USDA Forest Service · California
Gerle Creek
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 50
- Hookups
- 50 no hookups
- Season
- May 22 to September 20
- Max RV length
- 50 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 5,299 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- GERLE CREEK CG (NFSR 13N26B) · bituminous surface treatment · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Eldorado National Forest
- Address
- ELDORADO, CA
- Phone
- 831-245-6891
- Activities
- Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Swimming
50 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Gerle Creek Campground is nestled on the banks of the Gerle Creek Fork among a lush forest of hardwoods. The area provides lots of opportunity for fishing and water play. Hiking and biking are also popular.
Recreation
Swimming, canoeing, kayaking and fishing are some of the fun things to do on the creek. Common fish species include brown and rainbow trout. An accessible fishing dock is located on-site.
The Gerle Creek Interpretive Trail is fully accessible and provides scenic views and interesting displays.
Facilities
The campground offers single and double-family campsites, many of which are accessible. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets are provided and firewood is available for purchase.
Natural Features
Gerle Creek Campground sits at an elevation of 5,300 feet, upstream of Gerle Creek Divide Reservoir. It is on the Georgetown Divide within the Eldorado National Forest. Gerle Creek was named for two brothers who were early settlers and farmers in the region.
Eldorado National Forest boasts over 400 miles of hiking trails, an abundance of lakes and rivers for fishing and swimming, and incredible scenery. The climate is similar to that of the Mediterranean, with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.
Nearby Attractions
Union Valley Reservoir and Loon Lake are within a short drive of the campground, offering additional fishing and boating opportunities.
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).
Fees
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 45° | 30° | 15° | 58° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 44° | 29° | 15° | 61° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 45° | 29° | 18° | 73° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 51° | 32° | 13° | 65° | 9 of 11 |
| May | 63° | 41° | 29° | 74° | 3 of 11 |
| June | 75° | 49° | 33° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 85° | 57° | 48° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 84° | 58° | 51° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 75° | 52° | 43° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 68° | 44° | 30° | 82° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 52° | 37° | 21° | 72° | 5 of 10 |
| December | 45° | 31° | 16° | 64° | 8 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Airport Flat Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- South Fork Group - Eldorado NF (CA) · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 1 sites
- Robbs Hut · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 1 sites
- Loon Lake Chalet · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 1 sites
- Loon Lake · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 82 sites
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-05-02. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.