Ponderosa Cove Campground
Closed — Closed for the season. The campground closed September 1, 2025, for essential road repaving work. Typically operates from Memorial Day weekend through early September with reservations available through Recreation.gov.
Winter Storm Warning issued April 10 at 10:34AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Sacramento CA
* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations 1 to 2 feet above 4500 feet, with up to 3 to 4 feet at the highest peaks. Minor snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches down to 4000 feet. Wind gusts as high as 50 mph. * WHERE...West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada and Western Plumas County/Lassen Park Counties. * WHEN...From 5 PM this afternoon to 11 PM PDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the this evenings commute and weekend mountain travel. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow levels generally remain above pass levels through this afternoon, dropping to around 6000-7000 ft tonight-Saturday, then lowering to around 4000-5000 ft Sunday. Heavy snowfall rates of 1-2 inch per hour, with the heaviest snowfall Saturday afternoon through Sunday.
About
Ponderosa Cove Campground greets group campers with shaded sites near scenic Stumpy Meadows Reservoir in the Eldorado National Forest. Situated at 4,400 feet elevation in the Sierra Nevada foothills, the campground is surrounded by towering ponderosa pines known for their sweet vanilla aroma. The single-loop campground accommodates up to 75 guests with five parking spurs suitable for RVs and trailers, each equipped with a picnic table. Ten walk-to tent pads are also provided with parallel parking along the loop. Stumpy Meadows Reservoir, located directly across the road, offers excellent recreation opportunities. The no-wake lake is ideal for swimming and fishing for brown and rainbow trout. Boating is popular but limited to no-wake speeds. Visitors can enjoy picnicking at the campground or nearby Stumpy Meadows Boat Ramp. The area is excellent for bird watching and nature viewing. Eldorado National Forest features over 400 miles of hiking trails, providing extensive opportunities for exploration. The Mediterranean-like climate brings warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters. Bears are active in the area, and proper food storage is required. The El Dorado County Scenic Highway and Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park are nearby attractions.
Directions
From Placerville take Highway 49 north a half-mile and turn right on Highway 193 to Georgetown. Take a right on Main Street in Georgetown and drive about 14 miles to the campground. Ponderosa Cove is north of the Stumpy Boat Ramp.
Nearby Campgrounds
Location
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | No |
| Water Hookups | No |
| Sewer Hookups | No |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $175 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | 45ft |
| Max Trailer Length | 45ft |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| comments@AmericanLL.com | |
| Phone | +1 (831) 245-6891 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
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