Home › California › Wrights Lake
Wrights Lake
FSU.S. Forest Service — California · Eldorado National Forest
| Agency | FSU.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Eldorado National Forest |
| Location | California · Eldorado National Forest · 38.84944, -120.23111 · Map |
| Sites | 65 public sites counted from the federal listing — 37 standard nonelectric; 19 tent only nonelectric; 9 walk to |
| Getting a site | Reservable — 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. |
| Hookups | Electric at 0 of 65 sites Water hookups at 0 of 65 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 65 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 65 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 99 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 39 sites · 30 ft: 25 sites · 35 ft: 25 sites · 40 ft: 24 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Recreation 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 / out | In 2:00 PM · Out 1:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 14 sites, as reported |
| Accessible sites | 45 marked accessible in the listing |
| Accessibility | N |
| Amenities, as reported | Boat rampCampground hostDrinking waterFirewood availableLake accessVault toiletsWater spigots |
| Phone | 831-245-6891 |
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 Wrights Lake Campground is situated in the timber belt, close to the lake shore, looking up at the majestic rocky peaks of the Sierra Nevadas and Desolation Wilderness. The area is well-known for its hiking, wildflowers and birding. Recreation The campground provides access to the lake, where visitors enjoy trout fishing, swimming and boating activities. Motorboats are prohibited in the area.
Hikers will enjoy access to multiple foot and horseback riding trails within 5 miles of the campground. Various trailheads, including Bloodsucker, Rockbound and Twin Lakes trails, provide access to Desolation Wilderness.
Educational programs are offered at the amphitheater, and mountain biking and off-road vehicle use is popular on Barrett Lake Jeep trail. Wilderness permits for day hiking are available at the trailheads, and overnight hiking permits are available at Pacific Ranger Station. Facilities The campground offers dozens of campsites for tent and RV camping. Several sites offer sweeping views of Wrights Lake.
Each site is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills, and firewood can be gathered in the area. Accessible vault toilets. A camp host is available during the daytime. Natural Features At nearly 7,000 feet in elevation, the campground is surrounded by pine and fir trees with a grassy understory. Wildflowers bloom throughout the spring and summer seasons.
Some sites are nestled among giant boulders, providing privacy for campers. The campground is close to Wrights Lake, a 40-acre body of water popular for its serene and quiet atmosphere. 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
Take Highway 50 east of Placerville, California, for 11 miles. Turn left onto Ice House Road and continue for 9 miles, then turn right onto Wrights Lake tie road. After 2 miles, turn left onto Wrights Lake Road.
Nearest federal campgrounds
1 mi straight-line · ELDORADO NATIONAL FOREST CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceLovers Leap Campground
6 mi straight-line · CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceStrawberry Point Campground
6 mi straight-line · CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceNorthwind Campground
6 mi straight-line · CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceChina Flat Campground
7 mi straight-line · California
Trip Card — Wrights Lake
California · Eldorado National Forest
| Agency | FS · U.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Location | California · Eldorado National Forest |
| Fees | Recreation 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 site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Up to 99 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 65 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/231954 · 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.