Yellowjacket

Eldorado National Forest

Yellowjacket Campground provides plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun on Union Valley Reservoir. The water plays host to an array of activities like water skiing and fishing. The surrounding cedar and ponderosa pine forest is a lovely setting for hiking and biking.

Sites are equipped with picnic tables, grills and campfire rings. The campground offers a dump station, drinking water, and vault toilets.



A host is on-site. Some sites at this camp are available on a first-come, first-served basis (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; all food must be kept in approved containers

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

• 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.

• 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

• Reserved Sites will be held until check out time (1PM) 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 as occupied/available online 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 

• For more information on Eldorado National Forest, click here

Natural Features

Union Valley Reservoir sits in the Crystal Basin within the Sierra Nevada Mountains at an elevation of 4,900 feet. The area is part of the Eldorado National Forest, which includes the famed gold mining territory of the 1800s. Protected remnants of the days of the California Gold Rush are all around the region.

The climate is similar to that of the Mediterranean, with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.

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, from Jones Fork Campground to Wench Creek, and is open to hikers and bikers. The Bassi Falls Hiking Trail is also worth exploring.

Anglers seek rainbow, brown and mackinaw trout or kokanee salmon. The reservoir also offers opportunities for swimming, water skiing and boating. A boat ramp and boat trailer parking are provided at this campground.

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

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ELDORADO CA

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 530-293-0827

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

From Placerville, take Highway 50 east. Go 21 miles to Icehouse Road. Turn left on Icehouse Road. Then drive 14 miles north to the Yellowjacket turnoff. Drive a half mile to the campground entrance.

Available Campsites

• Site 25, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 27, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 33, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 004, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 014, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 019, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 28, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 017, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 008, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 009, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 006, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 012, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 005, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 34, Loop YELL, Type Walk To
• Site 30, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 018, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 015, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 32, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 003, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 21, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 20, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 31, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 23, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 011, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 002, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 22, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 26, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 007, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 24, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 35, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 29, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 36, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 013, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 010, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 001, Loop YELL, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 016, Loop YELL, Type Standard Nonelectric

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