Union Valley Reservoir — Attraction in Placerville

I'll start with a trick of the trade. After turning up icehouse road off hwy 50, on yer way up the hill there's a U.S. Forest information center. They have free maps of the entire area. Also, they usually have up to date info on which campgrounds have availability (if you don't have a reserved site). It will save you time driving around to each campground. Plus the map shows all the Reservoirs in area and hiking biking trails....the more you know!

This is one of the best Lakes/Reservoir around. There's several Reservoirs in the crystal basin area but this is probably the most "wooded" areas. The lake does have fishing and boating & in the years Ive been coming up I've never thought of it being busy with noisy boating.

Photographers..Take a drive up to nearby BIG HILL..park in parking spaces and walk out to the bluff (look for sign).....you'll thank me later..this is very handicapped accessible too with ♿ parking available

Jones Fork CG: Smaller with maybe 10-12 sites and is always FCFS, no Reservations. very tight for trailers and turn around difficult.

Foshada/Sunset CG: The most popular/busiest of CG in the area and probably more families with it being large/closest to freeway/boat launch/showers. Foshada is drive up drop your stuff off & park in upper parking area. All 3 loops of Sunset were just upgraded road/sites/bathroom.

Wench Creek CG: Huge. Plenty of group sites. Plenty of sites near the water (water level depending obviously) & plenty of sites further away from hustle & bustle.

Yellow Jacket & Wolf Creek CG: they are refurbishing the CG & i haven't been able to camp there yet after it refurbished. These are at the North Side of the lake & usually not as busy.

Camino Cove CG: off the beaten path. They made road improvements to get there however dirt roads at CG are tight. CG usually full but free which is why it's always full.

You can make reservations for most CG sites online but there's a ton of Fisrt Come First Serve at every CG.

Nearby things: Big Hill (gives a mountain top view of entire Reservoir & surrounding mountain ranges). Basi Falls (great waterfall hike when there's water). There's hiking and biking trails all around the Reservoir.

Biking & hiking ideas; Theres free day parking available at Jones Fork CG just before you get down to the CG. You can bike or walk down through the campground to get to a walking/bike path that runs along the lake. There's also free parking for day use at Foshada CG with bike/hiking trails short distance away by the boat launch. The path also runs along the lake. Theres pack in pack out camp sites along these paths for more adventurous people.

Geocachers...there's several in the area..probably could use a few more too.. if you need something to do..just saying

The is off road "boondocking" camping around the Reservoir too..stop at the information center and ask where these sites are.

Stop at the crystal basin information center and they will give...

July 2022 The lake is very full of water, expected it to be shallow. Great fishing with plenty of clean beach , the water is just the rite temperature. You'll love your stay. Mid week is the best time to reserve camp sites. Starting Thursday it starts getting crowed very quickly. The restrooms are clean and drinking water is available at the camp spigots located at several places rethought the camp sites. We had bear every night in camp so beware !! , leave No Food Out, remove garbage at all times. The bears are hungry and Always looking for an easy meal. Don't leave ice chests out, bear boxes are provided at all camp sites . You will truly enjoy this...

We camped here for memorial weekend and it was great the weather was nice scenery of the mountains still full of snow was breathtaking and the water level of the lake was full. Now coming here in mid to late July is totally different story with temperature peeking to 90s lake level down. Not so enjoyable. So if you like cooler temperature and better scenery come here in beginning of the summer but if you want to swim in the lake and don't mind warmer days you might want to visit in mid to late July if you find available spots that is. Don't forget to check their free campsites....