USDA Forest Service · California
Red Fir
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- June 19 to September 6
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,365 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
- RED FIR GROUP CAMPGROUND (NFSR 13N18B) · asphalt · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Eldorado National Forest
- Address
- ELDORADO, CA
- Phone
- 831-245-6891
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Swimming
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Situated on the north side of the Loon Lake Reservoir, Red Fir Group Campground offers a primitive group camping experience in the lush Eldorado National Forest.
Recreation
The nearby lake provides fishing, swimming and boating, and the campground is just a short walk across the road to the water's edge.
Visitors also enjoy off-road vehicle and motorcycle riding on the popular Rubicon Jeep trail.
Hiking and wilderness backpacking are popular activities. Day permits are available at the nearby Loon Lake trailhead and overnight permits are available at the Eldorado Information Center.
Facilities
The campground offers tent-only campsites, accommodating a group of up to 25 guests.
A group kitchen area is equipped with multiple tables, a campfire circle and grills. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided.
Natural Features
The campground is part of the Crystal Basin Recreation Area, situated at a 6,400-foot elevation and nestled in a forest of tall pine trees.
Nearby Attractions
The campground is not far from the Desolation Wilderness.
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 | 41° | 27° | 11° | 54° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 40° | 26° | 11° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 42° | 27° | 14° | 67° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 47° | 29° | 11° | 60° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 58° | 36° | 26° | 70° | 6 of 11 |
| June | 71° | 46° | 29° | 87° | 1 of 11 |
| July | 81° | 55° | 44° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 79° | 55° | 49° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 72° | 50° | 40° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 64° | 40° | 25° | 78° | 3 of 10 |
| November | 48° | 34° | 13° | 69° | 7 of 10 |
| December | 40° | 27° | 14° | 60° | 9 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
- Northshore Campground · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi
- Northshore Campground - Loon Lake (CA) · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi · 25 sites
- Wentworth Springs Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Pleasant Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Loon Lake · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 82 sites
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.