Northshore Campground - Loon Lake (Ca)
Eldorado National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Pollock Pines, CA, CA
Price: From $36 per night
Price range: $36–$72 per night
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (53 reviews)
Season: May through October
23 miles east of Placerville on Highway 50 and 31 miles north on Ice House Road (Forest Road 3), take the Loon Lake fork. Swimming and Fishing Boat Ramp at Loon Lake Campground Picnic Area (5 sites) at the Loon Lake Boat Ramp Rubicon OHV Trail (summer) Hiking and horseback riding in Desolation Wilderness, permits available in Recreation.gov or the Placerville Ranger Station on Highway 50, Exit 54 in Camino. Day use permits area available at the Loon Lake trailhead in the summer and Placerville R
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/northshore-campground-loon-lake-ca to be notified when sites open up.
Well-maintained lakefront campground on Loon Lake with paved road access suitable for all RV types. Highly rated by campers (4.5/5 stars) for cleanliness, helpful hosts, and scenic lake views with excellent sunsets.
Wildlife alert: Humboldt's Flying Squirrel, California Ground Squirrel, Douglas' Squirrel, Green-tailed Towhee, Western Tanager, Mountain Quail, Gopher Snake, Northern Rubber Boa
Insider tips for Northshore Campground - Loon Lake (Ca): Book early as this is a popular federal campground Fully paved road access makes it accessible for any RV type despite lack of hookups Permits for Desolation Wilderness hiking and horseback riding available at Placerville Ranger Station on Highway 50, Exit 54 in Camino
Skip Northshore Campground - Loon Lake (Ca) if: You need RV hookups—campground has none. You require year-round camping—seasonal operations May through October only. You want privacy—reviewers note limited tree cover and visible neighboring sites.
Best time to visit Northshore Campground - Loon Lake (Ca): May-October — Official operating season per RIDB data.
Nearby campgrounds: Red Fir (Twin Bridges, CA), Loon Lake (Twin Bridges, CA), Loon Lake Chalet (CAMINO, CA), Gerle Creek (Pollock Pines, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Northshore Campground - Loon Lake (Ca)
Cell signal at Northshore Campground - Loon Lake (Ca) (Pollock Pines, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
23 miles east of Placerville on Highway 50 and 31 miles north on Ice House Road (Forest Road 3), take the Loon Lake fork. Swimming and Fishing Boat Ramp at Loon Lake Campground Picnic Area (5 sites) at the Loon Lake Boat Ramp Rubicon OHV Trail (summer) Hiking and horseback riding in Desolation Wilderness, permits available in Recreation.gov or the Placerville Ranger Station on Highway 50, Exit 54 in Camino. Day use permits area available at the Loon Lake trailhead in the summer and Placerville Ranger Station year‐round.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as this is a popular federal campground
Fully paved road access makes it accessible for any RV type despite lack of hookups
Permits for Desolation Wilderness hiking and horseback riding available at Placerville Ranger Station on Highway 50, Exit 54 in Camino
Official operating season per RIDB data
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
23 miles east of Placerville on Highway 50 and 31 miles north on Ice House Road (Forest Road 3), take the Loon Lake fork.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Eldorado National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Eldorado National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Northshore Campground - Loon Lake (Ca) cost per night?+
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Official resources
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