Reservable sites at this Eldorado National Forest campground fill quickly at the six-month booking window, though last-minute cancellations sometimes open up spots during peak season. The rough access road requires careful driving but leads to 67 sites accommodating RVs up to 99 feet and tent campers. Sites 1-16 provide the closest vehicle access and lake proximity, while odd-numbered sites 9-17 offer additional privacy with no back neighbors.
Wrights Lake itself prohibits motorized watercraft, creating conditions that work well for swimming, kayaking, and other paddle sports. Colleen F. notes the "lake is very swimmable" and mentions interesting river channels at the back toward the Twin Lakes Trailhead. The shallow water warms enough during summer months for comfortable swimming, and the lake serves as a launching point for Desolation Wilderness day hikes.
The campground operates from early July through late September at $36-72 per night, with standard amenities including drinking water, restrooms, and trash service. Campers report heavy mosquito activity early in the season that typically subsides by mid-August. The proximity to the Rubicon Trail brings steady traffic of modified 4WD vehicles through the area. For those seeking additional options in the region, camping near Eldorado National Forest provides access to numerous high-elevation sites and wilderness trailheads throughout the Sierra Nevada range.
Description
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).
Fee Info
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.
Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect
There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect
There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
Notice - Wrights Lake Recreation Area will be undergoing some exciting renovations in 2026. While we do not have a full scope of work and timing to share yet, we want to inform the public that there may be some disruptions to their stay come the 2026 season. More details to follow.
Due to the Wrights Lake Recreation Improvement Project, Wrights Lake Campground will be closed until July 31 , but may open up to first come first serve if certain projects are finished early. After that, certain campsites may experience temporary closures. Please use caution while traveling through the Wrights Lake area as construction operations and heavy equipment will be present.Trailheads and day use will still be accessible once conditions allow but may have temporary closures during this time.
RV Road Trip Guides
Location
Public CampgroundWrights Lake is located in California
Directions
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.
Address
ELDORADO
CA
Coordinates
38.8494444 N
120.2311111 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Equestrian
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Firewood Available
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Pull-Through Sites
Contact
General Info
Reservations
Drive Time
- 1 hr 40 min from Carson City, NV
- 1 hr 45 min from Sacramento, CA
- 2 hrs 7 min from Reno, NV
- 2 hrs 27 min from Yuba City, CA
