Eldorado National Forest
The Eldorado National Forest is located east of Sacramento from the foothills to the crest of the Sierra Nevada. In all, The Eldorado National Forest contains about 786,994 acres within the Forest boundary, but some of the land within its borders is privately owned. The elevations ranges from 1,000 feet to more than 10,000 feet. Included within the Forest is the Desolation Wilderness Area west of Lake Tahoe and the Crystal Basin Recreation Area.
Crystal Basin Recreation Area
One of the most popular regions within Eldorado National Forest is known as the Crystal Basin Recreation Area, 85,000 acres north of Highway 50 and including many wonderful reservoirs owned by the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD). The lakes are open to the public for all kinds of recreation from boating and waterskiing to fishing and hiking. Numerous campgrounds are located around the lakes. Details of the camping opportunities in the Crystal Basin are found at California's Best Camping - Crystal Basin.
Crystal Basin Campgrounds
The wonderful campgrounds in the Crystal Basin are operated jointly by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District and Eldorado National Forest. Sly Park Campground is operated by the El Dorado Irrigation District. Some of the larger, more popular campgrounds accept reservations, while many are first-come, first-served.
Crystal Basin Area Group Campgrounds
- Red Fir Group Campground - Loon Lake
- South Fork Group Campground
- Big Silver Group Campground - Union Valley Reservoir
- Loon Lake Campground - Loon Lake
- Sly Park Campground - Jenkinson Lake
- Wench Creek Campground - Union Valley Reservoir
- Wolf Creek Campground - Union Valley Reservoir
- Wench Creek Campground - Union Valley Reservoir
Crystal Basin Area Equestrian Campgrounds
- Loon Lake Campground - Loon Lake
- Sly Park Campground - Jenkinson Lake
- Wrights Lake Campground - Wrights Lake
- Tells Creek Equestrian Camp
Crystal Basin Walk-in or Boat-in Campgrounds
- Azalea Cove Campground - Union Valley Reservoir
- Lone Rock Campground Campground - Union Valley Reservoir
- Pleasant Campground - Loon Lake