Northwind Campground

Does the allure of pristine natural landscapes call to you? Northwind Campground, perched alongside the serene Ice House Reservoir in California’s Eldorado National Forest, provides campers with an intimate blend of tranquility, natural beauty, and outdoor recreation. With just nine first-come, first-served sites tucked amid towering pines and firs, this small campground offers a quiet refuge well-suited for tent campers, trailers, and RVs seeking an escape from the clamor of daily life.

The campground features essential amenities, including vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, and bear-proof food storage lockers. However, potable water is not available, making it necessary to bring your own supply or filter water from the lake. While compact, Northwind Campground provides access to the area’s stunning Ice House Reservoir, where visitors can enjoy activities such as fishing, kayaking, swimming, and paddleboarding. Nearby, the Ice House Bike Trail and surrounding wilderness areas invite exploration by foot or on bike.

Located about 23 miles east of Placerville and just 11 miles north along Ice House Road, this campground is ideally situated for day trips to outdoor attractions like the Ice House Campground picnic area or the Desolation Wilderness. At 5,500 feet elevation, the campground enjoys a cool climate during its operating season from mid-May to mid-October, with mild weather in late spring and early fall being especially favorable. Northwind Campground is a quintessential retreat for adventurers seeking solitude and immersion in the enduring beauty of the Crystal Basin.