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

Sunset-Union Valley

Sunset Campground is situated on the shores of Union Valley Reservoir, among the towering cedar and ponderosa pines of Eldorado National Forest. Aptly named, the campground is a fantastic destination for colorful sunset views over the lake. All water activities are popular here, but it's also fun to bring a bike and explore the neighboring bike trail. Eldorado includes the famed gold mining territory of the 1800s. Remnants of the days of the California Gold Rush can be found all around the region.

Closed for the seasonPartly reservable178 sites45 ft maxNo hookupsPets okFires ok

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 · group sites in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Sunset-Union Valley Shore- Eldorado National ForestSUNSET-UNION VALLEYSUNSET-UNION VALLEYSUNSET-UNION VALLEY
Photos courtesy of Kelly Maxey · Recreation.gov
1fire
active
Tmu Rx Support (prescribed burn) · 24 mi away
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-16
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard, no hookups114
RV, no hookups4
Group sites1
Host/management59
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served. For the first-come sites, arrive early on a weekday and take what is open. The booking page shows which of the reservable sites are open. The first-come playbook

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 60 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

119 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
GroupGroupBack-inPaved30 / 10YesYes
001Loop 1 SHADYStandardBack-in37PavedFull6 / 1Yes
003Loop 1 SHADYStandardBack-in44PavedFull6 / 1Yes
004Loop 1 SHADYStandardPull-through70PavedFull12 / 2YesYes
005Loop 1 SHADYStandardBack-in42PavedFull6 / 1Yes
006Loop 1 SHADYRVBack-in62PavedFull6 / 1Yes
007Loop 1 SHADYStandardBack-in44PavedFull6 / 1Yes
008Loop 1 SHADYStandardPavedFull6 / 1Yes
009Loop 1 SHADYStandardBack-in20PavedFull6 / 1YesYes
010Loop 1 SHADYStandardBack-in37PavedFull6 / 1Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 01:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length45 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Tent padsYes
FeesRecreation 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.
AccessibilitySites Group, 004, 009, 015 and 33 more are listed accessible

The large campground has 121 single-unit sites including 30 tent-only spots. Amenities include a boat ramp with an accessible boarding dock, a paved parking area, dump station, vault toilets and drinking water. A swimming beach is also located onsite. They will not show occupied/available as the status of these sites is ever changing.

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 September
ForestEldorado National Forest
BookingCALL 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 $56/double $84/triple $28/camping on boatramp (overflow only) $145/group 30-person site $10/boatramp day use Other fees: $10 dumping waste tank, extra vehicle Wood is available for purchase from host.

Eldorado National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Sunset-Union Valley30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 9.62 inches of precipitation, 10.1 inches of snowFebruary: 8.77 inches of precipitation, 17.3 inches of snowMarch: 8.83 inches of precipitation, 13.5 inches of snowApril: 4.90 inches of precipitation, 5.4 inches of snowMay: 3.17 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowJune: 0.93 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.03 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.06 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.55 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 2.92 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowNovember: 5.30 inches of precipitation, 3.8 inches of snowDecember: 9.38 inches of precipitation, 7.4 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 37.9°F averageFebruary: 40.6°F averageMarch: 44.3°F averageApril: 49.3°F averageMay: 57.2°F averageJune: 64.5°F averageJuly: 71.9°F averageAugust: 70.6°F averageSeptember: 65.9°F averageOctober: 53.5°F averageNovember: 42.9°F averageDecember: 36.6°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Pacific House, 9 miles from the campground at 3,450 feet, station USC00046597 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 54 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 58 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

On Highway 50, east of Placerville, travel for 21 miles to the Icehouse Road turnoff on your left. Continue north for 16 miles to the campground.

Coordinates38.8658° N, 120.4050° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • The First Come First Serve sites located at this campground remain listed as FF for the entire season.
  • You must be on site at the campground to claim a FF site.

Charges and cancellations

  • 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.
  • Reservation Fee: A fee may be charged at the time a reservation is made to cover the cost of reservation services. This fee is in addition to the Recreation Fee and is non-refundable. Fees for camping, day use, group sites, cabins and lookouts: $8 if made on-line; $9 if made through the call center; $3 if made in-person.
  • 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.

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Tmu Rx Support

    24 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 stationDump station ↗3.2 mi
Outdoor gearSierra ↗21.8 mi
RV sales & serviceCustom Truck Accessories ↗39 mi

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

Explore

Video

Sunset Union Valley Campground, El Dorado National Forest, CA

Worth a stop

Venture to the nearby lake, Ice House Reservoir or hike up Twin Peaks to look down over Union Valley Reservoir. A restaurant and general store are within 5 miles of the campground.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 1.2 mi
    Union Valley Bike Trail ↗
    6.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.6 mi
    Ice House Bike Trail
    3.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.4 mi
    Millionaire Trail
    0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 4 mi
    Bassi Falls
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 4.1 mi
    Robbs Hut
    3.1 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

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.

Natural features

Sunset Campground sits in the Crystal Basin at an elevation of 5,000 feet. Some sites are fully shaded while others sit in a meadow. The climate is similar to that of the Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.

Recreation

On the water, sailing, boating and swimming are very popular. For hikers and bikers, the Union Valley Bike Trail and Bassi Falls Hiking Trail are great for exploring. Fishing in the lake includes rainbow, brown, mackinaw trout and kokanee salmon. The bike trail connects with the campground, near the boat ramp, and stretches for 4.8 miles along the eastern shores of the lake.

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 Sunset-Union Valley?

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 Sunset-Union Valley?

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 Sunset-Union Valley?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 01:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Sunset-Union Valley?

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

Is Sunset-Union Valley open right now?

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

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Sunset-Union Valley have?

178 sites, including 114 standard sites without power, 4 RV sites without hookups, and 1 group site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Sunset-Union Valley?

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 Sunset-Union Valley?

Amenities include a boat ramp with an accessible boarding dock, a paved parking area, dump station, vault toilets and drinking water.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Sunset-Union Valley?

Yes, pets are allowed at Sunset-Union Valley. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Sunset-Union Valley?

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 Sunset-Union Valley?

Sites Group, 004, 009, and 015 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 37 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

Is there cell service at Sunset-Union Valley?

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