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

Wolf Creek California

Wolf Creek Campground is a modern facility on the north shore of Union Valley Reservoir. The reservoir offers plenty of opportunities for water activities like sailing, boating, swimming and fishing. Bring a bike to explore the neighboring bike trail. Eldorado National Forest includes the famed gold mining territory of the 1800s. Remnants of the days of the California Gold Rush are all around the region.

Closed for the seasonPartly reservable44 sites50 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 ↗
WOLF CREEK CALIFORNIAWOLF CREEK CALIFORNIAWOLF CREEK CALIFORNIAA photo of Site 004 of Loop CALI at WOLF CREEK CALIFORNIA with No Amenities Shown
Photos courtesy of Megan Unke · Recreation.gov
1fire
active
Tmu Rx Support (prescribed burn) · 23 mi away
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-16
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard, no hookups40
Group sites2
Group tent areas1
Tent-only1
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 50 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

44 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
001CALIStandardBack-in25PavedFull6 / 1Yes
002CALIStandardBack-in45PavedFull6 / 1YesYes
003CALIStandardBack-in25PavedFull6 / 1Yes
004CALIStandardBack-in20PavedFull6 / 1Yes
005CALIStandardBack-in50PavedFull6 / 1Yes
006CALIStandardBack-in20PavedFull6 / 1Yes
007CALIStandardBack-in25PavedFull6 / 1Yes
008CALIStandardBack-in20PavedFull6 / 1Yes
009CALIStandardBack-in25PavedFull6 / 1Yes
010CALIStandardBack-in20PavedFull6 / 1YesYes

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

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length50 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
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 002, 010, 012, 013 and 12 more are listed accessible

Sites in this two-loop campground come with picnic tables, campfire rings and bear-proof food storage lockers. Most of the family sites will accommodate up to five small tents (1-2 person) or two medium-sized family tents (4-6 people). Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Single, double and group campsites for up to 25 or 50 guests are all reservable. Some sites are tent-only. A host is on-site, and firewood may be available for a fee ( more campground details ).

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

Eldorado National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Wolf Creek California30°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, 10 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

From Placerville, get on Highway 50 and head east for 21 miles to Icehouse Road. Turn left 21 miles to turnoff. Then go three-quarters of a mile to campground.

Coordinates38.8831° N, 120.4000° 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

  • Prescribed
    Tmu Rx Support

    23 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 ↗4.1 mi
Outdoor gearSierra ↗21.4 mi
RV sales & serviceCustom Truck Accessories ↗38.2 mi

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

Explore

Video

Wolf Creek Campground Eldorado National Forest, CA

Worth a stop

The Desolation Wilderness is nearby, offering the opportunity to get away from the crowds and enjoy the serenity of nature.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 1.3 mi
    Union Valley Bike Trail ↗
    6.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.8 mi
    Millionaire Trail
    0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.9 mi
    Robbs Hut
    3.1 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
  • 3.4 mi
    Bassi Falls
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.6 mi
    Ice House Bike Trail
    3.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 4.3 mi
    Sunrock
    1.2 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

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

At an elevation of 4,900 feet, Wolf Creek sits in the Crystal Basin of the Sierra Nevadas. This is an area known for granite peaks, alpine lakes and pine forest. The climate is similar to that of the Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters. 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 paved 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 down to 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 seek rainbow, brown and mackinaw trout or kokanee salmon. The reservoir also offers opportunities for swimming, water skiing and boating. The nearest boat ramp is at Yellowjacket Campground.

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 Wolf Creek California?

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 Wolf Creek California?

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 Wolf Creek California?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Wolf Creek California?

Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation.

Source: Charges and cancellations

Is Wolf Creek California open right now?

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

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Wolf Creek California have?

44 sites, including 40 standard sites without power, 2 group sites, 1 group tent area, and 1 tent-only site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Wolf Creek California?

The longest site here provides 50 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 Wolf Creek California?

Yes, pets are allowed at Wolf Creek California. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Wolf Creek California?

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 Wolf Creek California?

Sites 002, 010, 012, and 013 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 16 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 Wolf Creek California?

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

What is there to do at Wolf Creek California?

The paved 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