COLORADO RECREATION » CAMPGROUNDS » ELDORDO NATIONAL FOREST
ELDORADO NATIONAL FOREST
California, United States
Activities to Do
Hiking
Eldorado National Forest is filled with miles of scenic trails, many of them winding past glittering lakes, fields of wildflowers, cascading waterfalls, lush forests, and rocky alpine terrain. Take a romantic afternoon stroll with your sweetheart and enjoy the view! Some not-to-be-missed routes include Caples Creek Trail, Granite Lake Trail, and Thunder Mountain. Check out the Eldorado National Forest hiking map to see a complete list of trails and where they are located.
Fishing
With 611 miles of fishable streams and 297 lakes and reservoirs, the fishing experience of a lifetime awaits you here. The lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams are stocked full of rainbow, brown, and brook trout. Find an intimate spot by the water, cast your lines, and enjoy one another’s company in the great outdoors. Fishing is allowed in the lakes year-round, while the rivers are open from late April through mid-November.
Rock Climbing
There’s nothing like a little adventure to reignite the spark in your relationship, and a climb up the 600-foot vertical granite wall at Lovers Leap is sure to take your breath away! There are more than 250 developed rock-climbing routes, but some of the most popular are The Hogsback, Lower Buttress, and Dear John Buttress. The climbs range from moderate to difficult, and most of the sport climbing is 5.10+ YDS or harder.
Mountain Biking
If you really want to get your adrenaline rushing, race each other down the mountain via bike! With steep inclines and fun downhill plunges, Fleming Meadow Loop is one of the most popular cycling trails. You will get a good workout on this one, but the path is well-marked and very smooth. Then, pedal over to Sly Park Lake and ride side-by-side along the water. The views are absolutely breathtaking!
Picnicking
Numerous developed day use areas are found along both Highways 50 and 88. Not only providing great picnic spots, many of the areas also have access to fishing, kayaking, and trails. Out for a day, try Crystal Basin, Silver Lake or the Georgetown area for a variety of activities.
Other Outdoor Activities
The Eldorado National Forest weather ranges from warm, dry summers to cold, wet winters. During the summer months, it is an ideal place for swimming, boating, waterskiing, windsurfing, or picnicking. In the wintertime, visitors can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, sledding, tubing, or snowmobiling. No matter what time of year you visit, there are endless ways to get out and explore!
Places to Visit
Bassi Falls
Bassi Falls is a waterfall in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, to the west of Lake Tahoe in the El Dorado County, California. It falls for 109 ft. It is off of a 5-mile 4x4 road which leads to a trailhead just 1/2 mile from the falls.
Pyramid Peak
Pyramid Peak is a 12,779-foot-elevation (3,895 meter) mountain summit located west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Fresno County, California, United States. It is situated in Kings Canyon National Park, 2.2 miles (3.5 km) southwest of line parent Mount Ickes and 2.2 miles (3.5 km) southeast of Arrow Peak, which is the nearest higher neighbor. Other nearby peaks include Crater Mountain 2.5 miles (4.0 km) to the northeast, and Window Peak one mile to the south. Pyramid Peak ranks as the 214th-highest summit in California, and topographic relief is significant as the southwest aspect rises over 2,300 feet (700 meters) in approximately one mile.
Kit Carson Lodge
Located at an elevation of 7,300 feet above sea level in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California just a 45-minute drive from South Lake Tahoe, Kit Carson Lodge is situated in a spectacular setting off Highway 88 on the shore of Silver Lake.
Loom Lake
Loon Lake is a family-oriented recreation site, treasured by locals for generations. The site offers a myriad of recreational opportunities, including camping, boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, swimming, and waterplay. Visitors can also enjoy relaxing on the warm, sandy beach. Other popular activities at Loon Lake include picnicking, hiking, birding, horseshoe tossing, and barbecuing.