Silver Lake East Campground

Closed — Closed for the season. Operates late June through October. Renovations were recently completed.

About

Silver Lake East Campground is located 50 miles east of Jackson, California, at an elevation of 7,200 feet in a mixed conifer forest at the base of Thunder Mountain. The campground sits near the north end of Silver Lake, a 200-acre alpine lake in a granite basin known for its mirror-like reflections and stocked populations of rainbow, German brown, and Mackinaw trout. The 62 sites include tent-only, walk-in, and sites suitable for RVs and trailers, with some accommodating larger rigs on sites designed for tent/trailer/RV use. Numerous trails from the campground provide access to Silver Lake's swimming beaches and connect to high alpine hiking destinations. The Granite Lake Trail begins at the Minkalo Trailhead on Silver Lake's east shore, crossing Squaw Creek on a wooden bridge before reaching Granite Lake and continuing to Hidden Lake. The high elevation allows hikers to access alpine lakes through relatively short but scenic hikes. Summer wildflowers bloom throughout the area, attracting photographers and nature enthusiasts. The campground provides vault toilets, drinking water from faucets, fire rings with grills, picnic tables, and bear-proof food storage containers at some sites. A campground host is on-site during the season. Nearby amenities at Kit Carson Lodge include boat rentals, a restaurant, store, and laundry facilities. An EID boat launch provides lake access for motorized and non-motorized boating. The campground is situated along the scenic Highway 88 Carson Pass corridor, south of Lake Tahoe.

Directions

From Pioneer, CA, take Highway 88 east 36.6 miles to the campground on the right. From Jackson, travel 52 miles east on Highway 88.

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