Yellowjacket

About

Yellowjacket Campground is located on the western shore of Union Valley Reservoir in the Crystal Basin Recreation Area of Eldorado National Forest. The campground sits at 4,900 feet elevation surrounded by cedar and ponderosa pine forest in historic Gold Rush country. Sites are a mix of single and double units, each equipped with a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and bear-proof food storage box. The reservoir is the main attraction, offering fishing for rainbow, brown, and mackinaw trout as well as kokanee salmon. Water skiing, swimming, and boating are popular activities, and the campground provides a boat ramp with trailer parking. The Union Valley Bike Trail spans 4.8 miles connecting campgrounds on the east side of the lake from Jones Fork to Wench Creek. The Bassi Falls hiking trail is also accessible from the area. Facilities include flush toilets, potable water from faucets, and a dump station. A campground host is on-site during the operating season. The campground typically operates from late May through September, with some sites reservable through Recreation.gov and others available first-come, first-served.

Directions

From Placerville, take Highway 50 east for 21 miles to Ice House Road. Turn left on Ice House Road and drive 14 miles north to the Yellowjacket turnoff. Drive half a mile to the campground entrance.