Silver Lake East- Eldorado
Silver Lake East is located 50 miles east of Jackson, California, just a short distance from the shores of Silver lake, where activities like boating, fishing, swimming and hiking, provide campers with the perfect outdoors retreat. Numerous trails leaving the campground connect with the lake and swimming beaches. Silver Lake West is adjacent to Silver Lake East on the other side of Highway 88, and offers additional trails and access to the Silver Fork of the American River.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 42 |
| Tent-only | 3 |
| Walk-in | 2 |
| RV, no hookups | 1 |
| Host/management | 18 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 55 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
48 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 002 | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 003 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 004 | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 005 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 006 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 007 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 008 | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Paved | Partial | 12 / 1 | Yes | |
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 010 | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Partial | 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 | 55 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 014, 017, 018, 019 and 6 more are listed accessible |
Vault toilets, drinking water, campfire rings and picnic tables are provided. Some sites have bear-proof food storage containers as well. Single units are limited to a maximum of 2 vehicles and 6 people. A pay phone, restaurant, boat rentals and boat ramp are located at a nearby lodge.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Getting there
From Pioneer, CA, take State Route 88 east 36.6 miles to campground on right.
| Coordinates | 38.6750° N, 119.8875° W · Directions ↗ |
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.
- 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
- PrescribedTmu Rx Support
18 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Bear Valley Adventure Company ↗ | 16.9 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 19.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Custom Truck Accessories ↗ | 32.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Silver Lake East-El Dorado Campground Tour (July 2022)
Worth a stop
Take a scenic drive on Carson Pass Highway, which runs past Silver Lake along the mountains and crosses the picturesque Carson Pass. It is a must-do activity for those who love mountain views and landscape photography. The campground is an easy drive south of Lake Tahoe, the popular lake and ski area.
- 11.1 miMosquito Lakes Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 11.3 miSandy Meadow Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 1.6 miCharity Valley ↗6.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2 miLower Charity Loop Trail ↗0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2 miBurnside Lake Trail 11.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.1 miLower Charity Trail ↗0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.2 miBurnside Trail ↗1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD
- 2.9 miThornburg Canyon ↗7.5 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
Mokelumne Wilderness begins about 1.3 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 1.3 miMokelumne Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 104,048 acres
- 6.8 miEldorado National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 793,653 acres
- 7.8 miCarson-Iceberg Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 158,147 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
- Webster Schoolhouse, OldBuilding · Markleeville · 5.8 mi
- Alpine County CourthouseBuilding · Markleeville · 6 mi
Natural features
The campground is situated at the base of Thunder Mountain at an elevation of 7,200 feet, on the north end of beautiful Silver Lake. A small pond in the middle of the campground attracts ducks, but cannot be seen from any of the camp sites. Silver Lake spans 200 acres in a large granite basin surrounded by a forest of mixed conifers. The lake's mirror-like waters are known to reflect the colors of the sky above, attracting both hikers and photographers to its scenic shores. The Silver Lake area blooms with bright wildflowers in the summer months, delighting visitors with their presence around the lakes and high in the mountain meadows.
Recreation
Because the campground is already at such a high elevation, hiking is particularly popular, allowing visitors to access high alpine lakes and other destinations through short but spectacular hikes. In addition to the trails which connect this campground to Silver Lake and other swimming areas, the Granite Lake Trail, which gives way to the Hidden Lake Trail, begins on the east shore of Silver Lake at the Minkalo TH. The trail ascends and crosses Squaw Creek on a wooden bridge. Approximately one-half mile beyond the bridge is a junction. The right fork will take you to Plasse's and the left fork will take you to Granite Lake. At the southeast end of the lake you will find the trail to Hidden Lake. Anglers will be happy to know that Silver Lake boasts stocked populations of Rainbow, German Brown and Mackinaw trout.
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 Silver Lake East- Eldorado?
Sites at Silver Lake East- Eldorado are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Silver Lake East- Eldorado?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Silver Lake East- Eldorado?
Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation.
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does Silver Lake East- Eldorado have?
66 sites, including 42 standard sites without power, 3 tent-only sites, 2 walk-in sites, and 1 RV site without hookups.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Silver Lake East- Eldorado?
The longest site here provides 55 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 Silver Lake East- Eldorado?
Yes, pets are allowed at Silver Lake East- Eldorado. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Silver Lake East- Eldorado?
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 Silver Lake East- Eldorado?
Sites 014, 017, 018, and 019 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 10 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 Silver Lake East- Eldorado?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Silver Lake East- Eldorado?
Because the campground is already at such a high elevation, hiking is particularly popular, allowing visitors to access high alpine lakes and other destinations through short but spectacular hikes. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Silver Lake East- Eldorado is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Markleeville (6.2 mi), Crystal Springs (6.6 mi), and Woods Lake (6.6 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby