Ice House
Ice House Campground is surrounded by a mixed conifer forest on the shores of Ice House Reservoir. Just 12 miles from Riverton, CA, the campground offers hiking, biking, jet skiing and fishing. Ponderosa pine is a pleasing part of the surrounding region. The trees fill the air with a vanilla aroma and it's the tallest known pine tree in the country. To date, the tallest Ponderosa measured was an impressive 268.35 feet tall.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 60 |
| RV, no hookups | 17 |
| Walk-in | 10 |
| Host/management | 3 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
87 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 069 | Boat Ramp | RV | 50 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 070 | Boat Ramp | RV | 50 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 071 | Boat Ramp | RV | 50 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 072 | Boat Ramp | RV | 50 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 073 | Boat Ramp | RV | 50 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 074 | Boat Ramp | RV | 50 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 075 | Boat Ramp | RV | 50 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 076 | Boat Ramp | RV | 50 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 077 | Boat Ramp | RV | 50 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 078 | Boat Ramp | RV | 50 | Paved | Full | 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 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 45 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 081, 082 are listed accessible |
Amenities include a picnic area, drinking water faucets, vault toilets, showers, and a dump station. Firewood is sold on-site and a nearby resort offers a restaurant, gas and limited groceries. The facility was newly renovated in 2022.
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 | May to October |
| Forest | Eldorado National Forest |
| Booking | CALL 1-877-444-6777, four days to 6 months in advance of your first night’s stay. WEBSITE: www.Recreation.gov. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover accepted. |
| Fees | $28/single site $56/double site $28 overnight camp on the boatramp. $10/picnic area Other fees: dumping waste tank Wood is available for purchase from host. |
| 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
From Pollock Pines, CA, take Route 50 east 8.3 miles to the Crystal Basin Recreation Area sign. Turn left at sign onto Icehouse Road and go 10.8 miles to the Ice House Campground directional sign. Turn right at the sign onto Forest Route 32, then go 1.1 miles to an intersection with a campground/boat ramp sign. Continue straight to campground.
| Coordinates | 38.8233° N, 120.3589° 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
22 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 ↗ | 0.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sierra ↗ | 20 mi |
| RV sales & service | Custom Truck Accessories ↗ | 38.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Ice House Campground + Bassi Falls
Worth a stop
Head to Bassi Falls, which can be reached via a 1.2-mile hiking trail. The glorious waterfall cascades over a 109-foot granite cliff.
- under 0.1 miIce House Day Use & Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 3.7 mi
- 3.8 mi
- 5.5 miWest Point Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 12.8 miFleming Trail System & Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 1.1 miIce House Bike Trail3.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.9 miUnion Valley Bike Trail ↗6.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.3 miSugarloaf Peak0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.5 miMillionaire Trail0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 5 miBassi Falls0.5 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
- 6.5 miDesolation Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 64,041 acres
- 10.3 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
Some campsites at Ice House are right on the shoreline while others are set back just enough for plenty of shade from towering ponderosa pines, cedars and Manzanita bushes. The reservoir spans 700 acres at 5,500 feet elevation. The area is part of the Eldorado National Forest, which stretches across the famed gold mining territory of the 1800s. Its climate is similar to that of the Mediterranean, with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.
Recreation
Enjoy swimming, fishing, and boating on Ice House Reservoir. Rainbow, brown, and trout swim in these waters. A boat ramp is located on-site. Hike or bike on the Ice House Mountain Bike Trail, which stretches for 3.1 miles along ridge tops and shaded northern slopes. The trail boasts views of the reservoir and the Crystal Range.
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 Ice House?
Sites at Ice House are reservable on Recreation.gov. CALL 1-877-444-6777, four days to 6 months in advance of your first night’s stay. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Ice House?
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 Ice House?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Ice House?
Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Ice House open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May to October.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Ice House have?
90 sites, including 60 standard sites without power, 17 RV sites without hookups, and 10 walk-in sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Ice House?
The longest site here provides 45 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 there showers or a dump station at Ice House?
Amenities include a picnic area, drinking water faucets, vault toilets, showers, and a dump station.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Ice House?
Yes, pets are allowed at Ice House. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Ice House?
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 Ice House?
Sites 081 and 082 are 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
Is there cell service at Ice House?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map