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.

Need to Know

• 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 Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 051, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 016, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 034, Loop Lower Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 001, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 052, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 017, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 082, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 032, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 037, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 002, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 075, Loop Upper Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 050, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 058, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 015, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 008, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 035, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 025, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 003, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 038, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 054, Loop Upper Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 049, Loop Upper Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 053, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 041, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 012, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 013, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 021, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 078, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 066, Loop Upper Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 067, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 059, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 014, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 033, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 030, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 023, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 009, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 064, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 061, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 046, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 039, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 028, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 045, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 004, Loop Lower Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 044, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 074, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 068, Loop Upper Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 031, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 020, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 057, Loop Upper Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 076, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 065, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 011, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 077, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 070, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 042, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 022, Loop Lower Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 007, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 072, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 081, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 036, Loop Lower Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 024, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 060, Loop Upper Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 010, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 071, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 027, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 083, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 073, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 069, Loop Upper Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 006, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 047, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 005, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 063, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 029, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 019, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 018, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site XXX, Loop ICE HOUSE, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 080, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 079, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 040, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 026, Loop Lower Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 055, Loop Upper Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 048, Loop Upper Loop, Type Tent Only Nonelectric

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