Loon Lake
1Heads up1 fire 35 mi away
- Right now
- Nobody has saidNo season, no closure, no bookings to read
- A night
- $30–$72Across the site types the agency prices
- Sites
- 8260 on recreation.gov
The place
the agency’s own description · what’s there · 12 notices
In the agency’s own words
Loon Lake Campground is situated on the south shores of Loon Lake, and attracts many visitors with its variety of campsites and beautiful waterfront setting. Popular activities include boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and exploring off-road vehicle trails. Keep reading
Recreation
Anglers delight in fishing for rainbow and brown trout, while boaters head out for water skiing. Five picnic areas in the campground and a day-use area provide visitors with nice lake views.
Facilities
Campsites come with picnic tables, grills, campfire rings and bear-proof food storage lockers. Firewood is sold on-site.
Natural Features
The campground sits just west of Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada Mountains at an elevation of 6,500 feet. The climate is similar to that of the Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (831) 245-6891.
Nearby Attractions
The 18-mile Rubicon Jeep Trail begins nearby. An exciting stretch of scenic, un-maintained, rocky road awaits off-road thrill seekers. Charges & Cancellations .Change Fee: A service fee may be charged at the time a modification is made depending on the changes. Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation. Customers who cancel a GROUP overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.. Cut-Off Window: The latest date and/or time that you can make an advanced reservation or a change to an existing reservation. Cut-off windows can vary by location, but are typically 4 days before your arrival date. A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (see Late Cancellation below). Late Cancellation: If you cancel your reservation too close to the start date, additional service fees may be withheld. 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).
What the agency tells you
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).
Everything else this campground posts · 9
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.
Campers who reserve equestrian sites and don't bring a horse will be asked to move to another site. If one is not available, fees for cancellations will apply.
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.
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.
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
Tents and rigs
- Sites
- 82 · 3 group, 8 equestrian
- Hookups
- None
- Longest rig
- 67 ft
- Paved pads
- All
- Accessible sites
- 4
- Pets
- Allowed
- Campfires
- Allowed, barring fire bans
- Shade
- Every site
Facilities
- Store
- Nearby
- Bear boxes
- Yes
- Firewood
- Sold here
Around the campground
- On the water
- Lake
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Night sky · 721st darkest of 1,201 in CA
- Bortle 3
- Fall color · reported 7 days ago, 18 km away
- No change
No reading yet, book on recreation.gov
recreation.gov lists 60 of the 82 campsites the agency files here. The rest aren’t on its booking system, so a reservation won’t get you one.
No availability snapshot inside the last 36 hours, so this page draws nothing rather than ageing a reading into fiction.
Watch for a cancellation
Full? Watch it.
One email when a night opens, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.
We read recreation.gov once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time a site in your window is free for the nights you asked for.
Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.
Tell me when the season opens
Watch for the season to open
One email when the season goes on sale, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.
We check once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time the agency has that season on sale.
Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.
We make nothing when you book. The link goes straight to the government.
Every line of the receipt · 25
What you actually pay
Derived by CAMPANAC: the agency’s published rates for this season, $30–$72 a night, plus one $8 recreation.gov reservation fee for the booking. A weekend here means Friday and Saturday night, booked once. Optional charges (an extra vehicle, a second tent, a dump-station fee) are listed separately and aren’t in this total.
“- .Change Fee: A service fee may be charged at the time a modification is made depending on the changes. - Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation. Customers who cancel a GROUP overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay…” · this campground’s own terms
Who keeps the booking fee
The agency’s own policy text says the reservation fee and the cancellation processing fee are “retained by the reservation service contractor”, and that a campground concessionaire will decline to refund them because “they did not receive these fees”. Recreation.gov is run under contract by Booz Allen Hamilton. What share of your booking fee the contractor keeps isn’t published in any federal dataset we can read, so we print no number for it. Our reporting on the contract →
How we know this receipt · 6
rules read Sep 9, 2026 · rates Oct 1, 2026 · How we know all this
The sites
82 sites · which ones have room · the site map
The sites, ranked
from 60 mapped sitesAll 82 sites
Toilet distances are OpenStreetMap’s, measured for 65 of the 82 sites listed. A site with no reading is unknown, never far.
The price is derived by CAMPANAC, not published per site: the per-night rate this campground publishes for each site’s own site type. 60 of the 82 sites listed carry one, and a site whose type has no published rate sits out of the price rather than being called free.
| Ellis Loop | 026 | standard nonelectric | 54 ft | 104 ft | 553 ftLoon Lake | 116 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 027 | standard nonelectric | 55 ft | 27 ft | 509 ftLoon Lake | 198 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 028 | standard nonelectric | 59 ft | 36 ft | 472 ftLoon Lake | 231 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 029 | standard nonelectric | 51 ft | 27 ft | 483 ftLoon Lake | 191 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 030 | standard nonelectric | 59 ft | 36 ft | 437 ftLoon Lake | 239 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 031 | standard nonelectric | 54 ft | 60 ft | 483 ftLoon Lake | 261 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 032 | standard nonelectric | 46 ft | 34 ft | 556 ftLoon Lake | 154 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 033 | standard nonelectric | 60 ft | 34 ft | 584 ftLoon Lake | 167 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 034 | standard nonelectric | 67 ft | 59 ft | 595 ftLoon Lake | 60 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 035 | standard nonelectric | 48 ft | 24 ft | 580 ftLoon Lake | 28 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 036 | standard nonelectric | 44 ft | 24 ft | 558 ftLoon Lake | 51 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 037 | standard nonelectric | 46 ft | 86 ft | 514 ftLoon Lake | 113 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 038 | standard nonelectric | 56 ft | 88 ft | 376 ftLoon Lake | 264 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 039 | standard nonelectric | 51 ft | 69 ft | 396 ftLoon Lake | 217 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 040 | standard nonelectric | 60 ft | 69 ft | 344 ftLoon Lake | 264 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 041 | standard nonelectric | 59 ft | 34 ft | 365 ftLoon Lake | 255 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 042 | standard nonelectric | 54 ft | 34 ft | 377 ftLoon Lake | 255 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 043 | standard nonelectric | 45 ft | 39 ft | 380 ftLoon Lake | 306 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 044 | standard nonelectric | 61 ft | 39 ft | 382 ftLoon Lake | 280 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Ellis Loop | 045 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 58 ft | 424 ftLoon Lake | 303 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Equestrian | 071 | equestrian nonelectric | 55 ft | 111 ft | 1,198 ftLoon Lake | 129 ft | $36 | |
| Equestrian | 072 | equestrian nonelectric | 55 ft | 108 ft | 1,330 ftLoon Lake | 82 ft | $36 | |
| Equestrian | 073 | equestrian nonelectric | 55 ft | 103 ft | 1,278 ftSouth Fork Rubicon River | 238 ft | $36 | |
| Equestrian | 074 | equestrian nonelectric | 55 ft | 103 ft | 1,231 ftSouth Fork Rubicon River | 294 ft | $36 | |
| Equestrian | 075 | equestrian nonelectric | 55 ft | 70 ft | 1,233 ftLoon Lake | 164 ft | $36 | |
| Equestrian | 076 | equestrian nonelectric | 55 ft | 148 ft | 1,329 ft | 157 ft | $36 | |
| Equestrian | 077 | equestrian nonelectric | 55 ft | 70 ft | 1,303 ftLoon Lake | 133 ft | $36 | |
| Equestrian | 078 | equestrian nonelectric | 55 ft | 108 ft | 1,361 ftLoon Lake | 187 ft | $36 | |
| Equestrian | 079 | type not stated | 40 ft | 1,288 ftLoon Lake | 197 ft | |||
| Fern | 054 | type not stated | ||||||
| Fern | 055 | type not stated | ||||||
| Fern | 056 | type not stated | ||||||
| Fern | 057 | type not stated | ||||||
| Fern | 058 | type not stated | ||||||
| Fern | 059 | type not stated | ||||||
| Fern | 060 | type not stated | ||||||
| Fern | 061 | type not stated | ||||||
| Fern | 062 | type not stated | ||||||
| Fern | 063 | type not stated | ||||||
| Fern | 064 | type not stated | ||||||
| Fern | 065 | type not stated | ||||||
| Fern | 066 | type not stated | ||||||
| Fern | 067 | type not stated | ||||||
| Fern | 068 | type not stated | ||||||
| Fern | 069 | type not stated | ||||||
| Fern | 070 | type not stated | ||||||
| Fern Loop | 052 | standard nonelectric | 67 ft | 1,137 ftLoon Lake | 262 ft | $36–$72 | ||
| Fern Loop | 053 | standard nonelectric | 51 ft | 81 ft | 1,129 ftLoon Lake | 249 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Fern Loop | 054 | standard nonelectric | 26 ft | 63 ft | 1,189 ftLoon Lake | 175 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Fern Loop | 055 | standard nonelectric | 49 ft | 71 ft | 1,144 ftLoon Lake | 228 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Fern Loop | 056 | standard nonelectric | 52 ft | 63 ft | 1,206 ftLoon Lake | 170 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Fern Loop | 057 | standard nonelectric | 58 ft | yes | 68 ft | 1,289 ftLoon Lake | 138 ft | $36–$72 |
| Fern Loop | 058 | standard nonelectric | 55 ft | 68 ft | 1,254 ftLoon Lake | 207 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Fern Loop | 059 | standard nonelectric | 52 ft | 71 ft | 1,302 ftLoon Lake | 240 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Fern Loop | 060 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 74 ft | 1,313 ftSouth Fork Rubicon River | 240 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Fern Loop | 061 | standard nonelectric | 47 ft | 83 ft | 1,273 ftSouth Fork Rubicon River | 200 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Fern Loop | 062 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 68 ft | 1,292 ftSouth Fork Rubicon River | 129 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Fern Loop | 063 | standard nonelectric | 32 ft | 62 ft | 1,398 ftLoon Lake | 38 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Fern Loop | 064 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | yes | 62 ft | 1,359 ftSouth Fork Rubicon River | 61 ft | $36–$72 |
| Fern Loop | 065 | standard nonelectric | 46 ft | 41 ft | 1,333 ftLoon Lake | 83 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Fern Loop | 066 | standard nonelectric | 53 ft | yes | 24 ft | 1,304 ftLoon Lake | 123 ft | $36–$72 |
| Fern Loop | 067 | standard nonelectric | 31 ft | 32 ft | 1,267 ftLoon Lake | 136 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Fern Loop | 068 | standard nonelectric | 53 ft | 24 ft | 1,281 ftLoon Lake | 144 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Fern Loop | 069 | standard nonelectric | 52 ft | 36 ft | 1,226 ftLoon Lake | 193 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Fern Loop | 070 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 36 ft | 1,203 ftLoon Lake | 198 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Loop A | 011 | type not stated | 815 ftLoon Lake | 603 ft | ||||
| Loop A | 012 | type not stated | 864 ftLoon Lake | 541 ft | ||||
| Loop B | 018 | type not stated | 393 ftLoon Lake | 381 ft | ||||
| Loop B | 033 | type not stated | 20 ft | 399 ftLoon Lake | 318 ft | |||
| Shadow Loop | 005 | standard nonelectric | 48 ft | 80 ft | 824 ftLoon Lake | 555 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Shadow Loop | 006 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | 80 ft | 743 ftLoon Lake | 537 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Shadow Loop | 007 | standard nonelectric | 57 ft | 111 ft | 601 ftLoon Lake | 484 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Shadow Loop | 008 | standard nonelectric | 52 ft | 32 ft | 600 ftLoon Lake | 489 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Shadow Loop | 009 | standard nonelectric | 60 ft | 47 ft | 625 ftLoon Lake | 456 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Shadow Loop | 010 | standard nonelectric | 52 ft | 32 ft | 631 ftLoon Lake | 497 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Shadow Loop | 011 | standard nonelectric | 55 ft | 53 ft | 666 ftLoon Lake | 445 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Shadow Loop | 012 | standard nonelectric | 53 ft | 53 ft | 718 ftLoon Lake | 480 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Shadow Loop | 013 | standard nonelectric | 45 ft | 57 ft | 782 ftLoon Lake | 595 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Shadow Loop | 014 | standard nonelectric | 60 ft | 57 ft | 774 ftLoon Lake | 549 ft | $36–$72 | |
| Sites 1-4 | Equestrian Group | group standard nonelectric | 55 ft | 462 ft | 730 ft | 561 ft | $135–$160 | |
| Sites 15-25 | Rubicon Group | group standard nonelectric | 20 ft | 147 ft | 425 ftLoon Lake | 82 ft | $135–$160 | |
| Sites 46-51 | Chipmunk Group | group standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 306 ft | 888 ftLoon Lake | 153 ft | $135–$160 |
25 of 82 listed
Getting there
the map and the coordinate · the agency’s directions · the phone number
Where it is
Loon Lake ChaletEldorado National Forest · 0.6 miLoon Lake Group CampgroundEldorado National Forest · 0.7 miNorthshore CampgroundEldorado National Forest · 1.3 mi
Northshore Campground - Loon Lake (CA)Eldorado National Forest · 1.3 miRed Fir Group CampgroundEldorado National Forest · 1.5 mi
RED FIREldorado National Forest · 1.6 miTake Highway 50 east of Placerville for 21 miles to Icehouse Road turnoff. Turn left and go 28 miles to a fork. Take the right fork 5 miles to the campground.
The weather
the next four days · the thirty-year normal
Next four days, and the thirty-year normal
Forecast
NWS forecast for Tahoma, CA
Typical weather
Typical October night 33°F, day 59°F.
Coldest month of the year: typical January night 21°F, below freezing. Bring a bag rated colder than that, and expect ice in the water bottle.
Daily high and lowDays with 0.10 in or more
A normal is the 1991-2020 average for the month, not a forecast: about half of all Julys are colder than the July line. The seven-day forecast above answers the other question.
The land, and who answers for it
what threatens it · who answers for it
Roadless country, and what’s coming for it
You’re camping on ground somebody wants. We track the threats and the comment deadlines.
Who answers for this land
Loon Lake is in California’s 3rd congressional district. Its representative, Kevin Kiley (I), votes on the laws that decide what happens to this land. Public-lands grade so far: F. See every public-lands vote →