Connectivity
No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Ponderosa Cove Campground
Eldorado National Forest, California
About this 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.
Ponderosa Pine, the namesake of the campground, is known for its wonderful sweet vanilla aroma and its massive height.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 38.874167° N
- Longitude
- 120.602778° 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-inCommunity report
- Hike-inCommunity report
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sites
- Group sites
- Standard campsites
- YurtsCommunity report
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Drinking water
- Picnic table
- FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
- Trash serviceVerify whether the assigned site is pack-in/pack-out
- Alcohol allowedCommunity report
- Firewood availableCommunity report
- Phone 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
- Sanitary dump
- Big rig friendlyPublished vehicle length up to 45 ft
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
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.
Facilities
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.
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.
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.
Nearby Attractions
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.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Camping
Amenities and facility features
- Vault or pit toilets
- Potable water
- Picnic tables
- Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame
- Trash serviceVerify whether the assigned site is pack-in/pack-out
- Dump station
- Pets allowedFollow the exact facility restrictions
- Campfire Rings
- Drinking Water
- Grills
- Vault Toilets
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Group Standard Non-Electric
1 site- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 75
- Maximum vehicles
- 15
- Maximum vehicle length
- 45 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 1:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Site rules, inventory & rates
Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.
Site rules
- Max Stay
- 14 nights
- Minimum stay
- 2 consecutive nights
- Holiday-weekend minimum
- 0 days
- Weekend minimum
- 0 days
- Reservation cutoff
- 4 day(s) prior to arrival
- Maximum published occupancy
- 75 people per site
- Maximum published vehicles
- 15 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 1:00 PM
- Food storage
- Ponderosa Cove Campground's official facility record states: Keep all foods, soaps, and garbage properly stored.
- Fire and stove use
- Ponderosa Cove Campground's official facility record states: Visitors may book campsites annually but the maximum stay may not exceed a total of 14 days each calendar year (January-December) 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.
- 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 6, 2026
- Next release
- Nov 22, 2026, 7:00 AM PST
- Next book-through date
- May 22, 2027
- Group sites bookable through
- Sep 6, 2027
Published seasons & rates
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2026 – Sep 6, 2026 | Group Standard Non-Electric | $175 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2027 – Sep 6, 2027 | Group Standard Non-Electric | $175 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2028 – Sep 6, 2028 | Group Standard Non-Electric | $175 | — | — |
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- Bears frequent the area. Keep all foods, soaps, and garbage properly stored.
- Keep family pets on a leash at all times.
- 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)
- 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.
- 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.
- Click here for more information on the Eldorado National Forest
Getting there & contact
Official directions
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.
Facility contact
831-245-6891