Big Silver Group
Big Silver Group Campground offers tent and RV camping for up to 50 guests. The campground is located 23 miles east of Placerville on Highway 50 and 16 miles north on Ice House Road, east of nearby Union Valley Reservoir.
More like this: reservable in California · group sites in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | Paved | Full | 50 / 12 | 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 |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Accessibility | Site 001 is listed accessible |
The campground consists of three easy access tent camp units; four easy access tent, trailer or RV units; and three walk-in camp units. A group kitchen area includes multiple tables and grills, as well as a campfire circle. Accessible vault toilets and trash collection are provided. There is no piped water or electricity available at the campground. Campers must bring water from home, or be prepared to sterilize stream water. Stream water is available close by, but should be boiled or chemically treated before using. A convenience store with a restaurant, gas and phone is within 10 miles, south on Ice House Road. The nearest town is Pollock Pines, approximately 25 miles away.
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 |
| Fees | $50 |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Highway 50, turn north onto the Ice House Riverton Road and continue 18 miles. After crossing Big Silver bridge turn left into campground entrance.
| Nearest town | Pollock Pines, California |
| Coordinates | 38.8792° N, 120.3625° 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
21 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 ↗ | 3.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sierra ↗ | 19.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Custom Truck Accessories ↗ | 36.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Big Silver Group Campground - Eldorado National Forest, CA
Worth a stop
- 1.8 mi
- 2 mi
- 3.9 miIce House Day Use & Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 4.3 miWest Point Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 14.3 miEagle Falls Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.9 miMillionaire Trail0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.3 miUnion Valley Bike Trail ↗6.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.6 miBassi Falls0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.3 miSunrock1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.4 miIce House Bike Trail3.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.5 miRobbs Hut3.1 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
- 5 miDesolation Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 64,041 acres
- 8.1 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
Big Silver Group Campground is situated alongside Big Silver Creek where it pours into Union Valley Reservoir. Much of the campground is flat and shaded by a Ponderosa pine forest. Gentle to moderate slopes lead to the creek and walk-in campsites. Union Valley Reservoir is a 5-minute bike ride from the campground.
Recreation
Visitors may enjoy forest-lined scenic views and recreation opportunities, such as, hiking, fishing, biking, wildlife viewing and migratory bird spotting. The campground has immediate access to the Union Valley Bike Trail; an easy 5.8 mile, two-lane bikeway with a few short, steep grades.
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 Big Silver Group?
Sites at Big Silver Group are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Big Silver Group?
$50
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Big Silver Group?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Big Silver Group?
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 Big Silver Group open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season June to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Big Silver Group have?
1 site, including 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Big Silver Group?
Big Silver Group is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Big Silver Group?
Site 001 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
Is there cell service at Big Silver Group?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Big Silver Group?
Visitors may enjoy forest-lined scenic views and recreation opportunities, such as, hiking, fishing, biking, wildlife viewing and migratory bird spotting. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Big Silver Group?
Pollock Pines, California.
Source: Getting there
What if Big Silver Group is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Azalea Cove Campground (0.4 mi, first-come), Wench Creek (1.1 mi, partly first-come), and Lone Rock Campground (1.7 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby