Wrights Lake
1Heads up1 fire 43 mi away
- Right now
- Nobody has saidNo season, no closure, no bookings to read
- A night
- $36–$72Across the site types the agency prices
- Sites
- 65All of them booked ahead
The place
the agency’s own description · what’s there · 12 notices
In the agency’s own words
Wrights Lake Campground is situated in the timber belt, close to the lake shore, looking up at the majestic rocky peaks of the Sierra Nevadas and Desolation Wilderness. The area is well-known for its hiking, wildflowers and birding. Keep reading
Recreation
The campground provides access to the lake, where visitors enjoy trout fishing, swimming and boating activities. Motorboats are prohibited in the area. Hikers will enjoy access to multiple foot and horseback riding trails within 5 miles of the campground. Various trailheads, including Bloodsucker, Rockbound and Twin Lakes trails, provide access to Desolation Wilderness. Educational programs are offered at the amphitheater, and mountain biking and off-road vehicle use is popular on Barrett Lake Jeep trail. Wilderness permits for day hiking are available at the trailheads, and overnight hiking permits are available at Pacific Ranger Station.
Facilities
The campground offers dozens of campsites for tent and RV camping. Several sites offer sweeping views of Wrights Lake. Each site is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills, and firewood can be gathered in the area. Accessible vault toilets. A camp host is available during the daytime.
Natural Features
At nearly 7,000 feet in elevation, the campground is surrounded by pine and fir trees with a grassy understory. Wildflowers bloom throughout the spring and summer seasons. Some sites are nestled among giant boulders, providing privacy for campers. The campground is close to Wrights Lake, a 40-acre body of water popular for its serene and quiet atmosphere.
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. 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.
Be bear aware; keep all food out of site in approved containers or locked inside your vehicle, and remove all food from area after eating.
Equine and other packstock are not allowed in Wrights Lake Campground. Visitors traveling with pack and saddle stock should book their stay at the Wrights Lake Equestrian Campground .
Everything else this campground posts · 9
There are no electric/water/sewer site hook-ups at this facility
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 for moving from a reserved site to a first come first serve site. Site Transfer Policy
For more information on Eldorado National Forest, click here
Tents and rigs
- Sites
- 65 · 19 tent-only, 9 walk-in
- Hookups
- None
- Longest rig
- 99 ft
- Paved pads
- 64 of 65
- Accessible sites
- 45
- Pets
- Allowed at 14 of 65 sites
- Campfires
- Allowed, barring fire bans
- Shade
- Every site
Facilities
- Toilets
- Vault Toilets
- VAULT TOILETS on 65 of 66 campsite records
- Drinking water
- Yes
- DRINKING WATER on 65 of 66 campsite records, WATER SPIGOT on 65 of 66 campsite records
- Store
- Nearby
- Firewood
- Mentioned
- Stay limit
- 14 nights
- recreation.gov facility rule maxStay
Around the campground
- On the water
- Lake
- Birding
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Non-Motorized Boating
- Swimming
- Night sky · 671st darkest of 1,201 in CA
- Bortle 3
- Fall color · reported 7 days ago, 14 km away
- No change
No reading yet, book on recreation.gov
Every site here is reservable, and the record lists none held back for anyone who drives up.
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 · 22
What you actually pay
Derived by CAMPANAC: the agency’s published rates for this season, $36–$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. - Cut-Off Window: The latest date and/or time that you can make an advanced reservation or a change to an existi…” · 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
77 records · which ones have room · the site map
The sites, ranked
from 64 mapped sitesAll 77 records
Toilet distances are OpenStreetMap’s, measured for 64 of the 77 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. 65 of the 77 sites listed carry one, and a site whose type has no published rate sits out of the price rather than being called free.
| AREA WRIGHTS LAKE | XXXX | unnamed record | 35 ft | $33.97 | ||||
| AREA WRIGHTS LAKE | XXXX1 | unnamed record | $33.97 | |||||
| AREA WRIGHTS LAKE | XXXX10 | unnamed record | $33.97 | |||||
| AREA WRIGHTS LAKE | XXXX11 | unnamed record | $33.97 | |||||
| AREA WRIGHTS LAKE | XXXX2 | unnamed record | $33.97 | |||||
| AREA WRIGHTS LAKE | XXXX3 | unnamed record | $33.97 | |||||
| AREA WRIGHTS LAKE | XXXX4 | unnamed record | $33.97 | |||||
| AREA WRIGHTS LAKE | XXXX5 | unnamed record | $33.97 | |||||
| AREA WRIGHTS LAKE | XXXX6 | unnamed record | $33.97 | |||||
| AREA WRIGHTS LAKE | XXXX7 | unnamed record | $33.97 | |||||
| AREA WRIGHTS LAKE | XXXX8 | unnamed record | $33.97 | |||||
| AREA WRIGHTS LAKE | XXXX9 | unnamed record | $33.97 | |||||
| DBLK | 031 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 65 ft | 169 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 623 ft | $36–$72 |
| DBLK | 056 | standard nonelectric | 45 ft | yes | 105 ft | 840 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 361 ft | $36–$72 |
| TENT | 001 | tent only nonelectric | yes | 139 ft | 280 ft | 344 ft | $36–$72 | |
| TENT | 002 | tent only nonelectric | yes | 123 ft | 412 ft | 400 ft | $36–$72 | |
| TENT | 003 | tent only nonelectric | yes | 123 ft | 460 ft | 372 ft | $36–$72 | |
| TENT | 004 | tent only nonelectric | yes | 82 ft | 217 ft | 659 ft | $36–$72 | |
| TENT | 005 | tent only nonelectric | yes | 82 ft | 204 ft | 578 ft | $36–$72 | |
| TENT | 006 | tent only nonelectric | yes | 102 ft | 330 ft | 588 ft | $36–$72 | |
| TENT | 007 | tent only nonelectric | 25 ft | yes | 102 ft | 312 ft | 491 ft | $36–$72 |
| TENT | 008 | tent only nonelectric | yes | 94 ft | 205 ft | 489 ft | $36–$72 | |
| TENT | 009 | tent only nonelectric | 109 ft | 410 ft | 679 ft | $36–$72 | ||
| TENT | 010 | tent only nonelectric | yes | 107 ft | 302 ft | 774 ft | $36–$72 | |
| TENT | 011 | tent only nonelectric | 83 ft | 400 ft | 662 ft | $36–$72 | ||
| TENT | 012 | tent only nonelectric | yes | 83 ft | 321 ft | 743 ft | $36–$72 | |
| TENT | 013 | tent only nonelectric | 95 ft | 453 ft | 645 ft | $36–$72 | ||
| TENT | 014 | tent only nonelectric | yes | 95 ft | 366 ft | 692 ft | $36–$72 | |
| TENT | 015 | tent only nonelectric | yes | 120 ft | 451 ft | 669 ft | $36–$72 | |
| TENT | 016 | tent only nonelectric | 112 ft | 582 ft | 673 ft | $36–$72 | ||
| TENT | 017 | tent only nonelectric | yes | 112 ft | 501 ft | 615 ft | $36–$72 | |
| TENT | 018 | tent only nonelectric | yes | 126 ft | 583 ft | 597 ft | $36–$72 | |
| TENT | 019 | tent only nonelectric | 353 ft | 924 ft | 834 ft | $36–$72 | ||
| WALK | 041 | walk to | 109 ft | 867 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 656 ft | $36 | ||
| WALK | 042 | walk to | 109 ft | 965 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 686 ft | $36 | ||
| WALK | 043 | walk to | 99 ft | 1,063 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 722 ft | $36 | ||
| WALK | 044 | walk to | 110 ft | 1,156 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 777 ft | $36 | ||
| WALK | 050 | walk to | 78 ft | 1,056 ft | 633 ft | $36 | ||
| WALK | 051 | walk to | 78 ft | 1,050 ft | 687 ft | $36 | ||
| WALK | 052 | walk to | 112 ft | 867 ft | 486 ft | $36 | ||
| WALK | 053 | walk to | 107 ft | 953 ft | 592 ft | $36 | ||
| WALK | 054 | walk to | 87 ft | 977 ft | 512 ft | $36 | ||
| WRIG | 020 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 92 ft | 476 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 32 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 021 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | yes | 76 ft | 368 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 159 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 022 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 100 ft | 305 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 203 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 023 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | yes | 114 ft | 238 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 308 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 024 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 119 ft | 190 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 321 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 025 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 103 ft | 122 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 400 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 026 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | 103 ft | 129 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 419 ft | $36–$72 | |
| WRIG | 027 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 85 ft | 129 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 494 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 028 | standard nonelectric | 99 ft | yes | 85 ft | 206 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 422 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 029 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | 68 ft | 158 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 566 ft | $36–$72 | |
| WRIG | 030 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 94 ft | 243 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 494 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 032 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | yes | 45 ft | 232 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 586 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 033 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 86 ft | 237 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 689 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 034 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | yes | 45 ft | 266 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 607 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 035 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | yes | 109 ft | 366 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 619 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 036 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 109 ft | 408 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 511 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 038 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 87 ft | 587 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 418 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 039 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | yes | 100 ft | 731 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 441 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 040 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | 100 ft | 742 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 524 ft | $36–$72 | |
| WRIG | 045 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 79 ft | 1,035 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 651 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 046 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | 107 ft | 886 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 556 ft | $36–$72 | |
| WRIG | 047 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | 79 ft | 1,043 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 626 ft | $36–$72 | |
| WRIG | 048 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | 84 ft | 955 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 569 ft | $36–$72 | |
| WRIG | 049 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | yes | 82 ft | 1,015 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 571 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 057 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 94 ft | 736 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 265 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 058 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 112 ft | 667 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 159 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 059 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | yes | 72 ft | 530 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 90 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 060 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 76 ft | 439 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 109 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 061 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 72 ft | 588 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 149 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 063 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | yes | 83 ft | 464 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 164 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 064 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | yes | 111 ft | 510 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 480 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 065 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 87 ft | 597 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 343 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 066 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | Vault Toilets listed | $36–$72 | ||
| WRIG | 067 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 111 ft | 770 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 353 ft | $36–$72 |
| WRIG | 068 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | yes | 89 ft | 655 ftSouth Fork Silver Creek | 235 ft | $36–$72 |
The agency files 12 more records here that aren’t sites for the night. It types every one of them MANAGEMENT rather than a campsite. They’re in the table above, marked for what they are, and none of them is counted as a site.
25 of 77 listed
Getting there
the map and the coordinate · the agency’s directions · the phone number
Where it is
Wrights Lake Equestrian CampgroundEldorado National Forest · 0.6 miChina FlatEldorado National Forest · 3.3 miKirkwood LakeEldorado National Forest · 3.3 miLovers LeapEldorado National Forest · 3.3 miMokelumneEldorado National Forest · 3.3 miMoore CampgroundEldorado National Forest · 3.3 miTake Highway 50 east of Placerville, California, for 11 miles. Turn left onto Ice House Road and continue for 9 miles, then turn right onto Wrights Lake tie road. After 2 miles, turn left onto Wrights Lake Road.
The weather
the next four days · the thirty-year normal
Next four days, and the thirty-year normal
Forecast
NWS forecast for Meyers, CA
Typical weather
Typical October night 29°F, day 62°F.
Coldest month of the year: typical December night 18°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
Wrights 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 →