Loon Lake Campground
<p>Loon Lake Campground is perched at 6,500 feet in the Crystal Basin section of the Eldorado National Forest, close to the northwest corner of the Desolation Wilderness.
Available campgrounds nearby
Top-rated for location, privacy, and amenities near Eldorado National Forest
More to explore nearby
Other campgrounds in Eldorado National Forest
Your guide to camping in Loon Lake Campground
Overview
Biking
The area surrounding Lake Tahoe offers plenty of biking opportunities. There aren’t too many trails around Eldorado specifically, but you can find some reviews and information on The Mountain Project . We recommend the El Dorado trail , a 30+ mile singletrack along an old historic railroad.
Boating
The Loon Lake Campground has a boat ramp that gives boaters access to the lake. Kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, and canoeing are popular here.
Fishing
Loon Lake is stocked with rainbow and brown trout. Aside from the area's 11 reservoirs and lakes, hundreds of additional lakes dot the surrounding wilderness. The Hell Hole Reservoir offers some of the best fishing around, with plenty of rainbow trout and kokanee salmon during the summer and fall, and Wrights Lake is another solid choice with year-round fishing and scenic views.
Hiking
The Rubicon Hiking Trail starts near the campground and travels 3.8 miles along the eastern side of Loon Lake, and then 2.2 additional miles to several smaller lakes. Other nearby trails, like Red Peak and Two Peaks, lead you to higher elevation terrain and eventually into the Desolation Wilderness.
Horseback riding
Hay horse friends, hit the trail! There are some pretty cool trails , like the Horse Canyon trail, the Emigrant Lake trail, and the Fleming trail. Atop your horse pal, you’ll want to stop at every lake, waterfall, and meadow, not to mention take in the incredible views, should you choose to head up to the mountains (we recommend it, since your legs won’t be sore).
Paddling
Wilderness areas only allow non-motorized boating, which means kayakers, canoers, and paddlers of all kinds, should head over to the beauties that are Desolation and Mokelumne Wilderness areas. Kayakers can try the streams and rivers, as well as paddle through the reservoirs and lakes.
Wind sports
Union Valley Reservoir seems to be the only place that allows kiteboarding and windsurfing, but you should ask a ranger, if this isn’t the destination you had in mind! There are a handful of campgrounds, including Wench Creek, Yellowjacket, and Sunset, that you can stay at if you’re planning on coming here to kiteboard/windsurf.
Off-roading (OHV)
The famed 22-mile Rubicon Trail, where 4WD operators push their vehicles to their limits on alpine terrain, starts near Loon Lake. A trailhead on the north side of the lake provides access to the trail.
Climbing
Do you love rock climbing? Then head to Lover’s Leap, a granite formation, perfect for climbing and bouldering. At almost 600 feet of solid vertical granite, there are tons of cracks and dikes to make this a pretty doable climb. However, this is a hot spot, so be warned that there will probably be crowds, so try a different route if you’re confident in climbing! There’s a list of routes on Mountain Project .
Snow sports
Your recreation opportunities continue into the winter, with skiing, snowboarding, sledding, tubing, xc skiing and snowshoeing available. There are two ski operations that offer equipment rentals, Sierra at Tahoe and Kirkwood , located within the forest. You can also head to Loon Lake Chalet for xc skiing and snowshoeing, with miles of ungroomed backcountry trails.
Swimming
Swimming is allowed in Loon Lake, but prepare for a cold plunge unless it’s a hot summer day.
Whitewater paddling
One of the most popular whitewater trips is the south fork of the American River, which runs through Eldorado National Forest. It’s pretty wild, but still great for those of all experience levels. Many companies offer guided trips, so be sure to check those out!
Wildlife watching
There are almost 350 different species living in here… Holy cow! Common Sierra dwellers like mule deer, mountain lions, bears, bobcats, raccoons, marmots, squirrels, and gophers call this forest home, as well as the rare bald eagles and peregrine falcons. Birders will find quails, doves, wild turkeys, great horned owls, red tailed hawks, golden eagles, and hundreds of different songbirds. Wherever you’ll go, you’ll be sure to spot some wildlife critters!
Top cities near Loon Lake Campground
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