Red Fir
Situated on the north side of the Loon Lake Reservoir, Red Fir Group Campground offers a primitive group camping experience in the lush Eldorado National Forest.
More like this: reservable in California · tent only in California · group sites in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group tent areas | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paved | Full | 30 / 6 | Yes | 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.
The site record lists 30 people. The campground description says up to 25 people.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| 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 | Site 1 is listed accessible |
The campground offers tent-only campsites, accommodating a group of up to 25 guests. A group kitchen area is equipped with multiple tables, a campfire circle and grills. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided.
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 | 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 | 125 /25 person |
Weather by month
Getting there
Take Highway 50 east of Placerville for approximately 21 miles to Ice House Road. At the river take a left and go north 28 miles, then veer right at the fork in the road and continue 9 miles to Red Fir Group campground.
| Coordinates | 39.0022° N, 120.3125° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- The campground is not far from the Desolation Wilderness.
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
19 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 ↗ | 12.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Alpenglow Sports ↗ | 14.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | Custom Truck Accessories ↗ | 30.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 1.6 miLoon Lake Day Use And Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 4.6 miGerle Creek Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 4.6 miAngel Creek Day Use ↗Day use
- 8.1 miMckinney/Rubicon Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 8.1 miMckinney/Rubicon Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 9.7 miFrench Meadows Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
Show all 7Hide
- 13.9 miBaldwin Beach ↗Swimming
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miPolaris2.3 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 0.6 miTelemark Loop1.1 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 0.8 miVan Vleck XC1.5 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 1.4 miBoat in Access0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miRubicon ↗21.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miOrion Trail3 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
- 2.4 miLake Tahoe Basin Management Unit ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 331,807 acres
- 3.7 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 · 11.9 mi
- Chapel of the TransfigurationBuilding · Tahoe City · 13.7 mi
- Lake Tahoe DamStructure · Tahoe City · 14.5 mi
Natural features
The campground is part of the Crystal Basin Recreation Area, situated at a 6,400-foot elevation and nestled in a forest of tall pine trees.
Recreation
The nearby lake provides fishing, swimming and boating, and the campground is just a short walk across the road to the water's edge. Visitors also enjoy off-road vehicle and motorcycle riding on the popular Rubicon Jeep trail. Hiking and wilderness backpacking are popular activities. Day permits are available at the nearby Loon Lake trailhead and overnight permits are available at the Eldorado Information Center.
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 Red Fir?
Sites at Red Fir are reservable on Recreation.gov. CALL 1-877-444-6777, four days to 360 days 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 Red Fir?
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 Red Fir?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Red Fir?
Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Red Fir open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Red Fir have?
1 site, including 1 group tent area.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Red Fir?
Red Fir is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Red Fir?
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 Red Fir?
Site 1 is 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 Red Fir?
The nearby lake provides fishing, swimming and boating, and the campground is just a short walk across the road to the water's edge. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Red Fir is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Northshore Campground (0.4 mi, partly first-come), Wentworth Springs Campground (0.9 mi, first-come), and Pleasant Campground (1.4 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby