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Recreation Opportunity Guides (ROG) - These guides contains information, maps, and directions to assist you in enjoying your trip to the Eldorado National Forest. * [Caples Lake Campground](http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev7_018856.pdf) * [Fees and Passes](http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev7_018842.pdf) * [Non-motorized Trails ](http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev7_018779.pdf) * [Mokelumne Wilderness](http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev7_018767.pdf)
From Pioneer, CA, take State Rt. 88 east 42.8 miles to campground on left.
Camped here with my 4 grandkids in early August. Pros: large, clean sites, easy walk to the lake, fire pits, picnic tables, clean restrooms and water available. Cons: never saw the hosts, we stayed 3 nights. 2nd. night the campers across from us had an all night party, kept us awake until after 3am. The garbage situation needs work, there are no bear boxes. There are dumpsters, but they are locked, only a metal can with an easily removable lid is available. Of course a bear got into the can in the middle of the night and then took a walk around our site, sniffing at the bottom of our tents and looking inside the car. A bit frightening for the kids....and me too! I think that you are supposed to empty your garbage into the can before a certain time so the camp employees can empty it into the dumpster, but there is no communication with campers. Would love to go back, but the garbage situation needs to be changed.
Newly remodeled campgrounds, very clean! Highly recommended! We chose spot #6 a bit of walk to top of campsite, but worth it!!! Posted pic of our view from campsite. Open, clean and very private! Only thing with this spot, have an Ez up! Shade over picnic table in the morning, but afternoons hot in summer!!! Bonus lake is walking distance just across the street! Great place for the kiddos to run around and adventure too!
The most beautiful lake on the 88 corridor. Unpredictable weather is another charm of this high Sierra lake. Some of the best hiking is on the east end of the lake. From this vantage point it is common to still view snow in certain areas of the mountain even in July.
Excellent sites recently renovated. Great proximity to several beautiful lakes. No potable water.
We come up from southern California the same week every year. We meet up with a group of good friends and family for a week of camping. Campground is right on the highway, but the campsites in the back are very quiet. Camp hosts, Martha & Dave are great! Firewood is available for purchase. Campsites were leveled and improved a few years ago. Campsites are easy walking distance to Caples Lake. Lake has boat rental and bait shop. Just a few miles to Kirkwood Ski Resort and their general store. 45 minute drive to South Lake Tahoe.
No running water while we were there, but we knew ahead of time and brought our own. Toilets are rustic (kinda like a nice outhouse) and need some paint, but, hey, we're camping, right? Some sites can handle trailers, but we stay in tents. It trained a few days this year, but it was light and there's no mud. We'll be back next year.
