South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca)

Eldorado National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: POLLOCK PINES, CA, CA

Price: From $100 per night

Rating: 2 out of 5 (2 reviews)

Season: May through October

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.Swimming and non-motorized boating are available at Gerle Creek Reservoir, 5 miles north of the campground. 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.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing, Boat Launch

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/south-fork-group-eldorado-nf-ca to be notified when sites open up.

South Fork is the largest group campground in the Crystal Basin Recreation Area with excellent fishing, swimming, and water sports along the South Fork of the Rubicon River. Campers praise its ability to accommodate large groups with both tent and RV sites.

Wildlife alert: Mountain lions and American black bears present in area; also Humboldt's flying squirrels, California ground squirrels, mountain quail, and California mountain kingsnakes.

Insider tips for South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca): Book early—this is a federal campground with high demand Bring self-contained RV; no hookups available Verify payment method and fees in advance; some campers reported confusion about payment procedures

Skip South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca) if: You require RV hookups. You need year-round availability—seasonal operations only. You need modern restroom facilities—vault toilets only and cleanliness issues reported.

Best time to visit South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca): May-October — Official operating season per verified data.

Nearby campgrounds: Robbs Hut (CAMINO, CA), Gerle Creek (Pollock Pines, CA), Yellowjacket (Twin Bridges, CA), Wench Creek (Pollock Pines, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca)

Cell signal at South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (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.

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CamperWatch›CA›South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca)
South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca) — photo 1
South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca) — photo 2
South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca) — photo 3
Eldorado National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca)

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POLLOCK PINES, CA, CA★ 2 (2 reviews)From $100/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

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.Swimming and non-motorized boating are available at Gerle Creek Reservoir, 5 miles north of the campground. 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.

Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV50 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking Water
Recreation
Picnic TablesFishing
Family & Pets
Vault ToiletsBoat Launch

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You require RV hookups✕ You need year-round availability—seasonal operations only✕ You need modern restroom facilities—vault toilets only and cleanliness issues reported

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with high demand

Bring self-contained RV; no hookups available

Verify payment method and fees in advance; some campers reported confusion about payment procedures

Best: May-October

Official operating season per verified data

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Mountain lions and American black bears present in area; also Humboldt's flying squirrels, California ground squirrels, mountain quail, and California mountain kingsnakes.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
530-644-2324· Eldorado National Forest
Getting there →

Travel 21 miles east from Placerville on Highway 50 and turn left on the Ice House Road. Go 25 miles north and turn left on South Fork Road. The campground is a mile from the turn-off, on the right side of the road.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#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, speakable
How much does South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca) cost per night?+
South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca) costs $100 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca) open?+
South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca) have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca)?+
South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca) can accommodate RVs up to 50 feet.
How do I make reservations at South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca)?+
South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca) is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca)?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca) is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca) open, and what are check-in times?+
South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$100 /night★ 2 (2)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca) cost per night?+
What season is South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca) open?+
Does South Fork Group - Eldorado Nf (Ca) have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Robbs Hut

CAMINO, CA

From $65/night

Gerle Creek

Pollock Pines, CA

From $36/night

Yellowjacket

Twin Bridges, CA

From $36/night

Wench Creek

Pollock Pines, CA

From $36/night

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