As summer approaches, people crawl out of their winter dens, spruce up the yard and turn their sights to the cool, refreshing mountains.

May and June mark the start of the recreation season on the El Dorado National Forest, kicking off with Memorial Weekend. Eager to blow the dust off their summer gear, people chase the receding snowline up the mountain. Some visitors are seeking the thrill of adventure, some the soul-soothing experience of touching Mother Nature and, for others, the
simple act of having fun. The El Dorado National Forest has something special for everyone.

The Forest begins gearing up for the influx of visitors in late April and the camping season generally winds down in September. The first campgrounds to open are usually Ice House Campground in the Crystal Basin Recreation Area and Pipi Campground on the North South Road. Operated by the El Dorado Irrigation District, Sly Park Campground on Sly Park Reservoir in Pollock Pines offers camping, boating, fishing, and hiking opportunities throughout most of the year.

The El Dorado National Forest has over 80 campgrounds, picnic areas, and trailheads. Many of the campgrounds are available by reservation at www.recreation.gov or by calling  the National Recreation Reservation Service at (877) 444-6777. The Crystal Basin Recreation Area along Ice House road offers a multitude of options for recreation opportunities. Union Valley Reservoir, Ice House Reservoir, and Loon Lake have family and group campgrounds, day use areas, boat ramps, nearby trails, great fishing, and other water related activities.

From the top of a mountain to the middle of a gorgeous meadow to the edge of a flowing   river, the Forest has four excellent rental cabins available by reservation. The cabins each offer a different range of amenities and quantities of people so check out the El Dorado National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado to determine what cabin would be right for you. These cabins are very popular so plan and reserve well ahead for a chance in one of these great spaces.

As the back roads dry out, folks that prefer a more primitive or rugged camping experience can camp outside of a developed campground. Park your vehicle by the road edge, set up camp in the middle of the forest, and enjoy Mother Nature as your ancestors did. Free Motor Vehicle Restriction Maps are available at any El Dorado National Forest office. Roasting marshmallows and enjoying a toasty campfire is an essential element to many visitors’ experience. Remember Smokey Bear’s wise words and have a safe and fun campfire that the kids will remember when they grow up. Don’t forget to completely extinguish your campfire when you leave.

The best year-round equestrian camping is the Dru Barner Park off of the Bottlehill Bypass Road east of Georgetown. Horse lovers will also enjoy the horse camps at Wrights Lake and Loon Lake campgrounds and the more primitive Tells Creek Horse Camp in the Crystal Basin in the summer. For more information on these opportunities, contact the Georgetown Ranger Station at (530) 333-4312 for Dru Barner, the Pacific Ranger Station for the Crystal Basin area at (530) 647-5415, or check out the Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado.

Camping tip – If you prefer a few less people and would like to try something a little different
then I would suggest you visit either Lone Rock or Azalea Cove Campgrounds on the east shore of Union Valley. These undiscovered gems are bike, boat, or hike-in campgrounds along the Union Valley Bike Trail on the east side of the Union Valley Reservoir.