Peninsula Campground

Open — The campground typically operates seasonally from April 1 through October 1, with closure during winter months. Reservations are available during the operating season, with first-come, first-served availability during off-season periods when open. The campground is subject to winter and road closures.

About

Peninsula Campground sits in a remote, secluded location near the tip of a peninsula between the north and south forks of the American River at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. Located on the east side of the lake about 25 miles east of Sacramento, the campground features 85 family campsites that can be reached either by boat or by driving 10 miles from the small town of Pilot Hill on Highway 49 via the narrow and winding Rattlesnake Bar Road. The campground accommodates a range of camping setups, with sites suitable for trailers up to 18 feet in length and motorhomes up to 24 feet. While individual campsites do not have hookups, the campground provides a sanitation dump station, flush toilets, and piped drinking water. Restrooms with coin-operated hot showers are available. Each campsite includes a picnic table and fire pit. Boat campers can secure their vessels at designated campsites along the shore, though strong tie-ups are essential as winds often rise during the night. Two boat launch ramps and a day-use area are located near the campground, but both ramps become unusable when the lake drops below 431 feet in elevation, which typically occurs in late June to early July but varies annually. The area offers opportunities for fishing, water skiing, hiking, and other lake recreation activities in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

Directions

From I-80 eastbound: Take the Elm Street exit in Auburn, turn left at the first light, then left again at High Street, which becomes Highway 49. Travel 10 miles toward Cool to the town of Pilot Hill, then turn right on Rattlesnake Bar Road. The road dead-ends at the campground in 9 miles. From Highway 50: Take the El Dorado Hills Boulevard exit and go north for about 10 miles (road becomes Salmon Falls Road). In Pilot Hill, turn left on Rattlesnake Bar Road, which dead-ends at the campground in 9 miles.

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