Cruises & boats
Wench Creek
California · Nearby: US-50 west of Echo Summit (CA)
Wench Creek is near Lake Tahoe, listed on Recreation.gov. It has tent and RV sites.
ELDORADO
23.4 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe15.2 mi to Emerald Baystraight-line
Quick facts
| Agency / operator | Not listed |
|---|---|
| Booking | Recreation.gov [Recreation.gov] |
| Max RV / trailer length | Not listed |
| Bear storage | Not listed |
| Season | Not listed |
| Hookups | Not listed |
Sources: Recreation.gov — Wench Creek. "Not listed" means no source we use states it.
Your dates (Fri, Oct 23 – Sun, Oct 25): Book online. Reservations online on Recreation.gov — open dates and rates come from the booking site.
Key facts
- Max rig length
- Longest RV site listed: 35 ft (1 of 2 RV sites list a length) Listing
- Hookups & power
- Hookup type not listed for RV sites Listing
- Pets
- Allowed Listing
- Booking
- Reservable on Recreation.gov Listing
- Getting there
- 23.4 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 15.2 mi to Emerald Bay (straight-line, not driving) Listing
- Campfire Rings
- Drinking Water
- Firewood
- Grills
- Host
- Lake Access
Why stay here?
- RV sites listed for rigs up to 35 ft.
- Rated 3.0★ across 79 guest reviews.
- Public-land campground run by a federal or state agency.
Choose a site
Your dates & setup
Checking 2 nights. Tell us what you're staying in to see matching sites and prices.
Site & accommodation options
No recent availability data on Recreation.gov: availability may have changed, so check availability with the provider. Rates are listed rates, not an offer.
Standard Nonelectric
98 sites like thisRV length limit not listedNo hookups
Check availabilityEnter your dates on Recreation.gov, then choose “Standard Nonelectric”.
$36/night
Continue to Recreation.gov ↗Compare booking options
You book with the provider. Each row shows that provider's lowest open option for your dates, and which provider our main button uses.
Recreation.govMain booking button
No recent availability data — check availability on the provider's site
Check availability
Pick your dates again on this provider's site.
Other nearby options
Closest stays by type. Distances are straight-line from Wench Creek, not driving.
- Closest public campgroundYellowjacket0.8 mi away (straight-line) · PublicCheck availabilityCheck availability on Recreation.gov ↗
- Closest private full-hookupLake Tahoe KOA Journey19.0 mi away (straight-line) · PrivateCheck availabilityCheck availability on KOA ↗
- Closest public / first-comeWolf Creek1.3 mi away (straight-line) · PublicCheck availabilityCheck availability on Recreation.gov ↗
- Next closestFashoda1.9 mi away (straight-line) · PublicCheck availabilityCheck availability on Recreation.gov ↗
View calendar · night-by-night from Recreation.gov
No recent availability data on Recreation.gov: this grid may be out of date, so check availability with the provider. Showing 40 of 100 sites.
| Site | Fr 23 | Sa 24 | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 008 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 019 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 026 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 003 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 027 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 011 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 010 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 014 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 012 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 005 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 013 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 017 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 007 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 021 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 028 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 024 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 004 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 002 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 006 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 020 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 023 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 009 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 015 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 016 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 022 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 025 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 018 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 029 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 032 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 040 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 045 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 033 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 038 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 041 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 043 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 049 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 046 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 039 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 037 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
| 047 standard nonelectric | – | – | $36 |
✓ available · R reserved · X not available · C closed · W first come, first served · N not yet released
Before you go
CA California rules for campers
- Booking
- California State Parks book on ReserveCalifornia up to 6 months before arrival. Forest Service campgrounds book on Recreation.gov (individual sites up to 6 months ahead, group sites 12). California State Parks Recreation.gov
- Bears
- State park campgrounds: food, drinks, toiletries and scented trash go in the site's metal locker; ice chests may not be left in vehicles; bear-proof coolers must be locked (up to $1,000 fine). National Forest land: Forest Order 19-24-03. California State Parks USDA Forest Service
- Chains
- Caltrans chain controls R-1, R-2 and R-3 apply on CA-89, US-50 and I-80; check Caltrans QuickMap for live status. Caltrans Caltrans QuickMap
Longest RV site listed: 35 ft. Unsure if your rig fits? Check it in the Lake Tahoe Rig Fit tool
Wench Creek: questions answered
- What is the maximum RV length at Wench Creek?
- Longest RV site listed: 35 ft (1 of 2 RV sites list a length) (per the listing)
- Does Wench Creek have RV hookups?
- Hookup type not listed for RV sites (per the listing)
- How do I reserve a site at Wench Creek?
- Reservable on Recreation.gov (per the listing)
- Are pets allowed at Wench Creek?
- Allowed (per the listing)
Recent guest reviews
Cari B ★ 3 · Sep 2025Every one loved our new place (as Loon Lake was not open). However, staff did not know we could do first come, first serve when I gave them the check for Tues - Thurs nites. No one told the portable bathroom people that all 4 rooms should remain while we were there and they left us two on a step up trailer. We were all pleasantly surprised that the portables were so clean and had little odor. We really liked the arrangement of the kitchen area and the circular RV placement with tents anywhere. Thank you!
John M ★ 1 · Aug 2025People were playing guitars and singing until 2 am. Camp host never came by to ask them to stop. The guitar playing and singing began at 10 pm. We were in site #17, and the group playing the music was right next to us. Also, the website showed that this campground had flush toilets. The toilets were boarded up, and porta potties were placed next to the former restrooms. The porta potties were absolutely disgusting, overflowing with filth and no toilet paper. This campground is disgusting, and we will never stay here again. We left after one night, and sought refuge at Yellowjacket campground which was 100 percent better. Update your website regarding campground status, and ask camp hosts to enforce the rules, ie, quiet time 10 pm. Thank you.
Lisa R ★ 4 · Jul 2025Camp site was clean with easy access to the lake via a path. Sites were pretty spacious and not too close together. The bathrooms were closed and boarded up, so there were just regular old port-o-potties.
Location
ELDORADO
23.4 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)
15.2 mi to Emerald Bay (straight-line)
Open in Google Maps ↗
Policies
- Check-in
- 02:00 PM
- Check-out
- 01:00 PM
- Pets
- Allowed (per listing)
- Campfires
- Allowed (per listing)
About
Wench Creek Campground sits among tall ponderosa pines along the east shore of Union Valley Reservoir at about 4,900 feet in the Crystal Basin of Eldorado National Forest. The campground contains 100 sites spread across three loops Wench I (27 sites), Wench II (30 sites) and Wench III (41 sites) all configured to accommodate both RVs and tents; electric hook-ups are not available. Practical amenities include drinking water, picnic tables, grills and fire rings, vault toilets, and firewood for purchase; you can also moor boats along the shoreline. Single-family sites are available on a first-co…
Amenities
Campfire RingsDrinking WaterFirewoodGrillsHostLake AccessPets AllowedPicnic AreaVault ToiletsWater Spigot
Nearby activities
BirdingBikingSwimming SiteWildlife ViewingWater SportsHikingFishingCampingBoating
At a glance: all 15 facts with sources
At a glance
Official facts link to their source; “Listing” facts come from the Recreation.gov listing. Anything we can't source says so.
- Max rig length
- Listing Longest RV site listed: 35 ft (1 of 2 RV sites list a length)
- Hookups & power
- Listing Hookup type not listed for RV sites
- Pull-through / back-in
- Listing 0 pull-through, 1 back-in
- Road & site access
- Listing 2 paved site driveways
- Pets
- Listing Allowed
- Cell signal
- Listing Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 3 (42 reports), AT&T 3 (14 reports), T-Mobile 4 (10 reports)
- Water
- Listing Drinking water listed
- Shade
- Listing 0 of 2 sites that report shade are listed as shaded
- Booking
- Listing Reservable on Recreation.gov
- Price
- Listing Lowest listed rate $36/night (live price once you pick dates)
- Getting there
- Listing 23.4 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe · 15.2 mi to Emerald Bay (straight-line, not driving)
- Generators · Quiet hours · Starlink / satellite · Stay limits
- Not listed — check with campground
Nearby parks (straight-line): Emerald Bay 15.2 mi
Check availability
Build around it
Things to do near Emerald Bay
No rig? Fly & Drive
RV rentals for this stay
Picks are 35 ft or shorter — the longest RV site listed here. Fly into Reno (~33 mi, ~55 min to Lake Tahoe, approx.) or rent locally.
Pick up near RNOSpacious & Clean 2014 RV:4 TVS & 2 SLIDE OUTS: Sleeps 8
SPARKS, NV · 4 mi from RNO airport (straight-line)
Drivable — no tow vehicleDelivery up to 75 miPets OK
Availability not connected · to estimate
from $210/nightvia RVRentals.com
Pick up near RNO2022 Minnie Winnie 22M
Sparks, NV · 8 mi from RNO airport (straight-line)
Drivable — no tow vehicleDelivery up to 40 miPets OK
Availability not connected · to estimate
from $217/nightvia RVRentals.com
Pick up in Lake Tahoe2022 Forest River RP-193**WE TOW & SET-UP for You!
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Delivery
to see if it's open
from $125/nightvia RVshare
Compare Wench Creek with alternatives
Public-agency campground
vs Yellowjacket
RVs to 35 ft vs 25 ft
Read comparison →Public-agency campground
vs Wolf Creek
RVs to 35 ft vs 50 ft
Read comparison →Public-agency campground
vs Loon Lake
23.4 vs 17.8 mi from the middle of Lake Tahoe (straight-line)
Read comparison →Where Wench Creek fits
- By rig & style
- Tent camping at Lake Tahoe
- Nearest alternatives
- Emerald Bay State Park (15.8 mi) · D.L. Bliss State Park (16.6 mi) · Meeks Bay Resort (17 mi)
Other stays nearby
Yellowjacket
Tent sites · RV sites
Check availability
Rates & availability from Recreation.gov · Continue to Recreation.gov ↗
Wolf Creek
Tent sites · RV sites
Check availability
Rates & availability from Recreation.gov · Continue to Recreation.gov ↗
Fashoda
Tent sites
Check availability
Rates & availability from Recreation.gov · Continue to Recreation.gov ↗