Crystal Basin Recreation Area of the Eldorado National Forest, Spanning 85,000 Acres of Pine and Fir Forests Along the Western Slopes of the Sierra Nevada
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Welcome to the Crystal Basin Recreation Area of the Eldorado National Forest, spanning 85,000 acres of pine and fir forests along the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Capped by the majestic, granite peaks of the Crystal Range and traversed by lakes, reservoirs and streams, the Crystal Basin’s four For more information, visit seasons and varied terrain offer a diverse range of rugged outdoor adventure. smud.org/CrystalBasin CILITIES & APPROXIMATESEASON FAMILY GROUPCAMPSITES CAMPSITESDAY-USE PICNIC SITES FA ACTIVITIES COMMENTS History Boating RECREATION SITES The Crystal Basin was once the home of the Miwok, Recreational boating is a favorite pastime on the clear CLEVELAND CORRAL - 4000’ 5/25 - 9/15 1 Information about Crystal Basin Washoe and Maidu people. In the 1800’s, ranch settlers 6/15 - 9/15 1 No trailers/RVs mountain lakes of the Crystal Basin. Ice House, Union Silver Creek Group Campground - 5200’ Maximum of 50 people grazed dairy cattle on the high mountain meadows Valley and Loon Lake Reservoir have paved boat ramps BIG HILL VISTA POINT - 6100’ 5/15 - 10/15 1 now covered by reservoirs. In the early 1900’s, the USDA and are large enough to accommodate motorboats and ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR - 5400’ Forest Service opened the Crystal Basin to the public. water sports. Upper Silver Creek Day Use Area 5/15 - 10/15 5 No water In 1957, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Ice House Campground 5/15 - 10/15 83 10 Accessible boarding ramp and dock began construction of the Upper American River Project Hiking Northwind Campground 5/15 - 10/1 9 No water (UARP), a series of hydroelectric power plants in the The Crystal Basin provides a gateway to Desolation Strawberry Point Campground 6/1 - 10/1 10 No water Crystal Basin. Today, the UARP is capable of Wilderness, offering access to 117 miles of hiking trails 5/25 - 10/1 producing 1.8 billion kilowatt-hours of clean, affordable across the Sierra Nevada. Many of the trails located within CRYSTAL BASIN INFORMATION STATION Visitor Information electricity — enough energy to power about 200,000 the Crystal Basin offer easy to moderate day hikes. For an UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR - 4900’ Access by foot, boat or bicycle only homes a year in Sacramento. easy, informative hike, try the accessible Gerle Creek Azalea Cove Campground 5/25 - 10/1 10 No garbage 5/25 - 10/1 1 No water As part of the Upper American River Project, SMUD Summer Harvest Trail and learn how Native Americans Big Silver Group Campground Group - maximum of 50 people created a network of beautiful mountain reservoirs utilized the resources available from the forest. Camino Cove Campground 5/25 - 10/15 32 No water and built a variety of recreational facilities around the Fashoda Campground 5/25 - 9/9 30 5 Shower Crystal Basin reservoirs. Working together, SMUD and the Forest Accessible Jones Fork Campground 5/25 - 10/1 10 No water Service continue to provide land and water-based Many of the developed areas throughout the Crystal Lone Rock Campground 5/25 - 10/1 5 Access by foot, boat or bicycle only recreation opportunities for all forest visitors to enjoy. No water Recreation Area Basin are accessible for people with disabilities. The Sunset Campground 5/25 - 10/1 121 1 Accessible boarding ramp and dock Crystal Basin Information Station, shing pier and trails at Wench Creek Campground 5/25 - 9/15 100 2 2 groups - max. 50 people each Camping Gerle Creek, many of the campsites, parking areas and Over 700 developed campsites are available in the the paved boat ramps at the reservoirs accommodate Westpoint Campground 5/25 - 10/15 8 No water Powering forward. Crystal Basin. Most require fees and/or reservations wheelchairs. Wolf Creek Campground 5/25 - 9/15 42 3 3 groups - max. 25, 25, 50 Together. and have a re ring with grate, a table and parking spur. Yellowjacket Campground 5/25 - 9/15 40 Reservations required Campgrounds have bear proof storage and trash Snow Skiing Van Vleck Bunkhouse - 6500’ Year Round Maximum of 6 people containers, toilets and many provide piped-in water. Reservations required Cross-country skiers can traverse miles of exquisite, Robbs Hut - 6700’ Year Round 1 Maximum of 6 people Most sites accommodate recreational vehicles (no Reservations required pristine ski trails near Loon Lake Reservoir, the highest South Fork Group Campground - 5200’ 5/25 - 10/1 1 hookups). The maximum stay is 14 days. Maximum of 125 people Vicinity Map elevation reservoir in the Crystal Basin. The ungroomed GERLE CREEK RESERVOIR - 5200’ Camping in an undeveloped setting is allowed in most trails are rated “Easiest” to “Most Difcult”. Trail maps Angel Creek Picnic Area 6/15 - 10/1 4 No motorboats areas of the National Forest. When you pick your spot, are available from the Forest Service. Keep safety in mind, Gerle Creek Campground 6/15 - 10/1 50 4 Interpretive hiking trail, Accessible North Truckee make sure it is at least 100 feet away from streams and know your limitations and stay within your difculty level. No motorboats Airport Flat Campground 5/25 - 10/15 16 No water Auburn lakes, to protect streamside vegetation and prevent Motorcycles & ATVs allowed Georgetown pollution. OHV LOON LAKE RESERVOIR - 6400’ Hell Hole Group #1-Maximum of 50 people Sacramento Loon Lake Campground 6/15 - 10/1 53 2 5 Group #2-Maximum of 35 people Loon Lake For those who prefer 4-wheels, the Crystal Basin is home Folsom Lake Loon Lake Equestrian Campground 6/15 - 9/15 9 1 Group-Maximum of 25 people Tahoe Fishing Livestock Required Union to one of the most famous OHV trails, the Rubicon Jeep Anglers can cast for kokanee salmon, small mouth bass, Loon Lake Boat Ramp RV Campground 6/15 - 10/1 12 No campfires, Accessible Placerville Valley Trail. Another popular trail is Barrett Jeep Trail near boarding ramp and dock Ice mackinaw or rainbow trout at Union Valley Reservoir. Loon Lake Chalet - 6500’ Year Round Reservations required Pollock House Wrights Lake. Please check the latest Motor Vehicle Use Maximum of 20 people Ice Pines Throughout the summer, Ice House, Union Valley, and Map (MVUM) and only travel on designated roads and Northshore RV Campground 6/15 - 10/15 25 Water now available at campground. House South Loon Lake Reservoir are stocked with rainbow trout by Road Lake Tahoe motorized trails. Pleasant Campground 7/1 - 9/15 10 Access by foot, boat or bicycle only SMUD and the California Department of Fish and No water Red Fir Group Campground 7/1 - 9/15 1 Maximum of 25 people, 6 cars Wildlife. For shing enthusiasts eager to reel in a wild Robbs Hut Tents only Wentworth Springs Campground 6/15 - 10/1 8 No trailers, rough road, brown trout, try your luck at Gerle Creek. no water Robbs Hut is a popular mountain bunkhouse located on a WRIGHTS LAKE - 7000’ 6,700 foot peak overlooking the Crystal Basin. It is open Bicycling Wrights Lake Equestrian Camp 6/25 - 10/1 15 Livestock Required year-round, and is equipped with a cook stove, outdoor Wrights Lake Campground The Crystal Basin has trails for both road cyclists and barbeque and sleeping accommodations for six. 6/25 - 10/1 68 10 No motorboats mountain bikers to enjoy. For families with children and Overnight reservations are required. LEGEND For more information, call Pacific Ranger Station / Crystal Basin Recreation Information at 530-644-2324, Call this number. During your visit to the Crystal cyclists who prefer a relaxed ride on pavement, Union Basin, please join SMUD and Valley Reservoir has a paved 5.5 mile bike trail that Loon Lake Chalet Boating Equestrian Hiking Mountain Biking Restroom Skiing Wheel Chair the Forest Service in their winds along the edge of the lake. Mountain bikers can Accessible Skiers, hikers, and mountain bikers can take refuge at the Reservations Boat commitment to protect the enjoy a 3.1 mile stretch of single track trail along the Ice Ramp Fee Information Picnic Area RV Swimming Shower House campgrounds. Loon Lake Chalet year-round. It offers a large warming 1-877-444-6777 environment - respect the Drinking Fishing Lookout Phone RV Dump Site View Point room, a small kitchen and sleeping accommodations for www.recreation.gov Water natural inhabitants of the Horseback Riding up to 20 people. Overnight reservations are required. forest, the rights of those you Reopening date to be determined. Equestrian campgrounds are available at Loon Lake meet along the way and those Reservoir, Wrights Lake and Tells Creek with access to who follow you. scenic riding trails. The individual sites at Loon Lake Big Hill Reservoir have hitching posts and pull-through parking For a panoramic view of the captivating scenery of the to conveniently accommodate horse trailers. Crystal Basin, visit Big Hill Vista and Lookout. It offers views of the Crystal Range and west to Sacramento and Mount Diablo. Forest Service - U.S. Department of Agriculture ©SMUD_0371-21 Crystal Basin Recreation Area smud.org/CrystalBasin LEGEND GATE BUNKER HILL GRAVEL or DIRT ROAD 7524’ RU BI CO N RI MULTI-USE TRAIL VER North PAVED BIKE TRAIL UNPAVED BIKE TRAIL TO LAKE PAVED ROAD TAHOE on 4-WD Trail bic 14.0 SKI TRAIL Ru 5.0 4-WD TRAIL WENTWORTH 5.0 SPRINGS PLEASANT WILDERNESS BORDER SPIDER LAKE 1.0 PRIMARY FOREST ROUTE 0.3 3.0 2.2 R TRAILHEAD PARKING K 1.5 ub E HIDDEN i E c on R RED FIR GROUP LAKE C Red Mountain BOAT LAUNCH 3.0 5.0 ROCKBOUND E 6872’ L ail R Tr LAKE CAMPGROUND E g G NORTH SHORE n i LAKE WINIFRED BUCK k RV 3.0 i DAM 3.8 H ISLAND LOON LAKE RESERVOIR n o RESERVOIR DUMPSITE AIRPORT ic Brown Mountain Ru b RUBICON FLAT 7144’ EQUESTRIAN LOON RESERVOIR LOON LAKE LAKE GROCERIES, FOOD & OTHER 1.0 CHALET SERVICES ANGEL CREEK Chipmunk Bluff Desolation Wilderness: GERLE 6742’ il SHADOW INFORMATION a r LAKE See Desolation Map for CREEK 1.5 K T EE e R k LOOKOUT TOWER EL C wilderness trails.