The El Dorado National Forest in the Georgetown area offers a variety of trail based opportunities for people using motorized and non-motorized modes of transportation.

The Rock Creek Trail System has a network of over 100 miles of motorized routes and approximately nine miles of non-motorized trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. The Rock Creek Trail System is a short ten minute drive from Georgetown. For the more adventurous, the Hunters Trail provides almost ten miles of trail through the rugged yet beautiful Rubicon Canyon. This trail offers some spectacular scenery and opportunities for solitude.

Dru Barner Park is the centerpiece for equestrian camping and trailhead parking. Numerous pines, firs, cedars and black oak trees provide ample shade for horses and riders alike. This facility was constructed in partnership with the El Dorado Equestrian Trails Foundation and other horse foundations in the mid 1990s. It is used for staging the Dru Barner Fun Ride during Memorial Day Weekend and the Gold Country Endurance Ride in mid July. The campground has 48 campsites, a picnic area with large barbecue grills and a large serving table, drinking water, and flush and vault toilets. There is a fee for day use and overnight camping. Donaldson Staging Area and Balderson Trailhead are two good alternate locations to start your trail outings and do not charge a fee.

If fishing is more your speed, Stumpy Meadows Reservoir provides opportunities for catching trout within 25 minutes of Georgetown. The five mile an hour speed limit slows down the fast moving power boats, resulting in excellent conditions for folks that prefer kayaks and row boats. This facility has a two lane concrete boat ramp and eight picnic sites located next to the boat ramp. Stumpy Meadows campground, Ponderosa Cove campground, and Black Oak group campground are very popular during the summer. These facilities are operated and maintained by a campground concessionaire.

More adventurous fishing opportunities exist along the streams and rivers on the district such as Wallace Canyon, Rubicon River and Middle Fork American River to name a few. For those who don’t mind a longer drive, Hell Hole Reservoir awaits with brown trout, rainbows and kokanees. Because of the steep rocky shoreline, a boat is the preferred method for fishing at Hell Hole Reservoir. There are three campgrounds in the vicinity of Hell Hole Reservoir: Big Meadows, Hell Hole campgrounds are within five minutes of the reservoir and have drinking water and fees. Upper Hell Hole campground, on the south side of the reservoir can only be reached by hiking trail or boat. This location is perfect for visitors who want to get away from it all.

Traverse Creek Botanical Interest Area showcases the unique vegetation communities dependent on soils derived from serpentine rocks. Located about three and half miles southeast of Georgetown, the area provides some good opportunities to see unique mineral formations, learn about some of the history of the area and even to view special butterflies during the spring. There are approximately three miles of trails for non-motorized uses.

For more information contact the Georgetown Ranger Station at (530) 333-4312 or check out the Eldorado National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado.