Wrights Lake

Campground · California · 65 bookable sites ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Eldorado National Forest (NF) · Open Access

65
Bookable sites
99 ft
Max rig length
up to 12
People per site
45
Accessible sites
6,946 ft
Elevation
WRIGHTS LAKE
Photo: Kelly Maxey · Recreation.gov

Overview

Wrights Lake Campground is situated in the timber belt, close to the lake shore, looking up at the majestic rocky peaks of the Sierra Nevadas and Desolation Wilderness. The area is well-known for its hiking, wildflowers and birding.

Recreation

The campground provides access to the lake, where visitors enjoy trout fishing, swimming and boating activities. Motorboats are prohibited in the area.

Hikers will enjoy access to multiple foot and horseback riding trails within 5 miles of the campground. Various trailheads, including Bloodsucker, Rockbound and Twin Lakes trails, provide access to Desolation Wilderness.

Educational programs are offered at the amphitheater, and mountain biking and off-road vehicle use is popular on Barrett Lake Jeep trail. Wilderness permits for day hiking are available at the trailheads, and overnight hiking permits are available at Pacific Ranger Station.

Facilities

The campground offers dozens of campsites for tent and RV camping. Several sites offer sweeping views of Wrights Lake.

Each site is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills, and firewood can be gathered in the area. Accessible vault toilets. A camp host is available during the daytime.

Natural Features

At nearly 7,000 feet in elevation, the campground is surrounded by pine and fir trees with a grassy understory. Wildflowers bloom throughout the spring and summer seasons.

Some sites are nestled among giant boulders, providing privacy for campers. The campground is close to Wrights Lake, a 40-acre body of water popular for its serene and quiet atmosphere.

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

  • Season: Late June – October — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
  • 65 bookable sites
  • 77 sites in total, including non-bookable
  • 45 accessible sites
  • Vehicles up to 99 ft
  • Up to 12 people per site
  • Loops: AREA WRIGHTS LAKE, DBLK, TENT, WALK, WRIG

Site types

  • 37 Standard Nonelectric
  • 19 Tent Only Nonelectric
  • 12 Management
  • 9 Walk To

Amenities

  • Campfires allowed
  • Fire pits
  • Picnic tables
  • Grills
  • Shade
  • Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups.

Book on Recreation.gov

77 campsites at Wrights Lake

SiteLoopTypeEntrySurfaceMax rigPeople
XXXXAREA WRIGHTS LAKEManagementBack InGravel35 ft6
XXXX1AREA WRIGHTS LAKEManagement————
XXXX10AREA WRIGHTS LAKEManagement————
XXXX11AREA WRIGHTS LAKEManagement————
XXXX2AREA WRIGHTS LAKEManagement————
XXXX3AREA WRIGHTS LAKEManagement————
XXXX4AREA WRIGHTS LAKEManagement————
XXXX5AREA WRIGHTS LAKEManagement————
XXXX6AREA WRIGHTS LAKEManagement————
XXXX7AREA WRIGHTS LAKEManagement————
XXXX8AREA WRIGHTS LAKEManagement————
XXXX9AREA WRIGHTS LAKEManagement————
031DBLKStandard NonelectricPull ThroughPaved50 ft12♿ 🐾
056DBLKStandard NonelectricBack InPaved45 ft12♿ 🐾
001TENTTent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—6♿ 🐾
002TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved—6♿ 🐾
003TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved—6♿ 🐾
004TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved—6♿ 🐾
005TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved—6♿ 🐾
006TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved—6♿ 🐾
007TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved25 ft12♿ 🐾
008TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved—6♿ 🐾
009TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved—6 🐾
010TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved—6♿ 🐾
011TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved—6 🐾
012TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved—6♿ 🐾
013TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved—6 🐾
014TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved—6♿ 🐾
015TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved—6♿ 🐾
016TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved—6 🐾
017TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved—6♿ 🐾
018TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved—6♿ 🐾
019TENTTent Only Nonelectric—Paved—6 🐾
041WALKWalk To—Paved—6 🐾
042WALKWalk To—Paved—6 🐾
043WALKWalk To—Paved—6 🐾
044WALKWalk To—Paved—6 🐾
050WALKWalk To—Paved—6 🐾
051WALKWalk To—Paved—6 🐾
052WALKWalk To—Paved—6 🐾
053WALKWalk To—Paved—6 🐾
054WALKWalk To—Paved—6 🐾
020WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾
021WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved25 ft6♿ 🐾
022WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾
023WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved25 ft6♿ 🐾
024WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾
025WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾
026WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved25 ft6 🐾
027WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾
028WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InGravel99 ft6♿ 🐾
029WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6 🐾
030WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾
032WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved25 ft6♿ 🐾
033WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾
034WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved25 ft6♿ 🐾
035WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved25 ft6♿ 🐾
036WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾
038WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾
039WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved25 ft6♿ 🐾
040WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6 🐾
045WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾
046WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6 🐾
047WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved25 ft6 🐾
048WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved25 ft6 🐾
049WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved25 ft6♿ 🐾
057WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾
058WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾
059WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved25 ft6♿ 🐾
060WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾
061WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾
063WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved25 ft6♿ 🐾
064WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved25 ft6♿ 🐾
065WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾
066WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾
067WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾
068WRIGStandard NonelectricBack InPaved50 ft6♿ 🐾

Getting there

Take Highway 50 east of Placerville, California, for 11 miles. Turn left onto Ice House Road and continue for 9 miles, then turn right onto Wrights Lake tie road. After 2 miles, turn left onto Wrights Lake Road.

38.84944, -120.23111 · 38°50'58.0"N 120°13'52.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F————————————
Low °F————————————
Precip in10.48.88.34.73.01.10.30.30.83.87.010.6

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 8.1 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

WRIGHTS LAKE
WRIGHTS LAKE

Member photos

Common questions about Wrights Lake

Can you reserve a site at Wrights Lake?
Yes, Wrights Lake is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Wrights Lake have?
77 sites in total, of which 65 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at Wrights Lake?
99 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Wrights Lake?
Yes, pets are allowed at Wrights Lake.
Are campfires allowed at Wrights Lake?
Campfires are allowed at Wrights Lake. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Also listed by

Wrights Lake also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Wrights Lake's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

  • $25/single $50/double $10/picnic area, day use, trailheads. (No day use fees in 2021) Other fees: extra vehicle

Restrictions:

  • In order to stay in Equestrian sites visitors must be traveling with pack or saddle stock.

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Wrights Lake

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-05-02.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.