Gerle Creek
Gerle Creek Campground is nestled on the banks of the Gerle Creek Fork among a lush forest of hardwoods. The area provides lots of opportunity for fishing and water play. Hiking and biking are also popular.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in California · reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 31 |
| Standard, no hookups | 19 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 50 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
50 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes | |
| 002 | Tent only | Back-in | 25 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes | |
| 003 | Tent only | Back-in | 25 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes | |
| 004 | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes | |
| 005 | Tent only | 25 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes | ||
| 006 | Tent only | Back-in | 25 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes | |
| 007 | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Paved | Full | 12 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 008 | Standard | 25 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |||
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | 19 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 010 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | 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 | 50 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 001, 002, 003, 004 and 20 more are listed accessible |
The campground offers single and double-family campsites, many of which are accessible. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets are provided and firewood is available for purchase.
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 | 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 site, $56/ double site. There are also fees for day use and extra vehicles. Wood is available for purchase from host. |
| Rules | The campground is at about 5,300’ elevation. Single units are limited to 1 vehicle and 6 people per site. An additional fee will be charged for an extra vehicle 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
From Placerville, drive 21 miles east on Highway 50 to the Icehouse Road turnoff. Turn left and go 28 miles north. Take the left fork 3 miles to the campground.
| Coordinates | 38.9750° N, 120.3917° 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
23 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 ↗ | 10.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Alpenglow Sports ↗ | 19 mi |
| RV sales & service | Custom Truck Accessories ↗ | 35.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Gerle Creek 2022
Worth a stop
Union Valley Reservoir and Loon Lake are within a short drive of the campground, offering additional fishing and boating opportunities.
- under 0.1 miGerle Creek Picnic Area ↗Day use
- under 0.1 miAngel Creek Day Use ↗Day use
- 3.4 miLoon Lake Day Use And Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 7.7 miWest Point Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 12.8 miMckinney/Rubicon Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 12.8 miMckinney/Rubicon Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miGerle Creek Interpretive1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miSummer Harvest Trail ↗0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miGerle Creek Trail ↗0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.5 miSouth Fork3.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.9 miDeer Creek Trail1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 3 miChipmunk Bluff1.3 mi trail · 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
This campground sits inside Eldorado National Forest.
- inEldorado National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 793,653 acres
- 5.8 miTahoe National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,181,139 acres
- 6.7 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
Natural features
Gerle Creek Campground sits at an elevation of 5,300 feet, upstream of Gerle Creek Divide Reservoir. It is on the Georgetown Divide within the Eldorado National Forest. Gerle Creek was named for two brothers who were early settlers and farmers in the region. Eldorado National Forest boasts over 400 miles of hiking trails, an abundance of lakes and rivers for fishing and swimming, and incredible scenery. The climate is similar to that of the Mediterranean, with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.
Recreation
Swimming, canoeing, kayaking and fishing are some of the fun things to do on the creek. Common fish species include brown and rainbow trout. An accessible fishing dock is located on-site. The Gerle Creek Interpretive Trail is fully accessible and provides scenic views and interesting displays.
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 Gerle Creek?
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 Gerle Creek?
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 Gerle Creek?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Gerle Creek?
Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Gerle Creek open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season June to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Gerle Creek have?
50 sites, including 31 tent-only sites and 19 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Gerle Creek?
The longest site here provides 50 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Gerle Creek?
Yes, pets are allowed at Gerle Creek. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Gerle Creek?
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. The campground is at about 5,300’ elevation.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Gerle Creek?
Sites 001, 002, 003, and 004 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 24 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 Gerle Creek?
Swimming, canoeing, kayaking and fishing are some of the fun things to do on the creek. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Gerle Creek is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Airport Flat Campground (0.9 mi, first-come), South Fork Group (1.9 mi), and Loon Lake (3.4 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby