Van Vleck Bunkhouse

Eldorado National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: CAMINO, CA, CA

Price: From $75 per night

Rating: 3.3 out of 5 (6 reviews)

Season: Year-round

Winter guests take on a more challenging adventure and must traverse an approx. 6-mile trek with a 1,300-foot elevation gain to reach the bunkhouse. The route is marked by blue reflective diamonds and this journey is for intermediate to advanced backcountry skiers only.

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Showers, Electric Hookups, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/van-vleck-bunkhouse to be notified when sites open up.

Van Vleck Bunkhouse offers a unique backcountry experience in Tahoe National Forest with hiking, fishing, and horseback riding opportunities. Summer access by road and winter access via marked backcountry ski route appeal to different adventure levels.

Wildlife alert: Gray-headed Pika, Douglas' Squirrel, White-headed Woodpecker, Western Tanager, Nashville Warbler, Common Nighthawk, Northern Rubber Boa, and western rattlesnake present in the area.

Insider tips for Van Vleck Bunkhouse: Book early — this is a federal campground with limited availability. Summer access is via paved road; winter access starts from Loon Lake Campground vehicle pullout for backcountry skiers. Directions: From Placerville, 21 miles on Highway 50, left on Ice House Riverton Road (23 miles), right on Tells Creek Road (5 miles), left on gated road.

Skip Van Vleck Bunkhouse if: You need hookups — no hookups available at this site.. You require winter vehicle access — snow closes road Jan 1-May 15; winter entry requires backcountry skiing skills.. You seek developed campground amenities — this is a rustic bunkhouse with basic facilities..

Best time to visit Van Vleck Bunkhouse: June-December — Summer and fall allow road access; winter access (Jan 1-May 15) requires backcountry skiing with 6-mile trek and 1,300-foot elevation gain for intermediate to advanced skiers only..

Nearby campgrounds: Loon Lake Chalet (CAMINO, CA), Loon Lake (Twin Bridges, CA), Wench Creek (Pollock Pines, CA), Big Silver Group (POLLOCK PINES, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Van Vleck Bunkhouse

Cell signal at Van Vleck Bunkhouse (CAMINO, 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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Eldorado National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Van Vleck Bunkhouse

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CAMINO, CA, CA★ 3.3 (6 reviews)From $75/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Winter guests take on a more challenging adventure and must traverse an approx. 6-mile trek with a 1,300-foot elevation gain to reach the bunkhouse. The route is marked by blue reflective diamonds and this journey is for intermediate to advanced backcountry skiers only.

Best for:AnglersHikersFamiliesSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonYear-round
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups.
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsShowers
Recreation
Picnic TablesElectric Hookups
Family & Pets
Vault ToiletsFishing

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 need hookups — no hookups available at this site.✕ You require winter vehicle access — snow closes road Jan 1-May 15; winter entry requires backcountry skiing skills.✕ You seek developed campground amenities — this is a rustic bunkhouse with basic facilities.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with limited availability.

Summer access is via paved road; winter access starts from Loon Lake Campground vehicle pullout for backcountry skiers.

Directions: From Placerville, 21 miles on Highway 50, left on Ice House Riverton Road (23 miles), right on Tells Creek Road (5 miles), left on gated road.

Best: June-December

Summer and fall allow road access; winter access (Jan 1-May 15) requires backcountry skiing with 6-mile trek and 1,300-foot elevation gain for intermediate to advanced skiers only.

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: Gray-headed Pika, Douglas' Squirrel, White-headed Woodpecker, Western Tanager, Nashville Warbler, Common Nighthawk, Northern Rubber Boa, and western rattlesnake present in the area.

Location

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

From Placerville, drive 21 miles on Highway 50, then turn left on Ice House Riverton Road. Go 23 miles north and turn right on Tells Creek Road. Then drive 5 miles east and turn left on the gated, dirt/gravel road to the bunkhouse, which is 0.5-miles ahead on the left side. Winter access is from the Loon Lake parking area. From Highway 50, go 28 miles north on Icehouse Road and take the right fork to Loon Lake. Go 5 miles to the plowed parking area at the entrance to the campground road. A permi

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 Van Vleck Bunkhouse cost per night?+
Van Vleck Bunkhouse costs $75 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Van Vleck Bunkhouse open?+
Van Vleck Bunkhouse is open Year-round. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Van Vleck Bunkhouse have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Van Vleck Bunkhouse?+
Van Vleck Bunkhouse is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Van Vleck Bunkhouse?+
Van Vleck Bunkhouse 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 Van Vleck Bunkhouse?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Van Vleck Bunkhouse is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Van Vleck Bunkhouse open, and what are check-in times?+
Van Vleck Bunkhouse is open Year-round. 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.

$75 /night★ 3.3 (6)
SeasonYear-round
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Van Vleck Bunkhouse cost per night?+
What season is Van Vleck Bunkhouse open?+
Does Van Vleck Bunkhouse have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Loon Lake Chalet

CAMINO, CA

From $20/night

Loon Lake

Twin Bridges, CA

From $36/night

Wench Creek

Pollock Pines, CA

From $36/night

Big Silver Group

POLLOCK PINES, CA

From $145/night

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