USDA Forest Service · California
South Fork Group - Eldorado NF (CA)
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- May 29 to October 5
- Max RV length
- 50 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 5,249 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- SOUTH FORK CG (NFSR 13N28B) · native material · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Eldorado National Forest
- Nearest town
- POLLOCK PINES
- Address
- 7887 HIGHWAY 50, POLLOCK PINES, CA, 95726
- Phone
- 530-644-2324
- Activities
- Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Swimming
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - the site map below shows each with its facts and pictures.
Site map
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one on the imagery, with the operator's own facts and pictures for each site where it publishes them. Tap a site to rate it, keep a note and add your own photos; press and hold the map for a pin of your own. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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About
Overview
South Fork is the largest group campground in the Crystal Basin Recreation Area, nestled in the vast expanse of the Eldorado National Forest. The remote location affords visitors a true outdoor camping experience.
Recreation
With the South Fork of the Rubicon River located within walking distance, the group camp provides excellent fishing, swimming and other water sports and activities.
Facilities
While the campground can be used as a single group site that can accommodate up to 125 guests, it can also be reserved as multiple single-family sites.
A group cooking area with food preparation tables and double grills is available, as well as campfire rings with grills at each site. Vault toilets are provided, however, drinking water is not available at the campground. Visitors can boil stream water or fill up at nearby boat ramps. A parking area is also available.
Natural Features
Situated at an elevation of 5,200 feet, the campground sits between the Union Valley Reservoir and Loon Lake.
It is also just minutes away from Gerle Creek Reservoir, a serene mountain lake where motorized boating is prohibited in order to preserve a peaceful and quiet atmosphere for visitors.
Nearby Attractions
Swimming and non-motorized boating are available at Gerle Creek Reservoir, 5 miles north of the campground.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 45° | 30° | 15° | 61° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 44° | 30° | 15° | 62° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 46° | 29° | 17° | 74° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 52° | 33° | 17° | 67° | 9 of 11 |
| May | 64° | 41° | 29° | 78° | 3 of 11 |
| June | 76° | 50° | 34° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 86° | 58° | 48° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 84° | 58° | 52° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 76° | 53° | 43° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 68° | 44° | 32° | 82° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 54° | 38° | 20° | 72° | 5 of 10 |
| December | 45° | 32° | 15° | 64° | 9 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Trails nearby
All 228 trails in Eldorado National Forest
Trailheads the Park Service and the Forest Service map; each trail's page has its length, climbing and the Service's description.
Nearby campgrounds
- Robbs Hut · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 1 sites
- Gerle Creek · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 50 sites
- Airport Flat Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- Yellowjacket · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 58 sites
- Wench Creek · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 102 sites
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.