Camp Observer1 of 7 photos
Yellowjacket
Overview
Yellowjacket Campground provides plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun on Union Valley Reservoir. The water plays host to an array of activities like water skiing and fishing. The surrounding cedar and ponderosa pine forest is a lovely setting for hiking and biking.Recreation
The Union Valley Bike Trail spans 4.8 miles with an easy climb of 300 feet. The trail connects campgrounds on the east side of the lake, from Jones Fork Campground to Wench Creek, and is open to hikers and bikers. The Bassi Falls Hiking Trail is also worth exploring.Anglers seek rainbow, brown and mackinaw trout or kokanee salmon. The reservoir also offers opportunities for swimming, water skiing and boating. A boat ramp and boat trailer parking are provided at this campground.
Facilities
Sites are equipped with picnic tables, grills and campfire rings. The campground offers a dump station, drinking water, and vault toilets.
A host is on-site. Some sites at this camp are available on a first-come, first-served basis (more campground details)
Natural Features
Union Valley Reservoir sits in the Crystal Basin within the Sierra Nevada Mountains at an elevation of 4,900 feet. The area is part of the Eldorado National Forest, which includes the famed gold mining territory of the 1800s. Protected remnants of the days of the California Gold Rush are all around the region.The climate is similar to that of the Mediterranean, with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.
An abundance of wildlife can be found within the Sierra Nevada Range, including black bears, mule deer, bobcat, gray fox, bighorn sheep, pikas, martens and a variety of squirrels. Several species of reptiles, amphibians and birds also inhabit the area.
Nearby Attractions
The Desolation Wilderness is nearby, offering the opportunity to get away from the crowds and enjoy the serenity of nature.Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (831) 245-6891.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 36 camp sites:
- Pets allowed: all 36 sites
- Longest rig: 30 ft
- Largest party: 12 people
- Equipment: RV, Tent, Trailer
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 Placerville, take Highway 50 east. Go 21 miles to Icehouse Road. Turn
left on Icehouse Road. Then drive 14 miles north to the Yellowjacket turnoff.
Drive a half mile to the campground entrance.
Stay Limit
Check in from 2 PM, check out by 1 PM.
Reviews
Ratings (76)
5 stars
51
4 stars
14
3 stars
5
2 stars
5
1 stars
1
Rebecca J
Loop:Yell
Site:013
Reviewed 4 days ago
Absolutely loved this space. We are going to make this spot our annual camping trip.
Jared O
Loop:Yell
Site:018
Reviewed 13 days ago
Location was great, camp host was very friendly. BUT, the people camping there did not respect quiet hours and several sites left trash. Camp host did not enforce quite time.
Reggie G
Loop:Yell
Site:23
Reviewed 15 days ago
We rode both directions on the bike path and kayaked in the reservoir...scenery was beautiful. the camp host Katie was well informed and was able to answer our questions
Kristie W
Loop:Yell
Site:018
Reviewed 25 days ago
We just love camping at yellow jacket. It’s always maintained and taken care of. We love boating but also just swimming in the inlets. We hiked Bassi falls this year. It’s a must see. We plan to camp again next year.
JAMES P
Loop:Yell
Site:012
Reviewed a month ago
Campground host was super, so very nice and helpful. Campground lovely. Other guests respectful. Only recommendation, a pier at the boat ramp
Tanya C
Loop:Yell
Site:007
Reviewed a month ago
Very clean campground with large sites. Beautiful lake and surrounding area!
Jason J
Loop:Yell
Site:006
Reviewed a month ago
Clean sites. Beautiful campground. Easy camp setup and break down.
Kendall E
Loop:Yell
Site:35
Reviewed 2 months ago
The camp host was awesome! My friends and I stayed for Memorial Day weekend and had a really great time. The lake was a pretty easy walk to get to from our site, and there’s a paved trail which is also very easily accessible. Would definitely come here again
John S
Loop:Yell
Site:20
Reviewed 2 months ago
The host Katie is a very kind and hard working person! She helped us and other campers patiently with an information around the place when we check in. This camp ground (Yellowjacket) is very clean and safe, I would say this is the best place to have a fun with your little kids….. fishing, swimming, hiking, biking, jogging, etc.
Oh, one important thing is that the restrooms are absolutely CLEAN.
Thanks to Katie for keeping this camp ground nice and clean.
Rita C
Loop:Yell
Site:34
Reviewed 2 months ago
Excellent pace to stay to access great hiking in the area. My site overlooked the reservoir and the paved bike/walk trail that wraps around the reservoir. Beautiful. It has vault toilets, near the campsite. They were the least smelly vault toilets I've ever used, even as the campground filled up for the holiday weekend. Stocked with toilet paper. There was a good-sized bear locker at the campsite - large enough to store food, drinks, and toiletries for our group of 3 adults for 4 days. There is a secure dumpster and bottle/can recycling near the bathrooms, which had plenty of space and was emptied on one of the days we were there. There is also a water spigot near the bathroom.
It was a busy holiday weekend, so the campground was full, however my site was a good size and there was plenty of space between my site and my neighbors. The camp host was very kind, made sure that the friendly but wandering dog at the site near ours stayed at it's campsite (in a very considerate way), and was available to sell firewood ($10 for a small bundle). Great place to camp!
Joe B
Loop:Yell
Site:011
Reviewed 2 months ago
The host was very responsive and friendly; the site & bathrooms were clean throughout our stay. She came around periodically throughout our 4 day stay to ask if everything was satisfactory.
She also did an outstanding job managing several "unruly" guests - very well done.
Terry C
Loop:Yell
Site:26
Reviewed a year ago
Need 3 yard dumpster because the 2 yard fill up by the weekend and are overflowing by Sunday afternoon or schedule 2 pickups per week. Camping was good , need to have the purple star thistle sprayed around Yellowjacket campground and along bike/walking trail between Yellowjacket campground and SMUD campground and powerhouse.
Juan P
Loop:Yell
Site:017
Reviewed a year ago
The place is great, I love Union Valley reservoir. The host is very good, but he needs to put a better love to the bathroom areas /
Sally E
Loop:Yell
Site:019
Reviewed a year ago
Disappointed at the lack of education regarding bears and garbage. There were NO signs asking people to lock bins and NO working locks on main campsite bins; only the newer ones outside the campgrounds had working locks.
People are ignorant and you need to spell it out; "USE CLIP EACH TIME YOU USE BIN".
Bins were 98%full when we arrived on a Friday. Completely unacceptable in peak season. Campers then left bags of trash next to the bins and wondered why a bear came in before quiet.
PLEASE get your host to get new clips and swap ild bins for new ones with lids that actually fit. It is unfair for wildlife.
Kristen S
Loop:Yell
Site:010
Reviewed a year ago
Paved bike trails and bridges. Firewood on site for purchase. Clean restrooms. Clean lake. Great camp host. Plenty of beach areas around the lake. #10 is shaded, near a brook, and backs up to the forest. Would come again. Always use the bear boxes. :)
Sandra T
Loop:Yell
Site:36
Reviewed a year ago
The campsite was HUGE, lots of shade. Camp host Artie, was great!
James B
Loop:Yell
Site:35
Reviewed a year ago
Great reception with Verizon. Large sites with a boat ramp and access to Union Valley Reservoir. Clean bathrooms, water and trash service. Can’t beat it.
Stephanie A
Loop:Yell
Site:21
Reviewed a year ago
Excellent campground. Plenty of space and right in the trees. We had a group that stayed in sites 21, 23, 26, 27 & 28 and they were all great. We loved the paved bike bath and quick access to the reservoir. The host was friendly, helpful & took excellent care of the grounds. We would stay here again for sure!
Kathy G
Loop:Yell
Site:32
Reviewed a year ago
Awesome experience! Camp host was friendly and kept the bathrooms so nice and clean! Thank you!
Danielle D
Loop:Yell
Site:019
Reviewed a year ago
Great campground with a nice lake area that has large granite slabs that are easy to walk on.
Steve H
Loop:Yell
Site:25
Reviewed a year ago
Great place to camp. Will go next year also. Could use some docks at the ramps but no big deal
Kellie G
Loop:Yell
Site:26
Reviewed a year ago
Wonderfully maintained, spacious campsites. Beautiful lake with amazing bike and walking path. We will definitely be coming back.
Paul R
Loop:Yell
Site:21
Reviewed a year ago
Online reservations were simple and accurate. Clean campgrounds and beautiful scenery.
Thanks again
Jaycee F
Loop:Yell
Site:012
Reviewed a year ago
My friends and I had the best time there! It was so beautiful! Marty is great as well!
Maggie J
Loop:Yell
Site:018
Reviewed 2 years ago
Great place to camp, the sites were clean and spacious. We went during the weekdays so it was pretty empty at the campgrounds which is also nice. Vault toilets were as clean as they can be, missing the showers though. Water spigots had great pressure. Camp host was super friendly and accommodating. Lots of yellowjackets of course so I’d bring a bug zapper which helped a lot. Bears def come by so have your air horn ready. Other than that, we will def come back!
Laurent G
Loop:Yell
Site:36
Reviewed 2 years ago
Nice big and clean camp sites. Quiet at night except for the bears. Camp host is very friendly and helpful. Would be a 5 stars with showers.
Chris A
Loop:Yell
Site:015
Reviewed 2 years ago
Great campground as sites are spaced out enough so that you're not "packed in." My only complaint is that the groundskeeper doesn't do a good enough job of keeping the bathrooms clean. We will be returning!!!
Scott D
Loop:Yell
Site:018
Reviewed 2 years ago
Stunning wee spot next to the lake. Had everything we needed. Clean and tidy site.
Andrey V
Loop:Yell
Site:012
Reviewed 2 years ago
No way in hell site 13 is double. Dump station was closed.
Julie N
Loop:Yell
Site:007
Reviewed 3 years ago
Our first time at Yellowjacket during mid Labor Day week. We were not able to reserve a site close enough to the water. (#7) but walking distance to the water was not very far. (less than 5mins) Next time, sites 19, or 21 are near the water. The site was very clean, and we had part sun & shade over the picnic table. I do recommend bringing a pop-up tent to block the afternoon sun and table covers. We were able to fit our small 3' cooler into the metal bear protective bin. I highly recommend using, we had a visitor the first night rummaging through our camp site but left to the site across from us. Thank goodness our dogs did not take off but definitely growling.
Close to the bathrooms but far enough not to be bothered by people walking by. There's a water pipe, next the bathrooms convenient for washing dishes. The dogs got walked every day around the campground and the bike trail. Beautiful nature, quiet all day and night, very peaceful. The trails were kept up, clean, only saw one Deer siting. Quite a few kayakers, boaters, and jet skiers. The water was so refreshing and the sandbars nice to relax and chill. Friendly host too.
Douglas S
Loop:Yell
Site:017
Reviewed 3 years ago
Campsite was very clean. Campground was pretty quiet except first night when someone was playing loud Hispanic music until just after 10 pm. Unfortunately the bike trail was closed in both directions but it was nice as far as it went.
Tyler W
Loop:Yell
Site:007
Reviewed 3 years ago
Clean bathrooms . Nice host . Beautiful area . Can't ask for much more
yedid o
Loop:Yell
Site:006
Reviewed 3 years ago
This has to be one of the best places to camp. The environment is super friendly. The lake is just feet away. Great walk trails, they have decent bathrooms. And just an overall great experience. We def will be booking again.
Austen N
Loop:Yell
Site:007
Reviewed 3 years ago
Big spaces. Seems like a newer campsite. Short walk to the water. Be ready for bears. Had visitors every night. Be smart and lock everything up and keep out of site at night. They come from dusk to about 4am.
Karen W
Loop:Yell
Site:010
Reviewed 3 years ago
The campgrounds were clean and quiet. The host Troy was very helpful as was Kelley one of the the rangers, I ran my battery down and they helped right away, also the wood is a pretty good deal
Janet K
Loop:Yell
Site:015
Reviewed 4 years ago
Absolutely wonderful, very clean bathrooms, hike trails, boat ramp, swimming! Camp host was extremely helpful and friendly. This place are go too camping!!! Highly recommend!
Felicia D
Loop:Yell
Site:004
Reviewed 4 years ago
Very dusty and a bit of a walk to get to the water, unlike other campgrounds around, but the water was warm and the sites were well spaced which was very nice!
Paula A
Loop:Yell
Site:010
Reviewed 4 years ago
Sites are large .. clean and the host was great.. Checked around the camp couple times a day. Loved the hiking trails and the boat ramp was great.
sandra g
Loop:Yell
Site:011
Reviewed 4 years ago
The walk to find and area to go to the lake was quite long, which was a bummer cause you need chair, umbrella and some drinks to carry to the lake. But the walk path way is beautifull and peacefull.
Dennis K
Loop:Yell
Site:019
Reviewed 4 years ago
Hosts Virginia and Mike Daniel elevated our rating to excellent otherwise the rating would be lower. Virginia and Mike welcomed us and made us feel right at home and took the the time to personalize our visit with us and all of our guests. Best Hots ever..... "5 Star". The biggest disappointment was that the campground was designated as a no campfire campground because of wood chips dispersed around the camp sites during rennovation while the other campgrounds around the lake were permitted campfires. Also, the toilets were pit toilets not flush toilets as stated on the website.
Celeste H
Loop:Yell
Site:014
Reviewed 4 years ago
I expressly asked about having a camp fire and was told yes camp fires were permitted. Upon arrival we were met with signs saying "no camp fires" and the campground host also informed us in person.
Thomas H
Loop:Yell
Site:001
Reviewed 4 years ago
It was a nice campsite. Nice location, not too crowded, close to Bassi Falls, Wrights Lake, and the Desolation Wilderness. None of the loud types you might expect at a less remote campground. Hardly any mosquitos when we were there.
One strange hiccup was that the camp host removed the food we had stored in the bear bin, which gave me a bit of a scare that we would have to cancel our backcountry camping trip due to lack of food.
Popularity
Quiet · 38%
Busiest in July, when about 38% of sites are booked. Based on 8 years of reservations.
