Camp Observer1 of 7 photos
Ice House
Overview
Ice House Campground is surrounded by a mixed conifer forest on the shores of Ice House Reservoir. Just 12 miles from Riverton, CA, the campground offers hiking, biking, jet skiing and fishing.Ponderosa pine is a pleasing part of the surrounding region. The trees fill the air with a vanilla aroma and it's the tallest known pine tree in the country. To date, the tallest Ponderosa measured was an impressive 268.35 feet tall.
Recreation
Enjoy swimming, fishing, and boating on Ice House Reservoir. Rainbow, brown, and trout swim in these waters. A boat ramp is located on-site.
Hike or bike on the Ice House Mountain Bike Trail, which stretches for 3.1 miles along ridge tops and shaded northern slopes. The trail boasts views of the reservoir and the Crystal Range.
Facilities
Amenities include a picnic area, drinking water faucets, vault toilets, showers, and a dump station. Firewood is sold on-site and a nearby resort offers a restaurant, gas and limited groceries.
The facility was newly renovated in 2022.
Natural Features
Some campsites at Ice House are right on the shoreline while others are set back just enough for plenty of shade from towering ponderosa pines, cedars and Manzanita bushes. The reservoir spans 700 acres at 5,500 feet elevation.The area is part of the Eldorado National Forest, which stretches across the famed gold mining territory of the 1800s. Its climate is similar to that of the Mediterranean, with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.
Nearby Attractions
Head to Bassi Falls, which can be reached via a 1.2-mile hiking trail. The glorious waterfall cascades over a 109-foot granite cliff.Charges & Cancellations
- Change Fee: A service fee may be charged at the time a modification is made depending on the changes.
- Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation.
- Cut-Off Window: The latest date and/or time that you can make an advanced reservation or a change to an existing reservation. Cut-off windows can vary by location, but are typically 4 days before your arrival date. A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (see Late Cancellation below).
- Late Cancellation: If you cancel your reservation too close to the start date, additional service fees may be withheld.
- Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).
Camp site features
Across 87 camp sites:
- Pets allowed: 79 of 87 sites
- ADA accessible: 1 of 87 sites
- Longest rig: 45 ft
- Largest party: 18 people
Fees
* Recreation Fee: Recreation fees are the fees a visitor pays for things like overnight camping, a day-use pavilion, group facilities, a tour or a permit. Recreation fees vary by location and/or activity.
* Reservation Fee: A fee may be charged at the time a reservation is made to cover the cost of reservation services. This fee is in addition to the Recreation Fee and is non-refundable. Fees for camping, day use, group sites, cabins and lookouts: $8 if made on-line; $9 if made through the call center; $3 if made in-person.
Directions
From Pollock Pines, CA, take Route 50 east 8.3 miles to the Crystal Basin
Recreation Area sign. Turn left at sign onto Icehouse Road and go 10.8 miles
to the Ice House Campground directional sign. Turn right at the sign onto
Forest Route 32, then go 1.1 miles to an intersection with a campground/boat
ramp sign. Continue straight to campground.
Stay Limit
Check in from 2 PM, check out by 1 PM.
Reviews
Ratings (214)
5 stars
156
4 stars
33
3 stars
9
2 stars
9
1 stars
7
Geena F
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:054
Reviewed 18 hours ago
Ice house reservoir is a gem among California lakes! It’s a great balance between the amount of people and still feeling like it’s not that busy on or by the lake. Highly recommend if you’ve never been before. The camp hosts always do a great job of keeping the bathrooms clean for them being shared non-electric bathrooms. And the beach generally has a lot of people but you can walk down the “beach” a bit and have a little lake cove to yourself.
Karina G
Loop:Meadow Loop
Site:018
Reviewed 2 days ago
We arrived early morning at 7am on Thursday. All spots were taken and campground was full. The hosts were nice enough to provide alternative campgrounds nearby. After some time, no luck. They informed us that clock out time was at 1pm and recommended us to wait a while to see if anything opened up. We stayed at the Day Park in the meantime. Came back around 10am and some spots opened up. The host was very nice and made certain accommodations for us after seeing how determined we were to stay for the weekend. We got a spot and we finally got our family to see this wonderful place. Some bears were lurking through the day, people from other spots warned us but nothing crazy happened. The hosts constantly rode around to check each area and made sure the bathrooms were clean every morning and had toilet paper. I'm so happy we got to say and thankful for the opportunity given. We hope to be coming back soon and making this our new family tradition.
Paula G
Loop:Meadow Loop
Site:017
Reviewed 2 days ago
Walkable to water, mostly shaded. Great cell service
YENI M
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:050
Reviewed 3 days ago
I love this Place my kids enjoyed it so much!! Everything is close and bathrooms are clean , I will be back again ⛺️🤎
Cynthia W
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:048
Reviewed 4 days ago
Beautiful campground and helpful staff! We will definitely stay again!
Phillip S
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:061
Reviewed 6 days ago
Clean and camp hosts were friendly. Will be back
Michelle F
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:057
Reviewed 8 days ago
We loved our campsite! The water was fantastic, the campsites were spacious, a variety of short and long term campers. Beautiful views of lake, mountains and the stars at night! Only advise is bring shade! Some sites have limited shade.
Marci F
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:040
Reviewed 11 days ago
Been coming here for years and I love it. The camp hosts were very friendly and worked hard keeping everything clean for the campers. This is my paradise!
Whitney M
Loop:Meadow Loop
Site:024
Reviewed 13 days ago
This was a nice clean campground very close to a good lake for swimming, paddle boarding and fishing. The camp host was friendly and my kids loved riding their bikes around the camp grounds.
Susana H
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:065
Reviewed 14 days ago
This was the worst campground experience I’ve had in 48 years. This review is not about losing a campsite. If I misunderstood the first-come, first-served process, I would have accepted that. My concern is how campground host Cliff and his wife treated us.
On July 2, I followed the campground’s posted instructions, scanned the QR code, and reserved and paid for Campsite #65 through Recreation.gov. The campsite was vacant when we arrived, and several nearby first-come, first-served sites also appeared empty.
A few hours later, my friend screamed for me. I ran over thinking someone had been hurt. Instead, I found Cliff standing within inches of her, yelling aggressively. The confrontation was so loud that nearby campers came out to see what was happening.
We never yelled back or refused to cooperate. We simply asked that our Recreation.gov reservation be verified before we were required to leave. During the confrontation, Cliff told us several nearby first-come, first-served campsites were being held for family members arriving later for a Fourth of July gathering, even though they appeared vacant.
I contacted Recreation.gov, and a representative reviewed my reservation and spoke directly with Cliff’s wife. Despite that, we were still told to leave. Cliff’s wife also attempted to hand me cash from her personal funds, which I declined because I wanted the reservation handled through the official process.
I was completely sober, remained calm, and never raised my voice. Despite that, I feared for my safety and experienced a panic attack. My friend was so shaken that she ended our Fourth of July camping trip and drove home. I never got to use the campsite I had reserved and paid for.
I hope Royal Elk and the U.S. Forest Service investigate this incident. Regardless of any reservation misunderstanding, no guest should ever be intimidated or made to feel unsafe by campground staff.
Don A
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:054
Reviewed 18 days ago
Very Nice, clean ,quiet, campground , One of my favorite places to camp
Heather S
Loop:Meadow Loop
Site:028
Reviewed 20 days ago
We had a great weekend! The weather was perfect and the campground was clean and quiet.
Brandon K
Loop:Meadow Loop
Site:004
Reviewed 22 days ago
I’ve been to a lot of campsites and this has been my favorite so far. The most beautiful lake I’ve been to and decent sized campsites. It was a little cold but you can’t control the temperature. Rebooking again next year.
Susan B
Loop:Meadow Loop
Site:007
Reviewed 22 days ago
Campsite ample, bathrooms and water spigot nearby.
TINA T
Loop:Meadow Loop
Site:005
Reviewed 23 days ago
Camp host was very friendly. Site 5 was in full sun during the day, so being a canopy for shade. It was a short walk to the water & restrooms. Campground was kept ckean. No bears.
T P
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:064
Reviewed a month ago
Don't go here it's already too full. No, it's nice just too many people on the weekends.
Jessica W
Loop:Meadow Loop
Site:029
Reviewed a month ago
It was a beautiful spot. The tent campsites are nowhere near where you park and I had to carry several loads of camping gear up and down a hill. The bathrooms were very scary and unlit.
Activities : there’s one spot to walk down to by the water and that’s pretty much where the extent of your trail ends, & everyone was fishing in that one spot. Kids played on the big rocks or road their bikes.
Jesus B
Loop:Meadow Loop
Site:025
Reviewed a month ago
great scenery, warm enough for a quick dip in the lake, nice hosts, clean outhouses, hot showers, take lots of quarters
Oksana S
Loop:Meadow Loop
Site:002
Reviewed a month ago
We love ice house, clean bathrooms, very nice host, spacious camping area, easy access to the lake.
Jesse S
Loop:Meadow Loop
Site:003
Reviewed a month ago
This double pullout (#3) was perfect for my 27' class A and my Son's 19' TT, a little downhill at the entrance but leveled out from the middle to the exit, we were able to level the rigs without issue. Large level site with room for 3 tents if needed, newer tables and close to restroom and water (we didn't need so can't rate). Meadow loop has a great lagoon with calm water for paddle boarders, with open water close by. We camp at least once at Ice House every year and really enjoy it, good Cell reception on Verizon.
Keith C
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:045
Reviewed a month ago
We were lucky enough to find a site on first come first served basis. The campground has been recently renovated and is beautiful. The hiking trails were great and they also have a great mountain bike trails camp host was great and kept us going with campground supplies.
Jeff L
Loop:Meadow Loop
Site:029
Reviewed a month ago
Wonderful campground! Clean restrooms, staff incredible and same with the host.
Luisa A
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:057
Reviewed a month ago
We had site 57, and it was really great. There were spots for 3 tents (12 person, 6 person, 10 person), spots for tables (it had 2 very long tables), spots for hammocks, 2 very large bear boxes, plenty of parking, rocks for kids to play on, etc. Through the middle of the day there was very little shade, but it wasn’t a terrible walk to the lake. The bathroom, water spigot, and dumpster are right next to the site.
Matt M
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:060
Reviewed a month ago
Awesome campground and great site. Close to water
Karen H
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:048
Reviewed a month ago
Ice House never disappoints! Due to a dryer winter, we were pleasantly surprised at how much more beach we had this year! Bathrooms were clean and campers were all well behaved! Always a good time.
Monica B
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:043
Reviewed a month ago
The campground was beautiful and the views were great. Bathrooms were clean as well.
The camp hosts were never there to purchase wood. And the last night I camped a large family camped next to me and played loud music in the evening. I called their office but never got a response.
liliana s
Loop:Meadow Loop
Site:025
Reviewed a month ago
Site was very clean and well taken care of. Restrooms were regularly cleaned and maintained. Camp host was very nice, will 100% be coming back.
Edward J
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:048
Reviewed a month ago
Wonderful sites, well looked after, great location
Whitney B
Loop:Meadow Loop
Site:021
Reviewed a month ago
This campground is my favorite getaway from the Sacramento heat. The sites are big and well taken care of. The lake is cold, but wonderful. I look forward to coming here every year. The pollen was CRAZY this year, but that’s part of the experience. Bring your allergy meds.
Stephan B
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:035
Reviewed a month ago
Beautiful lake and well maintained campground.
Unfortunately, they still allow noise-polluting two-stroke jet skis, and they drive by full speed and in larger groups. I measured 107 dB at the shore -it sounded like at a car race ring. They are illegal at that level, but no law enforcement.
Also, the dump station was not connected to the payment kiosk but people despite that dumped sewage. It remains a mistery why park ranger don’t close the barrier to prevent access.
Gabriel P
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:060
Reviewed 2 months ago
It was a few family members first time camping and they loved it.
Natalie G
Loop:Meadow Loop
Site:024
Reviewed 2 months ago
Beautiful location and the campsites were family friendly.
Genevieve T
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:053
Reviewed 2 months ago
Site 53, was peaceful, quiet, and spacious!
Delaney P
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:049
Reviewed 2 months ago
Site 49 was nice as it didn’t have anyone behind. Not really any good trees to put up a hammock but lots of room for tents and flat. At least 2 maybe 3 tents would fit. No view of the lake but close walk. Sites accross had a view. Well maintained, quiet after 10 and camp hosts took good care. Not really much shade.
Carrie D
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:040
Reviewed 2 months ago
The camp hosts were very kind people, the camp ground was clean and quiet and the bathrooms were exceptionally well maintained.
Frederick H
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:049
Reviewed 2 months ago
Wonderful Campground! Book early as the reservations fill up instantly. Overall beautiful place, clean bathrooms, showers, and amazing lake access.
Nathan O
Loop:Meadow Loop
Site:007
Reviewed 2 months ago
Love Ice House. Great sites with plenty of shade and privacy. The lake never feels really busy even on Memorial Day weekend
Michael H
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:036
Reviewed 2 months ago
I would be lying if I said this place isn’t awesome. Grew up going here and the new remodel is fantastic. Quiet even on a busy Memorial Day weekend.
Nicky B
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:063
Reviewed 7 months ago
Loved this campground. It was our first time visiting, we read that it's been remodeled and it is very nice the way they have the sites cleared so it's level for a tent. The camp host kept the bathroom so clean every day, I've never seen these kind of camp bathrooms so clean!! The lake is beautiful and the water is so refreshing. The only thing negative I would say is that some of the sites are very close together and a lot of them don't have very much shade. Ours was two sites away from the camp host and we had to put an umbrella up over the bear food locker because it was right in the sun in the afternoon, and also the mosquitoes come out around dusk and stay out till it's dark.
Cheng-Hsien L
Loop:Boulder Loop
Site:032
Reviewed 8 months ago
I do kayak fishing when I am camping. This campground would have been perfect if motorized boats and ski jets are not present. During the day, I was bothered by noisy ski jets that run around the lake non stop. Needless to say, fishing is impossible when ski jets present. Other than that, the campground is nice, clean, and conveniently close to shore. My kids had fun there. The scenery is also good.
Popularity
Moderate · 55%
Busiest in July, when about 55% of sites are booked. Based on 8 years of reservations.
