Wench Creek
Wench Creek Campground is located in a beautiful ponderosa pine forest on the east shore of Union Valley Reservoir. The campground has 2 group campsites and several single family campsites. Plenty of water activities await at this reservoir in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The Union Valley Bike Trail and Bassi Falls Hiking Trail are worth exploring. The Union Valley Trail runs right through Wench Creek.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in California · reservable in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 98 |
| Group sites | 2 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
100 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 001 | WENC | Group | Back-in | Full | 50 / 12 | Yes |
| Group 002 | WENC | Group | Full | 50 / 10 | Yes | |
| 002 | Wench I | Standard | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 003 | Wench I | Standard | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 004 | Wench I | Standard | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 005 | Wench I | Standard | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 006 | Wench I | Standard | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 007 | Wench I | Standard | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 008 | Wench I | Standard | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 009 | Wench I | Standard | 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 02:00 PM, checkout 01:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 35 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. |
Firewood is available for a fee and it is possible to moor boats on the shoreline. Amenities include grills, fire rings, drinking water, picnic tables and both vault toilets. Electric hook-ups are not available. Single family sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. One group site is tent-only, and the other is a standard site for tents, RVs, or trailers. Each group site can accommodate up to 50 people ( more campground details ).
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 360 days in advance of your first night’s stay. www.Recreation.gov. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover accepted. |
| Fees | $160/ 50 person (2) |
Weather by month
Getting there
On Highway 50, go 21 miles east of Placerville to Riverton. Turn left on Icehouse Riverton Road. Go 19 miles north to Wench Creek turnoff, then turn left to campground.
| Coordinates | 38.8903° N, 120.3772° 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 ↗ | 4.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sierra ↗ | 20.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Custom Truck Accessories ↗ | 36.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Wench Creek Campground, Eldorado National Forest, California Campsite Photos
Worth a stop
The Desolation Wilderness is nearby, offering the opportunity to get away from the crowds and enjoy the serenity of nature.
- 0.8 mi
- 1.9 mi
- 3.7 miWest Point Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 4.7 miIce House Day Use & Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 14.8 miEagle Falls Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miUnion Valley Bike Trail ↗6.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.6 miMillionaire Trail0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.1 miBassi Falls0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.6 miRobbs Hut3.1 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 3.1 miSunrock1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4 miIce House Bike Trail3.4 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
- 5.6 miDesolation Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 64,041 acres
- 8.4 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
Union Valley Reservoir sits in the Crystal Basin at an elevation of 4,900 feet. The area is part of the Eldorado National Forest. Eldorado includes the famed gold mining territory of the 1800s. Protected remnants of the days of the California Gold Rush are all around the region. An abundance of wildlife can be found within the Sierra Nevada Range, including black bears, mule deer, bobcat, gray fox, bighorn sheep, pikas, martens and a variety of squirrels. Several species of reptiles, amphibians and birds also inhabit the area.
Recreation
The Union Valley Bike Trail spans 4.8 miles with an easy climb of 300 feet. The trail connects campgrounds on the east side of the lake, starting from Wench Creek on to the Jones Fork Campground. Interpretive signs along the trail tell the story of the use and development of water resources in Union Valley. This trail can be used by both hikers and bikers. Anglers delight in seeking kokanee salmon, rainbow, brown, small mouth bass and mackinaw trout. The reservoir also offers opportunities for swimming, water skiing and boating. Boat ramps are located near Sunset and Yellowjacket Campgrounds.
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 Wench 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 Wench 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 Wench Creek?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 01:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Wench Creek?
Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Wench 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 Wench Creek have?
102 sites, including 98 standard sites without power and 2 group sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Wench Creek?
The longest site here provides 35 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 Wench Creek?
Yes, pets are allowed at Wench Creek. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Wench 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.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Wench Creek?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Wench Creek?
The Union Valley Bike Trail spans 4.8 miles with an easy climb of 300 feet. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Wench Creek is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Azalea Cove Campground (0.7 mi, first-come), Yellowjacket (0.8 mi, partly first-come), and Big Silver Group (1.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby