Wench Creek
Eldorado National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Pollock Pines, CA, CA
Price: From $36 per night
Price range: $36–$160 per night
Rating: 3.4 out of 5 (80 reviews)
Season: May through October
Wench Creek Campground is located in a beautiful ponderosa pine forest on the east shore of Union Valley Reservoir. The campground has 2 group campsites and several single family campsites. Plenty of water activities await at this reservoir in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/wench-creek to be notified when sites open up.
Wench Creek Campground sits on the east shore of Union Valley Reservoir in a ponderosa pine forest with excellent water activities, hiking, and biking opportunities including the 4.8-mile Union Valley Bike Trail. Campers praise it as one of the best places for camping and kayaking with a peaceful lake setting and relaxed atmosphere.
Wildlife alert: Osprey, White-headed Woodpecker, Black-capped Goshawk, California Mountain Kingsnake, Northern Rubber Boa, and Common Nighthawk documented in the area.
Insider tips for Wench Creek: Book early — this is a federal campground with high demand. The Union Valley Trail runs directly through Wench Creek for easy hiking access. Firewood is available for sale on-site.
Skip Wench Creek if: You need RV hookups — most sites have no hookups and are only suitable for self-contained RVs.. You prefer quiet campgrounds — multiple reviews note barking dogs and active neighboring campers.. You're visiting outside May-October — the campground operates seasonally..
Best time to visit Wench Creek: May-October — Official operating season for the campground as verified..
Nearby campgrounds: Yellowjacket (Twin Bridges, CA), Big Silver Group (POLLOCK PINES, CA), Wolf Creek California (Pollock Pines, CA), Fashoda (POLLOCK PINES, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Wench Creek
Cell signal at Wench Creek (Pollock Pines, CA): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage · Verizon 5G: 100%
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage · T-Mobile 5G: 100%
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.
Wench Creek Campground is located in a beautiful ponderosa pine forest on the east shore of Union Valley Reservoir. The campground has 2 group campsites and several single family campsites. Plenty of water activities await at this reservoir in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
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
this is a federal campground with high demand.
The Union Valley Trail runs directly through Wench Creek for easy hiking access.
Firewood is available for sale on-site.
Official operating season for the campground as verified.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
On Highway 50, go 21 miles east of Placerville to Riverton. Turn left on Icehouse Riverton Road. Go 19 miles north to Wench Creek turnoff, then turn left to campground.
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.
- Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Wench Creek cost per night?+
What season is Wench Creek open?+
Does Wench Creek have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Wench Creek?+
How do I make reservations at Wench Creek?+
What is the cell service like at Wench Creek?+
What season is Wench Creek open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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