Loon Lake
Loon Lake Campground is situated on the south shores of Loon Lake, and attracts many visitors with its variety of campsites and beautiful waterfront setting. Popular activities include boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and exploring off-road vehicle trails.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 49 |
| Equestrian | 8 |
| Group sites | 3 |
| Host/management | 22 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 60 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
60 sites in 7 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 026 | Ellis Loop | Standard | Back-in | 54 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 027 | Ellis Loop | Standard | Back-in | 55 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 028 | Ellis Loop | Standard | Back-in | 59 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 029 | Ellis Loop | Standard | Back-in | 51 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 030 | Ellis Loop | Standard | Back-in | 59 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 031 | Ellis Loop | Standard | Back-in | 54 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 032 | Ellis Loop | Standard | Back-in | 46 | Paved | Full | 12 / 2 | Yes | |
| 033 | Ellis Loop | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 034 | Ellis Loop | Standard | Back-in | 67 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 035 | Ellis Loop | Standard | Back-in | 48 | Paved | Full | 12 / 2 | 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 | 67 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 057, 064, 066, Chipmunk Group are listed accessible |
Campsites come with picnic tables, grills, campfire rings and bear-proof food storage lockers. Firewood is sold on-site.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Take Highway 50 east of Placerville for 21 miles to Icehouse Road turnoff. Turn left and go 28 miles to a fork. Take the right fork 5 miles to the campground.
| Coordinates | 38.9833° N, 120.3300° 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. Customers who cancel a GROUP overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.
- 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
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 station | Dump station ↗ | 10.8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Alpenglow Sports ↗ | 16.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Custom Truck Accessories ↗ | 31.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
(4K UHD) REVIEWING EACH CAMPSITE @ Loon Lake Recreation Site Campground! | BLM | Oregon Co
Worth a stop
The 18-mile Rubicon Jeep Trail begins nearby. An exciting stretch of scenic, un-maintained, rocky road awaits off-road thrill seekers.
- under 0.1 miLoon Lake Day Use And Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 3.4 miGerle Creek Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 3.4 miAngel Creek Day Use ↗Day use
- 9.5 miMckinney/Rubicon Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 9.5 miMckinney/Rubicon Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 9.8 miWest Point Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
Show all 7Hide
- 14.4 miBaldwin Beach ↗Swimming
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miBerts Lake0.8 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 0.1 miZephyr Trail0.8 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 0.2 miPolaris2.3 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 0.2 miChipmunk Bluff1.3 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 0.6 miLoon Lk Cpgd Loop1.3 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 0.6 miShadow Trail ↗4.5 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
- 3.6 miLake Tahoe Basin Management Unit ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 331,807 acres
- 3.9 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
On the National Register nearby
- Laura Russ Westphal HouseBuilding · Homewood · 13.5 mi
Natural features
The campground sits just west of Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada Mountains at an elevation of 6,500 feet. The climate is similar to that of the Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.
Recreation
Anglers delight in fishing for rainbow and brown trout, while boaters head out for water skiing. Five picnic areas in the campground and a day-use area provide visitors with nice lake views.
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 Loon Lake?
Sites at Loon Lake are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Loon 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 Loon Lake?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Loon Lake?
Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation. Customers who cancel a GROUP overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does Loon Lake have?
82 sites, including 49 standard sites without power, 8 equestrian sites, and 3 group sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Loon Lake?
The longest site here provides 67 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 Loon Lake?
Yes, pets are allowed at Loon Lake. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Loon 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.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Loon Lake?
Sites 057, 064, 066, and Chipmunk Group 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
What is there to do at Loon Lake?
Anglers delight in fishing for rainbow and brown trout, while boaters head out for water skiing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Loon Lake is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Northshore Campground (1.3 mi, partly first-come), Red Fir (1.6 mi), and Wentworth Springs Campground (2 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby