Ponderosa Cove Campground
Ponderosa Cove greets group campers with shaded campsites close to scenic Stumpy Meadows Reservoir. The campground provides a pleasant destination for bird watching and nature viewing, in addition to activities at the lake.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Fits, ft | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GA001 | 45 | Partial | 75 / 15 | 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 | 45 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
The campground can accommodate up to 75 guests along a single loop of campsites. Five parking spurs can be used for RVs and trailers. Each of these spurs has a picnic table. Ten walk-to tent pads are provided, and parking for these requires parallel parking on the loop. Vault toilets and two water faucets 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 | 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 | $175/ group of 75 people. There are also fees for extra vehicle, pets, and wood is available for purchase from host. 5 vehicle spurs and a parking area for 10 vehicles. |
| Rules | Please check with the campground attendant or entrance board before setting up your camp. Please keep family pets on a leash at all times. Use only dead and down wood for your campfires. Make sure your fire is dead out before leaving. Check ahead. Campfires may not be allowed during. Check out time is 1:00 p.m. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Placerville take Highway 49N a half-mile and turn right on Highway 193 to Georgetown. Take a right on Main Street in Georgetown and drive about 14 miles to the campground. Ponderosa Cove is north of the Stumpy Boat Ramp.
| Coordinates | 38.8742° N, 120.6028° 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: 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 14 days before your arrival date.
- Late Cancellation: If you cancel your reservation too close to the start date, additional service fees may be withheld.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedTmu Rx Support
34 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 ↗ | 13 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Mosquito Creek Outfitters ↗ | 14.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Rocklin RV Center ↗ | 33.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Eldorado National Forest boasts over 400 miles of hiking trails, so hikers have plenty of options to explore. Take a drive on the El Dorado County Scenic Highway or visit the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park.
- 2.2 miStumpy Meadows Day Use And Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 8.7 miWest Point Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 9.9 mi
- 10.7 mi
- 11.8 miFleming Trail System & Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 2.3 miEdson Burn Interpretive0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3 miCamp Seven0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV and 1 more
- 3.3 miBig Brushy2.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV and 1 more
- 3.6 miSugarpine Point2.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.8 miBig X ATV3.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV and 1 more
- 4.1 miPoho Power0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV and 1 more
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
- 11.8 miTahoe National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,181,139 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
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
Ponderosa Pine, the namesake of the campground, is known for its wonderful sweet vanilla aroma and its massive height. The campground sits east of the dam, just opposite the road from the Stumpy Meadows Lake, at an elevation of 4,400 feet. The lake sits in the foothills of the rugged Sierra Nevada high country of California. In the Eldorado National Forest, the climate is similar to that of the Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.
Recreation
Enjoy a picnic in the campground, or head to another picnic area at Stumpy Meadows Boat Ramp. The reservoir is great for swimming and fishing for brown and rainbow trout. Boating is also popular, but this is a no-wake lake.
Guidebooks for California
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Ponderosa Cove Campground?
Sites at Ponderosa Cove Campground 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 Ponderosa Cove Campground?
$175/ group of 75 people. There are also fees for extra vehicle, pets, and wood is available for purchase from host. 5 vehicle spurs and a parking area for 10 vehicles.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Ponderosa Cove Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Ponderosa Cove Campground?
Cancellation Fee: 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.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Ponderosa Cove Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season June to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Ponderosa Cove Campground have?
1 site, including 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Ponderosa Cove Campground?
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 pets allowed at Ponderosa Cove Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Ponderosa Cove Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Ponderosa Cove Campground?
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. Please check with the campground attendant or entrance board before setting up your camp.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Ponderosa Cove Campground?
Enjoy a picnic in the campground, or head to another picnic area at Stumpy Meadows Boat Ramp. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Ponderosa Cove Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Stumpy Meadows (2.2 mi), Black Oak (2.2 mi), and West Point Campground (8.7 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby