Sly Guard Cabin
The Sly Guard Cabin is less remote than other cabins on the Eldorado National forest and is a great choice for families with children. Sly Guard provides the cabin in the woods experience with the convenience of modern amenities. The cabin is near Sly Park Reservoir, also called Jenkinson Lake, the tourist area of Apple Hill, a variety of wineries, a number of hiking trails, and the historic mining towns of Coloma and Placerville. The Sly Guard Cabin was constrcuted in the early 1940s by the Forest Service as living quarters for rangers "on guard" in the Sly Park area.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins with electric | 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 | Surface | Shade | Power | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sly Guard Cabin | 45 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 12 / 3 | 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 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 45 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Sly Guard Cabin is located off U.S. Highway 50 in Pollock Pines, approximately 16 miles east of Placerville. Take Exit 60 (Sly Park Road) and travel south approximately 6.2 miles. Arrive at 5561 Sly Park Road on the left.
| Nearest town | Pollock Pines, California |
| Coordinates | 38.7086° N, 120.5953° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedTmu Rx Support
37 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 | Mosquito Creek Outfitters ↗ | 10.6 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 14.9 mi |
| RV sales & service | Rocklin RV Center ↗ | 33.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
The Sly Park Environmental Education School is located across the street. Guided nature walks are conducted daily on the trail adjacent to the cabin. A resort at the entrance of Jenkinson Lake (Sly Creek Reservoir) offers a small store, restaurant and bar, pay phone, gas and fishing supplies. It is about a 2-mile drive.
- 2.7 miFleming Trail System & Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 7.3 mi
- 13.5 miStumpy Meadows Day Use And Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 13.8 miOld Flume Trail Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 13.9 miWest Point Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 14.9 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miCedar Park ↗1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.6 miCamp Creek1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.7 miFleming Meadow Loop ↗7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.8 miSciaroni0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 2.7 miFleming Trail System & Trailhead ↗Eldorado National Forest
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
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
At nearly 3,600 feet in elevation, Sly Guard Cabin sits among Ponderosa and Jeffrey pine near the town of Pollock Pines. The cabin is well shaded during the day, keeping it cool in the summer. A downhill dirt trail leads guests south to Sly Park Creek and the bottom of the spillway at Sly Park Reservoir.
Recreation
Hiking, mountain biking, and picnicking are great options while staying at the cabin. Cedar Park trail is just steps away from the cabin, where you can take a relaxing walk along the 1.2 mile paved loop trail. There is also an observation deck along the trail offering views of Pyramid Peak and the Crystal Range. There is a horsehoe pit on the cabin grounds. Sly Park Creek has a swimming hole and Sly Park Reservoir attracts lots of boaters and anglers. Gold panning may also be done in the creek.
Guidebooks for California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Sly Guard Cabin?
Sites at Sly Guard Cabin are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Sly Guard Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Sly Guard Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Sly Guard Cabin?
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
Does Sly Guard Cabin have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Sly Guard Cabin?
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
Is there cell service at Sly Guard Cabin?
FCC coverage maps show 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 Sly Guard Cabin?
Hiking, mountain biking, and picnicking are great options while staying at the cabin. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Sly Guard Cabin?
Pollock Pines, California. The Sly Park Environmental Education School is located across the street.
Source: Getting there
What if Sly Guard Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Bridal Veil Group Area And Picnic Ground (7.3 mi), Capps Crossing (11 mi), and Ponderosa Cove Campground (11.4 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby