PLACERVILLE, Calif. - Memorial Weekend kicks off the busy summer recreation season for the Eldorado National Forest. Crews have been busy getting recreation sites prepared for the public to enjoy. Not all facilities are typically open by Memorial Day depending on their elevation, winter damage, and staffing availability. This year several facilities are also closed due to damage from the 2021 Caldor Fire until repairs are completed. It takes a tremendous amount of work to ensure that facilities are safe and ready to open to visitors. Hazard tree inspections and removal, extensive cleanup of the general area, repairs from winter damage, signs installed, vault toilets pumped, repairs made to any waterline breaks, general water system routine maintenance, and water potability testing must all be completed before the opening of a facility. Visitors are reminded to Recreate Responsibly by planning ahead and checking the status of their favorite campgrounds. The mountain environment is very dynamic so take time to properly prepare before you arrive. Here are a few things to “Know Before You Go”: - WEATHER: Check the weather forecast. Thunderstorms may occur throughout the summer. Visitors need to exercise caution as they enjoy the outdoors. Rivers and streams are running swift and cold due to melting snow which can result in suddenly hazardous conditions.
- FACILITY STATUS: Check the forest website for the current condition of our roads, trails, campgrounds, and other facilities at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/enf/currentconditions. Some facilities, roads, or trails are may still be closed due to snow, winter or fire damage, or planned renovations.
- CAMPFIRES: Obtain a campfire permit if you are not camping in a developed campground and check for fire restrictions which may affect your camping experience. California Campfire permits are available free of charge online at www.preventwildfireca.org. Forest conditions are unusually dry making fire starts very likely. Please make sure your campfire is drowned out when you leave and go the extra mile and check the surrounding campsites for abandoned campfires.
- OFFICES: Most Eldorado National Forest offices are still in virtual status due to COVID19 until later in June. The Placerville Ranger District office is open to visitors now. Call ahead for information or check our website at www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado. Our virtual and in-person offices are staffed to provide visitor information from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm:
- In-person
- Placerville/Pacific Ranger District – 530-644-2324, 7 days/week
- Crystal Basin Information Station – beginning Memorial Weekend Thursday through Tuesday.
- Carson Pass Information Station - beginning Memorial Weekend.
- Virtual - Monday through Friday
- Forest Supervisor’s Office - 530-303-2412
- Georgetown Ranger District – 530-334-6477
- Amador Ranger District – 209-259-3774
- ROAD ACCESS: The Mormon Emigrant Trail (Iron Mountain Road) still has snow on the east end but should be accessible by Memorial Weekend. Be careful of timber operations and traffic from the Caldor Fire recovery activities. Plum Creek and Alder Creek roads are still closed due to fire damage or repair activities. The forest website will be updated as conditions change.
- SAFETY: Recreating in a post-fire area carries a number of hazards and dangers. We recommend checking out other areas in the forest outside the Caldor Fire area for your recreation activities. Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) are available free of charge to download from our forest website, available on AVENZA www.avenzamaps.com, or from any of our Ranger Stations (once they are open for in person service).
- FEES/ RESERVATIONS: Reservations for many of our campgrounds and overnight Desolation Wilderness camping can be made at www.recreation.gov. In general, Day Use fees are $10, campsites with water are $28 for a single-family site per night, and a standard site without water is now $25 for a single-family site per night. Group sites have fees that are varied and based on the capacity, location, and amenities available.
- DESOLATION WILDERNESS – The wilderness permit program has returned to its pre-COVID19 operations with 70% of the overnight permit operations available online from 6 months to 24 hours in advance of the first day of stay. The other 30% of overnight permits are available on the day of arrival in-person at the Placerville Ranger District or Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Supervisor’s Offices.
Crystal Basin / Icehouse Road Area Many of facilities in this area are at higher elevation and are not planned to open until June (Loon and Wrights Lakes). - Open: Big Hill Overlook, Fashoda Campground and Day Use Area, Wench Creek, Westpoint Campground and Boat Ramp, Sunset Campground and Boat Ramp, and Upper Silver Creek Day Use Area.
- Planned to Open for Memorial Weekend : Angel Creek Day Use Area, Airport Flat, Azalea Cove, Big Silver Group, Gerle Creek Campground and Day Use Area, Jones Fork, Lone Rock, Lovers Leap, Northwind, Silver Creek Group, South Fork Group, Strawberry Point, Sunset Group, Wench Creek Groups, Yellowjacket and Boat Ramp, Wentworth Springs, West Point Group, and Wolf Creek Campground.
- Visitor Services: Crystal Information Station will be open for Memorial Weekend.
- Closures for 2022 season or until repairs can be completed:
- Reconstruction: Ice House Campground, Boat Ramp and Day Use Areas, Camino Cove Campground for the Union Valley Bike Trail, Loon Lake Chalet, and Wolf Creek Group Campgrounds. After Labor Day - West Point Campground and Group Site, Wolf Creek Campground, Yellowjacket Boat Ramp will close for renovations or to accommodate the extension of the Union Valley Bike Trail.
- Caldor Fire: Lyons Creek Trailhead (opening soon).
Georgetown/ Hell Hole Area - Open: All day use areas. Dru Barner Campground and Day Use Area, Stumpy Meadows Campground and Boat Ramp, Hell Hole Boat Ramp, the Long Canyon camping area, and the Rock Creek OHV Trail system.
- Planned to Open for Memorial Weekend: Big Meadows, Black Oak Group, Middle Meadows Group, and Ponderosa Group Campgrounds.
- Closures for 2022 season: Hell Hole Campground is closed indefinitely due to a large amount of blowdown trees impacting the site.
Highway 50 South Area - Open: Bridal Veil Picnic Area, Echo Lake, Fleming Meadows, Cedar Park, Mt. Ralston, Sayles/Brian Meadow, and Pony Express Trailheads. Use caution in the fire area.
- Planned to Open for Memorial Weekend: Bridal Veil Group Campground, China Flat Campground and Day Use Area, Silver Fork Campground, Lover’s Leap Campground and Day Use Area, and Pyramid Creek Trailhead.
- Closed for 2022 season or until repairs can be completed:
- Caldor Fire: 42 Milestone Day Use Area, Caples Creek Trailhead, Caples Creek Equestrian Trailhead, Capps Crossing Campground and Day Use Area, Eagle Rock Day Use Area, Elkins Flat OHV Staging area and surrounding trails, and the Gray Rock Camping area.
- Sly Guard Station and Harvey West Cabin.
- Sand Flat will open July 1st after repairs.
Highway 88 / Salt Springs/ Carson Pass Many of facilities in this area are at higher elevation and are not planned to open until June or early July (Kirkwood, Caples, and Woods Lakes). - Open: Carson Pass, Margaret Lake, Meiss, Mud Lake, Salt Springs, Shealor Lake, Thunder Mountain, and Gold Note Trailheads and Gold Note Trails, Devil’s Nose Day Use Area, Mokelumne Campground, White Azalea Campground, and Pipi Campground and Day Use Area, and Cole Creek Campground.
- Planned to Open for Memorial Weekend: Sugar Pine Point, South Shore, Pardoes Point Campground and Day Use Area, and Caples Lake Dam Trailhead, and Caples Lake Boat Ramp.
- Visitor Services - Carson Pass Information Station opens Saturday, May 28 and Mokelumne Wilderness overnight permits will be issued through the Station on a first-come, first served basis.
- Closed for 2022 season or until repairs can be completed:
- Caldor Fire: Martin Meadows Campground
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