Kampilo

Campground

Wench Creek

Eldorado National Forest, California

Official reservation page

About this campground

Wench Creek Campground is located in a beautiful ponderosa pine forest on the east shore of Union Valley Reservoir.

The trail connects campgrounds on the east side of the lake, starting from Wench Creek on to the Jones Fork Campground.

The Union Valley Trail runs right through Wench Creek.

Map

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Latitude
38.890278° N
Longitude
120.377222° W
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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.

Connectivity

  • T-Mobile5GExcellent coverageVerified by 2 campers · Oct 18, 2026
  • Verizon5GExcellent coverageVerified by 2 campers · Oct 18, 2026
  • AT&T5GGood coverageVerified by 2 campers · May 28, 2026

Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.

Access

  • Drive-in

Site types

  • Tent sites
  • RV / trailer sites
  • Standard campsites
  • Group sites

Features

For campers

  • Toilets
  • Drinking water
  • Picnic table
  • FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
  • Firewood available
  • Alcohol allowedCommunity report
  • Phone serviceCommunity 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

  • Back-in sitesCommunity report
  • Sanitary dumpCommunity 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.

Open official source

Overview

Wench Creek Campground is located in a beautiful ponderosa pine forest on the east shore of Union Valley Reservoir. The campground has 2 group campsites and several

single family campsites. Plenty of water activities await at this reservoir in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

The Union Valley Bike Trail and Bassi Falls Hiking Trail are worth exploring. The Union Valley Trail runs right through Wench Creek.

Facilities

Firewood is available for a fee and it is possible to moor boats on the shoreline. Amenities include grills, fire rings, drinking water, picnic tables and both vault toilets. Electric hook-ups are not available.

Single family sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. One group site is tent-only, and the other is a standard site for tents, RVs, or trailers. Each group site can accommodate up to 50 people ( more campground details ).

Recreation

The Union Valley Bike Trail spans 4.8 miles with an easy climb of 300 feet. The trail connects campgrounds on the east side of the lake, starting from Wench Creek on to the Jones Fork Campground. Interpretive signs along the trail tell the story of the use and development of water

resources in Union Valley. This trail can be used by both hikers and bikers.

Anglers delight in seeking kokanee salmon, rainbow, brown, small mouth bass and mackinaw trout. The reservoir also offers opportunities for swimming, water skiing and boating. Boat ramps are located near Sunset and Yellowjacket Campgrounds.

Natural Features

Union Valley Reservoir sits in the Crystal Basin at an elevation of 4,900 feet. The area is part of the Eldorado National Forest.

Eldorado includes the famed gold mining territory of the 1800s. Protected remnants of the days of the California Gold Rush are all around the region.

An abundance of wildlife can be found within the Sierra Nevada Range, including black bears, mule deer, bobcat, gray fox, bighorn sheep, pikas, martens and a variety of squirrels. Several species of reptiles, amphibians and birds also inhabit the area.

Nearby Attractions

The Desolation Wilderness is nearby, offering the opportunity to get away from the crowds and enjoy the serenity of nature.

Activities & amenities

What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.

Available activities

  • Swimming Site
  • Wildlife Viewing
  • Water Sports
  • Hiking
  • Fishing
  • Camping
  • Boating
  • Biking
  • Birding

Amenities and facility features

  • Vault or pit toilets
  • Potable water
  • Picnic tables
  • Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame
  • Pets allowedFollow the exact facility restrictions
  • Campfire Rings
  • Drinking Water
  • Firewood
  • Grills
  • Host
  • Lake Access
  • Picnic Area
  • Vault Toilets
  • Water Spigot

Recreation sites

Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.

Standard Non-Electric

98 sites
Equipment
RV, Tent, Trailer
Maximum people
6
Maximum vehicles
1
Maximum vehicle length
0 ft
Check-in
02:00 PM, 0:00 PM
Check-out
01:00 PM, 0:00 PM
Accessible sites
None flagged in site inventory

Management

2 sites
Maximum people
6
Maximum vehicles
1
Maximum vehicle length
0 ft
Check-in
0:00 PM
Check-out
0:00 PM
Accessible sites
None flagged in site inventory

Group Standard Non-Electric

2 sites
Reservation type
Site-Specific
Equipment
RV, Tent, Trailer
Maximum people
50
Maximum vehicles
12
Maximum vehicle length
35 ft
Check-in
02:00 PM
Check-out
01:00 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

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
Maximum published vehicles
12 vehicles per site
Check-in
02:00 PM, 0:00 PM
Check-out
01:00 PM, 0:00 PM
Food storage
Wench 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
Wench Creek's official facility record states: Amenities include grills, fire rings, drinking water, picnic tables and both vault toilets.
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 27, 2026
Next release
Nov 22, 2026, 7:00 AM PST
Next book-through date
May 22, 2027
Group sites bookable through
Sep 27, 2027

Published seasons & rates

SeasonSite typeNightly rateAdditional personDeposit
Peak SeasonMay 22, 2026 – Sep 6, 2026Group Standard Non-Electric$160——
Peak SeasonMay 22, 2026 – Sep 6, 2026Group Tent Only Area Non-Electric$160——
Peak SeasonMay 22, 2026 – Sep 6, 2026Standard Non-Electric$36——
First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2026 – Sep 27, 2026Group Standard Non-Electric$160——
First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2026 – Sep 27, 2026Group Tent Only Area Non-Electric$160——
First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2026 – Sep 27, 2026Standard Non-Electric$36——
Peak SeasonMay 22, 2027 – Sep 6, 2027Group Standard Non-Electric$160——
Peak SeasonMay 22, 2027 – Sep 6, 2027Group Tent Only Area Non-Electric$160——
Peak SeasonMay 22, 2027 – Sep 6, 2027Standard Non-Electric$36——
First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2027 – Sep 27, 2027Group Standard Non-Electric$160——
First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2027 – Sep 27, 2027Group Tent Only Area Non-Electric$160——
First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2027 – Sep 27, 2027Standard Non-Electric$36——
Peak SeasonMay 22, 2028 – Sep 6, 2028Group Standard Non-Electric$160——
Peak SeasonMay 22, 2028 – Sep 6, 2028Group Tent Only Area Non-Electric$160——
Peak SeasonMay 22, 2028 – Sep 6, 2028Standard Non-Electric$36——
First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2028 – Sep 27, 2028Group Standard Non-Electric$160——
First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2028 – Sep 27, 2028Group Tent Only Area Non-Electric$160——
First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2028 – Sep 27, 2028Standard 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. Food must be stored in approved containers
  • There are no electric/sewer/water site hook-ups at this facility
  • 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)
  • 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 and collected at the campground.
  • 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 (NOON) 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 occupied/available 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 about Eldorado National Forest

Getting there & contact

Official directions

On Highway 50, go 21 miles east of Placerville to Riverton. Turn left on Icehouse Riverton Road. Go 19 miles north to Wench Creek turnoff, then turn left to campground.

Facility contact

831-245-6891 · info@royalelkparkmanagement.com

Sources

Recreation.gov official facility record — Wench CreekUSDA Forest Service — responsible pet practicesRecreation.gov official facility record — Wench CreekWench Creek official facility detailsRecreation.gov official facility record — Wench Creek — food-storage guidanceThe Dyrt community reports — Wench Creek CampgroundRecreation.gov campground details APIRecreation.gov published seasons and ratesRecreation.gov booking-window release dataRecreation.gov recreation-site inventory