Eldorado National Forest dispersed camping rules

Allowed

Most of the forest is open to free dispersed camping unless specifically prohibited. Camp at least 100 ft from streams and lakes, outside developed campground boundaries.

Where it is not allowed

• No dispersed camping around Echo, Caples, Kirkwood, Silver, Woods and Wrights Lakes, or around Gerle Creek, Ice House and Stumpy Meadows Reservoirs.
• Boat-in dispersed camping is allowed on Bear River Reservoir, Union Valley Reservoir, Loon Lake and Hell Hole Reservoir.
• Woods Lake: overnight camping is allowed only at the developed campground.
• Mokelumne Wilderness: you need a wilderness permit to stay overnight. In the Carson Pass Management Area, camping is only at designated, assigned sites at Fourth of July, Round Top and Winnemucca Lakes.
• Desolation Wilderness: you need a permit year-round to stay overnight, and a quota applies in the high-use season.

10 days per ranger district per calendar year

Applies to: Camping outside developed campgrounds

Restrictions in effect · Fire order 03-26-07

In effect September 22, 2026 to November 29, 2026

Forest-wide: no fires, campfires or stove fires except in stoves, grills or fire rings at the developed recreation sites listed in Exhibit A. People with a campfire permit may use propane pits, stoves or lanterns that have a shut-off valve. Smoking and welding are restricted. Campfires are banned year-round in the Desolation and Mokelumne Wildernesses.

Alerts and orders

Campfire permit

You need a free California Campfire Permit for campfires, stoves, lanterns or barbecues outside campgrounds. It is valid through December 31. It does not give permission to camp.

Wilderness permits

Desolation: overnight permit required year-round, with a quota from the Friday before Memorial Day through Sept 30, available on Recreation.gov or as a walk-in permit. Mokelumne: overnight permit required year-round, free and no quota. Carson Pass Management Area lakes need a separate same-day permit from the Carson Pass Information Station.

Fees

Dispersed camping is free. Desolation overnight permits cost $5/person for 1 night or $10/person for 2–14 nights, plus a $6 reservation fee. Trailhead parking is $5/day at Forest Service lots and $10/day at concession lots. Most campgrounds charge a fee.

• Dispersed sites must be at least 100 ft from streams and lakes and outside the boundary markings of developed campgrounds.
• Pack out all trash, since there is no trash service. Bury human waste at least 6 inches deep and 200 ft from water and campsites, and pack out toilet paper.
• Mokelumne Wilderness: groups are limited to 8 people overnight and 12 for day use. No camping within 100 ft of streams, lakes or trails, or within 300 ft of Emigrant Lake.
• Desolation Wilderness: store food and refuse in bear-proof canisters (Order 03-25-05, 2025-07-18 to 2028-07-17). Groups are limited to 12 people.
• Carson Pass Management Area: from Memorial Day through Labor Day, stays are limited to 2 nights at Round Top and Winnemucca Lakes and 3 nights at Fourth of July Lake.

Prohibited. Stay on designated roads and trails, and park within one vehicle length of the road or trail edge.

Motor vehicles are limited to the roads and trails shown on the Motor Vehicle Use Map.

• Seasonal dirt road and trail closureCurrent

  Every year from Jan 1 through at least Mar 31; may be extended

  All dirt roads and trails are closed to motor vehicles in winter and spring. Rock Creek follows its own closure plan.

• Mormon Emigrant Trail winter vehicle closureCurrent

  Closed to passenger vehicles in winter where snow covers the road. The alerts page cites Order 03-26-01.

• Rock Creek critical deer winter rangeCurrent

  Every year from Nov 10 to May 1

  Motor vehicles and bicycles are banned on forest roads and trails in this area, except on listed routes.

• Elkins Flat trailsCurrent

  Closed because of heavy damage from the 2021 Caldor Fire.

• Deer Valley Trail (19E01) & Meadow Lake Road (09N01) snowmelt restriction, Order 03-24-05Expired

  2024-04-01 to 2026-03-31

  Banned motor vehicles for a 6-week period during spring snowmelt.

• Mokelumne Wilderness Restricted Use, Order 03-23-10Expired

  2023-07-29 to 2026-05-31

  Required wilderness permits, banned wood fires, set group limits and camping setbacks, and required designated sites in the Carson Pass Management Area.

• Fireworks are banned year-round on national forest land.
• Some roads are rough, steep or narrow. Check with Forest Service staff that a road suits your vehicle.
• Boil or treat all lake, stream and spring water.
• Golden mussel alert: Clean, Drain, Dry your watercraft, and check launch requirements with the waterbody.

Gaps and conflicts in the official pages when they were checked.

• The fire order effective date conflicts. The Order 03-26-07 PDF (D30) says 2026-09-22, but the alert page (D10) says August 20, 2026 and also refers to Order 03-26-06.
• The Fire Restriction Status page (D14, updated 2026-07-29) says Stage 1. This may not match the newer Order 03-26-07.
• Mokelumne Wilderness Order 03-23-10 expired 2026-05-31. No replacement order was supplied, though the permit and regulation pages still describe these rules.
• The text of Mormon Emigrant Trail Order 03-26-01 was not supplied. The older Order 03-24-02 text is garbled and appears to end in April 2026.
• Deer Valley/Meadow Lake Order 03-24-05 expired. The road status page still mentions it, and it is unclear whether it was renewed.
• Amador office hours conflict: Monday–Friday (D17, D18) versus Tuesday–Saturday until September (D29).
• No Motor Vehicle Use Map or forest map document was supplied.

Is dispersed camping allowed in Eldorado National Forest?

Allowed. Most of the forest is open to free dispersed camping unless specifically prohibited. Camp at least 100 ft from streams and lakes, outside developed campground boundaries.

How long can you camp in Eldorado National Forest?

The stay limit is 10 days per ranger district per calendar year.

Are campfires allowed in Eldorado National Forest?

Forest-wide: no fires, campfires or stove fires except in stoves, grills or fire rings at the developed recreation sites listed in Exhibit A. People with a campfire permit may use propane pits, stoves or lanterns that have a shut-off valve. Smoking and welding are restricted. Campfires are banned year-round in the Desolation and Mokelumne Wildernesses. This was the order in effect when the area was checked on September 24, 2026; confirm on the alerts page before you go.

Do you need a permit to camp in Eldorado National Forest?

You need a free California Campfire Permit for campfires, stoves, lanterns or barbecues outside campgrounds. It is valid through December 31. It does not give permission to camp. Desolation: overnight permit required year-round, with a quota from the Friday before Memorial Day through Sept 30, available on Recreation.gov or as a walk-in permit. Mokelumne: overnight permit required year-round, free and no quota. Carson Pass Management Area lakes need a separate same-day permit from the Carson Pass Information Station. Dispersed camping is free. Desolation overnight permits cost $5/person for 1 night or $10/person for 2–14 nights, plus a $6 reservation fee. Trailhead parking is $5/day at Forest Service lots and $10/day at concession lots. Most campgrounds charge a fee.