Are you the owner for this park? Make it a featured listing and be seen in the top search results!
Eldorado/Ice House
Overview
Nestled within the expansive Eldorado National Forest, the Eldorado/Ice House area serves as a premier destination for RVers seeking a true mountain escape. Located near Pollock Pines, CA, this region is defined by its towering ponderosa pines and the sparkling waters of the Ice House Reservoir. It offers a rugged, authentic camping experience that contrasts sharply with urban RV parks, providing a peaceful retreat into nature for those looking to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with the outdoors.
Location & Surroundings
Situated at an elevation of approximately 5,400 feet, the surroundings are characterized by the dramatic landscapes of the Crystal Basin Recreation Area. The park is surrounded by granite outcroppings and dense evergreen forests, offering cool summer temperatures and crisp mountain air. Its location provides a convenient base for exploring the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains while remaining accessible via the scenic Ice House Road, which winds through some of California’s most beautiful forest terrain.
Amenities & Park Features
Most sites in the Ice House area are designed for those who appreciate a more rustic style of travel. While you won't find luxury resort features, the campgrounds provide essential amenities such as paved parking spurs, picnic tables, and fire rings. Many locations offer access to piped water and vault toilets. For additional supplies or a hot meal, the nearby Ice House Resort provides a general store, restaurant, and fuel, ensuring visitors have access to the basics during their forest stay.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
The primary draw is the reservoir itself, which is a haven for trout fishing and motorized boating. For those who prefer land-based activities, the Ice House Bike Trail offers a scenic three-mile paved path that winds along the northern shoreline. Hikers can easily access trailheads leading into the majestic Desolation Wilderness, while photographers will find endless inspiration in the sunset views over the water and the local wildlife, including bald eagles and osprey.
Who This Park Is Best For
This destination is ideal for self-contained RV travelers who prioritize outdoor recreation and natural beauty over modern hookups. It is a perfect fit for families looking to introduce their children to the great outdoors and for adventurous couples seeking High Sierra solitude. If your travel style involves kayaking, mountain biking, or simply sitting by a campfire under a star-filled sky, this park provides the perfect backdrop for your next mountain adventure.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Esmeralda Sandoval
Campground is beautiful! We loved it. The only and worst part about it though was the toilets. These were the worst and filthiest bathrooms I’ve ever been too. They had maggets on the floors, around the toilet and flies all over inside too. They lasted like that a whole day and without toilet paper too!! Next day maggets were sorta swept but this really threw off our overall experience
Kimberly Hayes
The entire drive into the campground says that it is a cashless campground. However, you have to pay to take a shower in quarters. They say that the shower is closed at a certain time but they actually close at about 10 minutes to 15 minutes before closing time and do not care. Also, the camp hosts were Off duty the entire time of my stay and we’re absolutely no help. They were also completely rude when I went to ask a simple question. The area is nice, but there are a lot of bears and the bathroom smells to high heaven. Probably would be a better area if there were better camp hosts
Laysha Ostrow
One of the best camping experiences of my life! Campground is fairly remote and the sites are spaced well, with mounds and trees separating them so that every site is pretty good. You can swim in the lake which is right there! Camp host is friendly and has a cute Chihuahua.
Lttldevl0
The camp hosts at Boulder Loop were very nice, and informative with regards to future opportunities, The camp hosts at the boat launch were also very friendly. The bathrooms were very clean and had trash cans. We absolutely loved the fact that there was a shower available. What a gorgeous view. We stayed in number 65, which was right next to the camp host, We were very happy that it was quiet and that we could enjoy ourselves and relax. When it was time to be quiet, we could still sit outside and listen to nature. The whole reason why you go camping.Loud music... just peace. The campsites are a bit away from the water, a little walk but definitely worth it. We appreciated that they were animal-friendly. We will absolutely go again!
Brian Caines
Great camping spot! We spent a lot of time on the lake with our paddleboards. And it was great that people seemed to leave everyone's stuff alone at the beach areas. Vault toilets were pretty clean as far as I could see, but no hand sanitizer or soap. I tried the shower at the boat dock and it was pretty good too. Only complaint on the shower was there is no timer to know when your 4 minutes for $3 is going to be up, so I ended up putting in $6 for one shower. It only took 30 seconds or so to start getting warm. We used the bear lockers pretty well but never saw any bear activity unless they were very quiet. The pictures were from the double site 60. It was relatively close to the water. We got a few sites next to each other which worked out ok but might have been better if we got adjacent one back to back. Only complaint about the bear locker is that the knockout holes in the back were still covered. This made it difficult to put our electric cooler in there and leave it plugged in.