||
| 006 | TENT | Tent only | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes | ||
| 007 | TENT | Tent only | Paved | Full | 12 / 2 | Yes | Yes | ||
| 008 | TENT | Tent only | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | 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 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 99 ft |
| 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 | Sites 031, 056, 001, 002 and 41 more are listed accessible |
The campground offers dozens of campsites for tent and RV camping. Several sites offer sweeping views of Wrights Lake. Each site is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills, and firewood can be gathered in the area. Accessible vault toilets. A camp host is available during the daytime.
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 October |
| Forest | Eldorado National Forest |
| Booking | Yes |
| Fees | $25/single. $50/double $10/picnic area, day use, trailheads. |
| Rules | In order to stay in Equestrian sites visitors must be traveling with pack or saddle stock. |
Weather by month
Getting there
Take Highway 50 east of Placerville, California, for 11 miles. Turn left onto Ice House Road and continue for 9 miles, then turn right onto Wrights Lake tie road. After 2 miles, turn left onto Wrights Lake Road.
| Coordinates | 38.8494° N, 120.2311° W · Directions ↗ |
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
15 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 ↗ | 7.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sierra ↗ | 12.9 mi |
| RV sales & service | Custom Truck Accessories ↗ | 31.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Wrights Lake Campground - Eldorado National Forest, CA
Worth a stop
- under 0.1 mi
- 5.9 mi
- 7.1 miIce House Day Use & Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 8.3 miGlen Alpine Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 9.5 miEagle Falls Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 10.7 miLoon Lake Day Use And Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
Show all 7Hide
- 11 miBaldwin Beach ↗Swimming
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miTwin Lakes3.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miBeauty Lake0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miWrights Meadow1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miOld Corral Loop0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miRockbound ↗8.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miDark Lake0.9 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
- 0.2 miDesolation Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 64,041 acres
- 4.2 miLake Tahoe Basin Management Unit ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 331,807 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
Natural features
At nearly 7,000 feet in elevation, the campground is surrounded by pine and fir trees with a grassy understory. Wildflowers bloom throughout the spring and summer seasons. Some sites are nestled among giant boulders, providing privacy for campers. The campground is close to Wrights Lake, a 40-acre body of water popular for its serene and quiet atmosphere.
Recreation
The campground provides access to the lake, where visitors enjoy trout fishing, swimming and boating activities. Motorboats are prohibited in the area. Hikers will enjoy access to multiple foot and horseback riding trails within 5 miles of the campground. Various trailheads, including Bloodsucker, Rockbound and Twin Lakes trails, provide access to Desolation Wilderness. Educational programs are offered at the amphitheater, and mountain biking and off-road vehicle use is popular on Barrett Lake Jeep trail. Wilderness permits for day hiking are available at the trailheads, and overnight hiking permits are available at Pacific Ranger Station.
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 Wrights Lake?
Sites at Wrights Lake are reservable on Recreation.gov. Yes Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Wrights Lake?
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 Wrights Lake?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Wrights Lake?
Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Wrights Lake open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Late June to October.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Wrights Lake have?
77 sites, including 37 standard sites without power, 19 tent-only sites, and 9 walk-in sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Wrights Lake?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Wrights Lake?
Yes, pets are allowed at Wrights Lake. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Wrights Lake?
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. In order to stay in Equestrian sites visitors must be traveling with pack or saddle stock.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Wrights Lake?
Sites 031, 056, 001, and 002 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 45 sites in all. 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 Wrights Lake?
The campground provides access to the lake, where visitors enjoy trout fishing, swimming and boating activities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Wrights Lake is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Wrights Lake Equestrian Campground (0.6 mi), Lovers Leap (6 mi), and Strawberry Point Campground (6 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby