Connectivity
No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Gerle Creek
Eldorado National Forest, California
About this campground
Gerle Creek Campground is nestled on the banks of the Gerle Creek Fork among a lush forest of hardwoods.
Gerle Creek Campground sits at an elevation of 5,300 feet, upstream of Gerle Creek Divide Reservoir.
Union Valley Reservoir and Loon Lake are within a short drive of the campground, offering additional fishing and boating opportunities.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 38.975000° N
- Longitude
- 120.391667° W
Know before you arrive
Access, sites & campground features
Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.
Access
- Drive-in
- Boat-in
- Walk-inCommunity report
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sites
- Standard campsites
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Picnic table
- FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
- ADA access
- Firewood available
- Drinking waterCommunity report
- Trash serviceCommunity report
- Pets allowedDogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
- Reservable
For vehicles
- Parking
- Big rig friendlyPublished vehicle length up to 50 ft
- Back-in sitesCommunity report
Official campground guide
Plan with the full campground details
Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.
Overview
Gerle Creek Campground is nestled on the banks of the Gerle Creek Fork among a lush forest of hardwoods. The area provides lots of opportunity for fishing and water play. Hiking and biking are also popular.
Facilities
The campground offers single and double-family campsites, many of which are accessible. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets are provided and firewood is available for purchase.
Recreation
Swimming, canoeing, kayaking and fishing are some of the fun things to do on the creek. Common fish species include brown and rainbow trout. An accessible fishing dock is located on-site.
The Gerle Creek Interpretive Trail is fully accessible and provides scenic views and interesting displays.
Natural Features
Gerle Creek Campground sits at an elevation of 5,300 feet, upstream of Gerle Creek Divide Reservoir. It is on the Georgetown Divide within the Eldorado National Forest. Gerle Creek was named for two brothers who were early settlers and farmers in the region.
Eldorado National Forest boasts over 400 miles of hiking trails, an abundance of lakes and rivers for fishing and swimming, and incredible scenery. The climate is similar to that of the Mediterranean, with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.
Nearby Attractions
Union Valley Reservoir and Loon Lake are within a short drive of the campground, offering additional fishing and boating opportunities.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Swimming SiteSwimming
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Camping
Amenities and facility features
- Vault or pit toilets
- Picnic tables
- Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame
- Pets allowedFollow the exact facility restrictions
- Accessible Fishing Dock
- Accessible Vault Toilets
- Campfire Rings
- Firewood Vender
- Host
- Parking Area
- Picnic Area
- Vault Toilets
- Water
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Tent Only Non-Electric
31 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Tent
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 1
- Maximum vehicle length
- 0 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 1:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- 13 flagged accessible
Standard Non-Electric
19 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 12
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 50 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 1:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- 11 flagged accessible
Site rules, inventory & rates
Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.
Site rules
- Base site allowance
- • 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.
- Holiday-weekend minimum
- 3 nights
- Weekend minimum
- 2 nights
- Reservation cutoff
- 3 days before arrival
- Scan And Pay
- 1
- Maximum published vehicles
- 2 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 1:00 PM
- Food storage
- Gerle Creek's official facility record checked 2026-10-16 does not publish a food-storage method; confirm the posted rule with Eldorado National Forest.
- Fire and stove use
- Gerle Creek's official facility record states: Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring.
- Pets
- Dogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
Inventory window
Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.
- Currently bookable through
- Sep 20, 2026
- Next release
- Nov 22, 2026, 7:00 AM PST
- Next book-through date
- May 22, 2027
- Group sites bookable through
- Sep 20, 2027
Published seasons & rates
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2026 – Sep 6, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2026 – Sep 6, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $72 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2026 – Sep 6, 2026 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2026 – Sep 20, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2026 – Sep 20, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $72 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2026 – Sep 20, 2026 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2027 – Sep 6, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2027 – Sep 6, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $72 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2027 – Sep 6, 2027 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2027 – Sep 20, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2027 – Sep 20, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $72 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2027 – Sep 20, 2027 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2028 – Sep 6, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2028 – Sep 6, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $72 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2028 – Sep 6, 2028 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2028 – Sep 20, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2028 – Sep 20, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $72 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2028 – Sep 20, 2028 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- Travel Notice : Starting May 2024 and continuing through September 2024, Ice House Road will be undergoing repairs. There will be traffic delays so plan your camping trip accordingly.
- Bears frequent the area; all food must be kept in approved containers
- Forest Order No. 19-15-01: Prohibits camping for a combined total of no more than 14 days during a calendar year (January-December), forest-wide. Visitors may book campsites annually but the maximum stay may not exceed a total of 14 days each calendar year (January-December).
- Motorized boats are not allowed on lake
- Please keep boats clean, drained and dry, to avoid transport or introduction of aquatic invasive species
- Please Note : One vehicle per single site. Most sites can accommodate 1 extra vehicle that is not included with the reservation fee. Extra vehicle will be charged a per night fee
- Fire Restrictions : Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed. Call (530) 644-6048 for local information and conditions.
- Reserved Sites will be held until check out time (1PM) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of that following day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests. Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
- 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 retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).
- Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.
- First Come First Serve sites remain listed as FF for the entire season. They will not show as occupied/available online as the status of these sites is ever changing. You must be on site at the campground to claim a FF site. No guarantees upon arrival that these FF sites will be avaiable.
- There is a fee to move from a reserved site to a first come first serve site. Site Transfer Policy
- Click here for more information on Eldorado National Forest
Getting there & contact
Official directions
From Placerville, drive 21 miles east on Highway 50 to the Icehouse Road turnoff. Turn left and go 28 miles north. Take the left fork 3 miles to the campground.
Facility contact
831-245-6891 · info@royalelkparkmanagement.com