Ice House

Eldorado National Forest

Ice House Campground is surrounded by a mixed conifer forest on the shores of Ice House Reservoir. Just 12 miles from Riverton, CA, the campground offers hiking, biking, jet skiing and fishing.

Ponderosa pine is a pleasing part of the surrounding region. The trees fill the air with a vanilla aroma and it's the tallest known pine tree in the country. To date, the tallest Ponderosa measured was an impressive 268.35 feet tall.

Amenities include a picnic area, drinking water faucets, vault toilets and a dump station. Firewood is sold on-site and a nearby resort offers a restaurant, gas and limited groceries.

At the RV-only campsite area, there is a shared cooking area with tables and grills. This is the only place those staying in the area may grill.

Notifications and Alerts

• Sites 39-47 & 56 are not listed on the campsite list but are available on a first come first serve basis only.

Need to Know

• THE NEW FACILITY MAP IS LOCATED UNDER ADDITIONAL INFO LINKS. Be aware of changes in site locations before making reservations.

• Campground has first-come, first-served sites. First Come First Serve sites remain listed as FF for the entire season. They will not show occupied as the status of these sites is ever changing. You must be on site at the campground to claim a FF site. No guarantees upon arrival that these FF sites will be avaiable.

• Bears frequent the area. Food must be stored in hard-sided vehicles
• Fire restrictions may be enforced; call (530) 644-6048 for local information and conditions
• No electric site hookups at this facility

• Limit one vehicle per campsite; a $5/night fee will be charged for each additional vehicle

• Click here for more information on the Eldorado National Forest
• Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.

• There is a fee for moving from a reserved site to a first come first serve site. Site Transfer Policy 

Natural Features

Some campsites at Ice House are right on the shoreline while others are set back just enough for plenty of shade from towering ponderosa pines, cedars and Manzanita bushes. The reservoir spans 700 acres at 5,500 feet elevation.

The area is part of the Eldorado National Forest, which stretches across the famed gold mining territory of the 1800s. Its climate is similar to that of the Mediterranean, with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.

Nearby Attractions

Head to Bassi Falls, which can be reached via a 1.2-mile hiking trail. The glorious waterfall cascades over a 109-foot granite cliff.

Recreation

Enjoy swimming, fishing and boating on Ice House Reservoir. Rainbow, brown, and trout swim in these waters. A boat ramp is located on-site.

Hike or bike on the Ice House Mountain Bike Trail, which stretches for 3.1 miles along ridge tops and shaded northern slopes. The trail boasts views of the reservoir and the Crystal Range.

Changes & Cancellations

• 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.
• 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.

Contact Information

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ELDORADO CA

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 831-245-6891

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

From Pollock Pines, CA, take Route 50 east 8.3 miles to the Crystal Basin Recreation Area sign. Turn left at sign onto Icehouse Road and go 10.8 miles to the Ice House Campground directional sign. Turn right at the sign onto Forest Route 32, then go 1.1 miles to an intersection with a campground/boat ramp sign. Continue straight to campground.

Available Campsites

• Site 062, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 051, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 016, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 034, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Walk To
• Site 052, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 017, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 032, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Walk To
• Site 037, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 002, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 075, Loop Boat Ramp, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 050, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 058, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 015, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 008, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 035, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 025, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 003, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 038, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 054, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 049, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 053, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 041, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 012, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 013, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 021, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 078, Loop Boat Ramp, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 066, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 059, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 014, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 033, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Walk To
• Site 030, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Walk To
• Site 023, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 009, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 064, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 061, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 046, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 039, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 028, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Walk To
• Site 045, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 004, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 044, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 074, Loop Boat Ramp, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 068, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Walk To
• Site 031, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Walk To
• Site 020, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 057, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 076, Loop Boat Ramp, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 065, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 011, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 077, Loop Boat Ramp, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 070, Loop Boat Ramp, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 042, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 022, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 007, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 072, Loop Boat Ramp, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 081, Loop Boat Ramp, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 036, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 024, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 060, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 010, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 071, Loop Boat Ramp, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 027, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Walk To
• Site 083, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 073, Loop Boat Ramp, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 069, Loop Boat Ramp, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 006, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 047, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 005, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 063, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 029, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Walk To
• Site 019, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 018, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site XXX, Loop ICE HOUSE, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 080, Loop Boat Ramp, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 079, Loop Boat Ramp, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 040, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 026, Loop Meadow Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 055, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 048, Loop Boulder Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric

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