Ice House
Campground · California · 87 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Eldorado National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 87
- Bookable sites
- 45 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 18
- People per site
- 2
- Accessible sites
- 5,433 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Ice House Campground is surrounded by a mixed conifer forest on the shores of Ice House Reservoir. Just 12 miles from Riverton, CA, the campground offers hiking, biking, jet skiing and fishing.Ponderosa pine is a pleasing part of the surrounding region. The trees fill the air with a vanilla aroma and it's the tallest known pine tree in the country. To date, the tallest Ponderosa measured was an impressive 268.35 feet tall.
Recreation
Enjoy swimming, fishing, and boating on Ice House Reservoir. Rainbow, brown, and trout swim in these waters. A boat ramp is located on-site.
Hike or bike on the Ice House Mountain Bike Trail, which stretches for 3.1 miles along ridge tops and shaded northern slopes. The trail boasts views of the reservoir and the Crystal Range.
Facilities
Amenities include a picnic area, drinking water faucets, vault toilets, showers, and a dump station. Firewood is sold on-site and a nearby resort offers a restaurant, gas and limited groceries.
The facility was newly renovated in 2022.
Natural Features
Some campsites at Ice House are right on the shoreline while others are set back just enough for plenty of shade from towering ponderosa pines, cedars and Manzanita bushes. The reservoir spans 700 acres at 5,500 feet elevation.The area is part of the Eldorado National Forest, which stretches across the famed gold mining territory of the 1800s. Its climate is similar to that of the Mediterranean, with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.
Nearby Attractions
Head to Bassi Falls, which can be reached via a 1.2-mile hiking trail. The glorious waterfall cascades over a 109-foot granite cliff.Charges & Cancellations
- Change Fee: A service fee may be charged at the time a modification is made depending on the changes.
- Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation.
- Cut-Off Window: The latest date and/or time that you can make an advanced reservation or a change to an existing reservation. Cut-off windows can vary by location, but are typically 4 days before your arrival date. A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (see Late Cancellation below).
- Late Cancellation: If you cancel your reservation too close to the start date, additional service fees may be withheld.
- Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).
The facts
- 87 bookable sites
- 90 sites in total, including non-bookable
- 2 accessible sites
- Vehicles up to 45 ft
- Up to 18 people per site
- Loops: Boat Ramp, Boat Ramp- Host Site, Boulder Loop, Boulder Loop- Host Site, Meadow Loop, Meadow Loop- Host Site, Upper Loop
Site types
- 60 Standard Nonelectric
- 17 RV Nonelectric
- 10 Walk To
- 3 Management
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, fire pits, picnic tables, grills.
90 campsites at Ice House
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 069 | Boat Ramp | Rv Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 070 | Boat Ramp | Rv Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 071 | Boat Ramp | Rv Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 072 | Boat Ramp | Rv Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 073 | Boat Ramp | Rv Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 074 | Boat Ramp | Rv Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 075 | Boat Ramp | Rv Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 076 | Boat Ramp | Rv Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 077 | Boat Ramp | Rv Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 078 | Boat Ramp | Rv Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 079 | Boat Ramp | Rv Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 080 | Boat Ramp | Rv Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 081 | Boat Ramp | Rv Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | — | 6 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 082 | Boat Ramp- Host Site | Management | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 030 | Boulder Loop | Walk To | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 031 | Boulder Loop | Walk To | Back In | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 032 | Boulder Loop | Walk To | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 033 | Boulder Loop | Walk To | Back In | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 034 | Boulder Loop | Walk To | — | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 035 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 036 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 037 | Boulder Loop | Rv Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 038 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 039 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 040 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 041 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 042 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 043 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 044 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 045 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 046 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 047 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 048 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 049 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 050 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 051 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 052 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 053 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 054 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 055 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 056 | Boulder Loop | Walk To | Pull Through | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 057 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 058 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 059 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 060 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 061 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 062 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 063 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 064 | Boulder Loop | Rv Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 065 | Boulder Loop | Rv Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 066 | Boulder Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 068 | Boulder Loop | Walk To | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 067 | Boulder Loop- Host Site | Management | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 002 | Meadow Loop | Rv Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 003 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 004 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 005 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 45 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 006 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | — | 18 | 🐾 |
| 007 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 008 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 009 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 010 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 011 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 40 ft | 12 | 🐾 |
| 012 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 013 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 014 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 015 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 12 | 🐾 |
| 016 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 017 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 018 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 019 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 020 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 021 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 022 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 023 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 024 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 025 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 026 | Meadow Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 027 | Meadow Loop | Walk To | Back In | Paved | — | 12 | 🐾 |
| 028 | Meadow Loop | Walk To | Back In | Paved | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 029 | Meadow Loop | Walk To | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 001 | Meadow Loop- Host Site | Management | Back In | Paved | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 039 | Upper Loop | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | |
| 040 | Upper Loop | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | |
| 041 | Upper Loop | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | |
| 042 | Upper Loop | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | |
| 044 | Upper Loop | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | |
| 045 | Upper Loop | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | |
| 046 | Upper Loop | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | |
| 047 | Upper Loop | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — |
Getting there
From Pollock Pines, CA, take Route 50 east 8.3 miles to the Crystal Basin Recreation Area sign. Turn left at sign onto Icehouse Road and go 10.8 miles to the Ice House Campground directional sign. Turn right at the sign onto Forest Route 32, then go 1.1 miles to an intersection with a campground/boat ramp
sign. Continue straight to campground.
38.82333, -120.35889 · 38°49'24.0"N 120°21'32.0"W
Typical weather
Typically 90°F in Jul, down to 43°F in Dec.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 44 | 50 | 56 | 63 | 72 | 82 | 90 | 89 | 83 | 66 | 51 | 43 |
| Low °F | 32 | 31 | 33 | 36 | 42 | 47 | 53 | 53 | 49 | 41 | 35 | 31 |
| Precip in | 9.6 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 4.9 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 5.3 | 9.4 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 9 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
Fees and stay limits
Recreation Fee: Recreation fees are the fees a visitor pays for things like overnight camping, a day-use pavilion, group facilities, a tour or a permit. Recreation fees vary by location and/or activity. Reservation Fee: A fee may be charged at the time a reservation is made to cover the cost of reservation services. This fee is in addition to the Recreation Fee and is non-refundable. Fees for camping, day use, group sites, cabins and lookouts: $8 if made on-line; $9 if made through the call center; $3 if made in-person.
From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Ice House
- Can you reserve a site at Ice House?
- Yes, Ice House is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Ice House have?
- 90 sites in total, of which 87 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at Ice House?
- 45 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Ice House?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Ice House.
- Are campfires allowed at Ice House?
- Campfires are allowed at Ice House. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Camping near Ice House
- Silver Creek Group Campground 1.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Fashoda 3.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Sunset-Union Valley 3.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Big Silver Group 3.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Ice House Campground 0.6 mi · Campground
- Northwind Campground 0.8 mi · Campground
- Strawberry Point Campground 1.1 mi · Campground
- Jones Fork Campground 2.8 mi · Campground
- Lone Rock Campground 3.1 mi · Campground
- Sunset Campground 3.8 mi · Campground
- Azalea Cove Campground 4.1 mi · Campground
- Sand Flat Campground 4.5 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone 831-245-6891
- Email info@royalelkparkmanagement.com
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-05-28.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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