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Gerle Creek

FSU.S. Forest Service — California · Eldorado National Forest

AgencyFSU.S. Forest Service
AreaEldorado National Forest
LocationCalifornia · Eldorado National Forest · 38.97500, -120.39167 · Map
Sites50 public sites counted from the federal listing — 31 tent only nonelectric; 19 standard nonelectric
Getting a siteReservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below.
HookupsElectric at 0 of 50 sites
Water hookups at 0 of 50 sites
Sewer hookups at 0 of 50 sites
Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 50 sites
Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way.
Max RV lengthLongest reported site fits 50 ft
Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 16 sites · 30 ft: 15 sites · 35 ft: 12 sites · 40 ft: 11 sites
Months openNot in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov.
FeesRecreation Fee: Recreation fees are the fees a visitor pays for things like overnight camping, a day-use pavilion, group facilities, a tour or a permit. Recreation fees vary by location and/or activity. Reservation Fee: A fee may be charged at the time a reservation is made to cover the cost of reservation services. This fee is in addition to the Recreation Fee and is non-refundable. Fees for camping, day use, group sites, cabins and lookouts: $8 if made on-line; $9 if made through the call center; $3 if made in-person.
Check-in / outIn 2:00 PM · Out 1:00 PM (most common in the listing)
PetsAllowed at 50 sites, as reported
Accessible sites24 marked accessible in the listing
AccessibilityN
Phone831-245-6891

Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →

This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-05-02.

From the official listing

Overview Gerle Creek Campground is nestled on the banks of the Gerle Creek Fork among a lush forest of hardwoods. The area provides lots of opportunity for fishing and water play. Hiking and biking are also popular. Recreation Swimming, canoeing, kayaking and fishing are some of the fun things to do on the creek. Common fish species include brown and rainbow trout. An accessible fishing dock is located on-site.

The Gerle Creek Interpretive Trail is fully accessible and provides scenic views and interesting displays. Facilities The campground offers single and double-family campsites, many of which are accessible. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets are provided and firewood is available for purchase. Natural Features Gerle Creek Campground sits at an elevation of 5,300 feet, upstream of Gerle Creek Divide Reservoir. It is on the Georgetown Divide within the Eldorado National Forest. Gerle Creek was named for two brothers who were early settlers and farmers in the region.

Eldorado National Forest boasts over 400 miles of hiking trails, an abundance of lakes and rivers for fishing and swimming, and incredible scenery. The climate is similar to that of the Mediterranean, with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters. Nearby Attractions Union Valley Reservoir and Loon Lake are within a short drive of the campground, offering additional fishing and boating opportunities. Charges & 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).

Directions, from the listing

From Placerville, drive 21 miles east on Highway 50 to the Icehouse Road turnoff. Turn left and go 28 miles north. Take the left fork 3 miles to the campground.

Nearest federal campgrounds

FSU.S. Forest ServiceAirport Flat Campground
1 mi straight-line · California
FSU.S. Forest ServiceSouth Fork Group - Eldorado NF (CA)
2 mi straight-line · POLLOCK PINES California
FSU.S. Forest ServiceLoon Lake
3 mi straight-line · California
FSU.S. Forest ServiceRobbs Hut
4 mi straight-line · CAMINO California
FSU.S. Forest ServiceLoon Lake Chalet
4 mi straight-line · CAMINO California

Trip Card — Gerle Creek

California · Eldorado National Forest

AgencyFS · U.S. Forest Service
LocationCalifornia · Eldorado National Forest
FeesRecreation Fee: Recreation fees are the fees a visitor pays for things like overnight camping, a day-use pavilion, group facilities, a tour or a permit. Recreation fees vary by loc…
Getting a siteReservable
HookupsNone reported
Max RVUp to 50 ft
Months openNot in federal data
Sites50 sites

Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232049 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.