Silver Lake East Campground
Closed — Closed for the season. Operates late June through October. Renovations were recently completed.
Fireworks and Explosives are always Prohibited
Fireworks and explosives (including explosive targets) are always prohibited on national forest lands. The prohibition of fireworks and exploding targets on national forest system lands is part of a set of permanent fire safety regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), listed below.…
Daily Burn Status
Burn Day Status: El Dorado County: (530) 621-5897Burn Day Status: Amador County: (209) 223-6246Fires do not stop at agency boundaries, nor do the agencies fighting them. The forest cooperates with other federal, state, and local partners in fire management activities. These relationships foster a…
Barrett Lake 4 X 4 Trail Motor Vehicle Prohibition
Barrett Lake Jeep trail closed to motor vehicle use in the winter.
Trash service ending for the winter in Crystal Basin on Oct. 20, 2025
Trash service within the Crystal Basin area is ending on Oct. 20, 2025, for the winter season. Please pack-out all trash with you when visiting.
Camping Occupancy Restrictions
Camping and Occupancy Restrictions for Desolation Wilderness, Mokelumne Wilderness and the Pacific Crest Trail that runs through the Eldorado National Forest boundary.
Desolation Wilderness Food and Refuse Storage Restriction
Possessing or storing any food in Desolation Wilderness unless it is in a bear proof container.
03-25-01 Silver Bear Wheeled Vehicle Closure
Using a motorized wheeled vehicle on roads and trails in Silver Bear Snowmobile Trail System
Deer Valley Trail (19E01) & Meadow Lake Road (09N01)
Motor vehicle use restricted in these areas during snowmelt. See Forest Order Exhibit A for area map.
Horse Canyon Trail (17E21) Closure
This order prohibits use of a motorcycle or motor-driven bicycle on this trail.
Occupancy and Use Restrictions - Desolation Wilderness Area
Prohibited acts within Desolation Wilderness.
Travel Management Designation
Routes designated in Travel Management Subpart B are included as part of the current road system. Allows highway legal and non-highway legal motor vehicle use by the public on 1,002 miles of Maintenance Level 2 native surfaced roads. In addition, there are 635 miles of surfaced roads suitable…
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
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.
Nearby Campgrounds
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 | $36 - $72 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | Yes |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (209) 259-3774 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
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