Eldorado National Forest
Your Gateway to the Sierra!
Come discover, explore, and enjoy your Eldorado National Forest.
Alerts
- Ice House Road Re-paving 2024:
Ice House Road will be undergoing re-paving and other improvements from May through November this year. Delays of up to 30 minutes during the day and up to 60 minutes at night are expected. However, work will not take place during Memorial weekend, or other weekends from June 15 through Labor Day. See also project website. - Mormon Emigrant Trail (Iron Mountain road) is OPEN. Use caution when driving as the road has not been cleared of residual snow berms and debris yet.
POST-FIRE ADVISORY - The Mosquito and Caldor fire areas continue to have potential for falling trees, mudslides and debris flows. Recreating in a post-fire area always carries a number of hazards and dangers. We recommend checking out other areas in the forest outside the fire areas for your recreation activities.
Thousands of visitors are drawn each year to the Eldorado National Forest’s rivers, lakes, and streams alive with fish; mountains and meadows for alpine and nordic skiing; campsites and picnic areas in alpine backcountry and diverse forests. Four hundred miles of hiking trails pass through all kinds of terrain, from gentle oak foothills on the west to the 10,000-foot crest of the Sierra Nevada. Two major highways - Highway 50 and Highway 88 - run through the Forest, making it an easy drive from Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Forest Service is committed to nurturing and managing the National Forests in order to ensure the health of the land. As we respectfully use and play in these precious public lands, we are taking part in a shared vision for the future.
Quick Links
Features
Timber Offerings
Documents and bid date are available for the Reservoir Natural Stands Stewardship Project and an update for the Caldor Fire Hazard Tree Removal Phase 2 Project.
Caldor Fire Recovery
Recovery after a major wildfire is a long term process. The first steps involve repairing areas damaged by fire suppression, and mitigating safety hazards such as fire weakened trees, burning stump holes, damaged utilities, and hazmat concerns. Recovery also includes the Burned Area Emergency Response, the rebuilding process for recreation residences, and Caldor Fire restoration activities.
Spotlights
Great American Outdoors Act
![Graphic for the program with 2 people, one in a wheelchair, on a dock at a lake.](/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd907472_tn.jpg)
The Great American Outdoors Act enables federal land managers to address deferred maintenance and other infrastructure projects on national forests.
El Dorado County Resource Advisory Committee
![Resource Advisory Committee logo](/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd853026_tn.jpg)
The El Dorado County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) is active. We look forward to working with the RAC and the community on a new set of conservation projects.
Caring for the Land
![Photo of forest with numerous trees lying on the ground.](/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd920266_tn.jpg)
Work on the Eldorado National Forest has a foundation in its 1989 Land and Resource Management Plan and other environmental guidance.
Passes & Permits
![Photo of wilderness ranger standing next to a desolation wilderness trail sign.](/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd1006911_tn.jpg)
Learn about day use and overnight permits to plan your wilderness visit. Other passes and permits are also available.