Wench Creek

Eldorado National Forest

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.

The Union Valley Bike Trail and Bassi Falls Hiking Trail are worth exploring. The Union Valley Trail runs right through Wench Creek.

Firewood is available for a fee and it is possible to moor boats on the shoreline. Amenities include grills, fire rings, drinking water, picnic tables and both vault toilets. Electric hook-ups are not available.



Single family sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. One group site is tent-only, and the other is a standard site for tents, RVs, or trailers. Each group site can accommodate up to 50 people (more campground details).

Need to Know

• Travel Notice: Starting May 2024 and continuing through September 2024, Ice House Road will be undergoing repairs. There will be traffic delays so plan your camping trip accordingly.

• Bears frequent the area. Food must be stored in approved containers

• There are no electric/sewer/water site hook-ups at this facility

• Forest Order No. 19-15-01: Prohibits camping for a combined total of no more than 14 days during a calendar year (January-December), forest-wide. Visitors may book campsites annually but the maximum stay may not exceed a total of 14 days each calendar year (January-December)

• Please Note: One vehicle per single site. Most sites can accommodate 1 extra vehicle that is not included with the reservation fee. Extra vehicle will be charged a per night fee and collected at the campground.

• Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed. Call (530) 644-6048 for local information and conditions.

• Reserved Sites will be held until check out time (NOON) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of that following day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests. Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

• Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).

• Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.

• First Come First Serve sites remain listed as FF for the entire season. They will not show occupied/available as the status of these sites is ever changing. You must be on site at the campground to claim a FF site. No guarantees upon arrival that these FF sites will be avaiable.

• There is a fee to move from a reserved site to a first come first serve site. Site Transfer Policy 

• Click here for more information about Eldorado National Forest

Natural Features

Union Valley Reservoir sits in the Crystal Basin at an elevation of 4,900 feet. The area is part of the Eldorado National Forest.

Eldorado includes the famed gold mining territory of the 1800s. Protected remnants of the days of the California Gold Rush are all around the region.

An abundance of wildlife can be found within the Sierra Nevada Range, including black bears, mule deer, bobcat, gray fox, bighorn sheep, pikas, martens and a variety of squirrels. Several species of reptiles, amphibians and birds also inhabit the area.

Nearby Attractions

The Desolation Wilderness is nearby, offering the opportunity to get away from the crowds and enjoy the serenity of nature.

Recreation

The Union Valley Bike Trail spans 4.8 miles with an easy climb of 300 feet. The trail connects campgrounds on the east side of the lake, starting from Wench Creek on to the Jones Fork Campground. Interpretive signs along the trail tell the story of the use and development of water resources in Union Valley. This trail can be used by both hikers and bikers.

Anglers delight in seeking kokanee salmon, rainbow, brown, small mouth bass and mackinaw trout. The reservoir also offers opportunities for swimming, water skiing and boating. Boat ramps are located near Sunset and Yellowjacket Campgrounds.

Changes & Cancellations

• Change Fee: A service fee may be charged at the time a modification is made depending on the changes.
• Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation.
• Cut-Off Window: The latest date and/or time that you can make an advanced reservation or a change to an existing reservation. Cut-off windows can vary by location, but are typically 4 days before your arrival date. A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (see Late Cancellation below).
• Late Cancellation: If you cancel your reservation too close to the start date, additional service fees may be withheld.
• Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).

Contact Information

Default

ELDORADO CA

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 831-245-6891

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

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.

Available Campsites

• Site 005, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 036, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 098, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 004, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 084, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 032, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 079, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 088, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 048, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 057, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 099, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 003, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 031, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 033, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 070, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 097, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 058, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 081, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 018, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 054, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 093, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 046, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 044, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 062, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 072, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 051, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 065, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 090, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 011, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 055, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 082, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 040, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 077, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 029, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 038, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 007, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 024, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 086, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 008, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 060, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 100, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 020, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 069, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 061, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site Group 001, Loop WENC, Type Group Standard Nonelectric
• Site 052, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 063, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 025, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 030, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 047, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 080, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 026, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 096, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 010, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 073, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 013, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 012, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 074, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 067, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 089, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 021, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 056, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 050, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 027, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 066, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 085, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 091, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 078, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 094, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 092, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 087, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 083, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 071, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 041, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 068, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 023, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 014, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 053, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 045, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 006, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 022, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 075, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site Group 002, Loop WENC, Type Group Standard Nonelectric
• Site 016, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 095, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 019, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 009, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 015, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 028, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 002, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 039, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 042, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 076, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 034, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 049, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 064, Loop Wench III, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 035, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 017, Loop Wench I, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 043, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 037, Loop Wench II, Type Standard Nonelectric

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