Recreation Facility Renovation Project
Please pardon our dust while we make some exciting improvements to recreation sites associated with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s Upper American River Project in El Dorado County (SMUD) or the El Dorado Irrigation District (EID). These improvements are requirements their hydroelectric operating licenses issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Over the next few years, many of the facilities will be upgraded, and several new features added for your future enjoyment. The work will require some sites to be temporarily or completely closed during construction within the timeframes below. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.
- SMUD Crystal Basin Recreation Area Brochure (pdf)
- SMUD Schedule of Improvements and Temporary Closures Map (pdf)
Related
- NEWS RELEASE: SMUD completes first round of recreation upgrades, work continues (2020)
- MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT: Crystal Basin facility upgrades ready for summer fun (4/29/19)
Under Construction in 2025
| Facility | Closure Period 2025 | Licensee |
|---|---|---|
| Loon Lake Campground | Closed for season | SMUD |
| Silver Lake Campground | Closed for June to finish paving | EID |
| Loon Lake Chalet | All Year | SMUD |
Completed
| Facility | Year | What was Accomplished? | Licensee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brush Creek Reservoir Boat Ramp | 2020 | Installed single-unit vault toilet, parking (including accessible parking), bear-proof trash receptacles, gate, boat ramp curb, and signage. | SMUD |
| West Slab Creek Day Use Area | 2020 | Installed single unit vault toilet, parking (including accessible parking), bear-proof trash receptacles, and signage. | SMUD |
| East Slab Creek Day Use Area | 2020 | Installed single unit vault toilet, parking (including accessible parking), five picnic sites, bear-proof trash receptacles, trails, gate, and signage. | SMUD |
| LOON LAKE AREA | |||
| Loon Lake Boat Ramp, Day Use Area, and Trailhead | 2020/21 | Relocated 5-unit day use area to new location with new tables and grills, redesigned RV parking area with bear-proof food receptacles, new striping and designated parking, and signage. | SMUD |
| Buck Island | 2020 | Installed two toilets. | SMUD |
| Northshore RV Campground | 2019 | Complete renovation and expansion and new water system. | SMUD |
| Pleasant Campground | 2017 | Removed existing pit toilets and installed two composting toilets and bear-proof food receptacles. | SMUD |
| High Country Trails | 2017 | Upgraded/rerouted trails between Loon Lake, Buck Island Reservoir and Rubicon Reservoirs, including directional/distance signage. | SMUD |
| Loon Lake Toilet | 2016 | Installed two-unit vault toilet with accessible trail, paved 15-minute parking, and signage. | SMUD |
| GERLE CREEK RESERVOIR AREA | |||
| Angel Creek Day Use Area | 2018 | Paved access road and parking, added signage. | SMUD |
| Gerle Creek Campground/ Day Use Area/ Summer Harvest Trail | 2018 | Rebuilt Summer Harvest Trail with added interpretive signage and viewing platform, connected Summer Harvest and Angel Creek trails, installed exclusion fencing, relined water tank, renovated accessible fishing pier and added hand launch area, added Gerle Creek Access Trail. | SMUD |
| UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR AREA | |||
| Union Valley Bike Trail | 2023/2024 | Continued paved bike trail north from Wench Creek campground to West Point Campground. | SMUD |
| Camino Cove Campground from North Union Valley road | 2022 | Description not available. | SMUD |
| Wolf Creek Group Campground & access road | 2022 | Description not available. | SMUD |
| West Point Campground, Boat Ramp & parking area from North Union Valley road | 2020/2022 | 15 additional sites, a new entrance, and extra parking and access to the reservoir completed. | SMUD |
| Yellowjacket Campground, Boat Ramp & Parking Area | 2021 | Sites updated for more family and group friendly camping, added bear boxes, repaved the bike path going through the site and improved the boatramp. | SMUD |
| Sunset Boatramp | 2021 | Description not available. | SMUD |
| North Union Valley Road | 2019 | Reconstructed road from West Point to Yellowjacket Campground, including new pavement and upgraded drainage/crossings. Constructed turnouts and shoreline access trails to reservoir. | SMUD |
| Sunset Campground | 2018 | Complete renovation of existing campground and RV sanitation station, added 30 person group campground, shower-flushing toilet facility, entrance kiosk, entrance signage, and shoreline access trails. | SMUD |
| Fashoda Swim Beach | 2018 | Added potable water and shoreline access trail/viewing platform. | SMUD |
| Azalea Cove Campground | 2018 | Added potable water and shoreline access trail/viewing platform. | SMUD |
| ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR AREA | |||
| Ice House Campground, Boatramp and Day Use Area, Dam Day Use Area, and RV Sanitation Station. | 2022 | Complete renovation. | SMUD |
| Lakeshore Drive (north shore Ice House east of Strawberry Campground) | 2019 | Reconstructed road from Strawberry point Campground to terminus, including new pavement and upgraded drainage/crossings. Constructed turnouts and shoreline access trails to reservoir. | SMUD |
| Upper Silver Day Use Area | 2019 | Installed double-unit toilet, parking (including accessible parking), five picnic sites with grills, trails, and signage. | SMUD |
| HIGHWAY 88 AREA | |||
| Silver Lake East Campground | 2020 | Campground renovation. | EID |
| Caples Lake Campground | 2019/20 | Campground renovation. Improvements included widening campground spurs and enlarging selected campsites to accommodate modern recreational vehicles, repairing and repaving existing campground roads, replacing the existing toilets, changing and relocating all faucets, and upgrading the water systems to meet the most current U.S. Forest Service (USFS) design and accessibility standards of the Architectural Barriers Act. | EID |
| HELL HOLE AREA | |||
| Upper Hellhole | 2020 | Toilet removal | xxx |
Notes
- Closures are subject to change.
- Please check with the U.S. Forest Service for updates.
- SMUD Construction Closure Map (pdf)