Gerle Creek Reservoir is one of the quieter corners of the Crystal Basin, and that is a big part of its charm. While bigger lakes like Union Valley, Ice House, and Loon Lake often get more attention, Gerle Creek offers something different: a smaller, calmer mountain reservoir with a hassle-free pace.
From quiet picnicking and easy paddling, to trout fishing and scenic relaxation, Gerle Creek Reservoir is where people go for a laidback day or weekend trip when visiting the Crystal Basin.
Quick Facts
- Location: Crystal Basin, El Dorado National Forest, El Dorado County
- Elevation: About 4,900 feet
- Best for: Fishing, kayaking, canoeing, picnicking, quiet lake time
- Boat rules: Non-motorized boats only
- Common fish: Rainbow trout and brown trout
- Day-use: Access picnic tables, grills, vault toilet, and a fishing platform
Where Gerle Creek Reservoir is Located
Gerle Creek Reservoir is in El Dorado County in the Crystal Basin section of El Dorado National Forest. It sits off Ice House Road in the same broader recreation corridor as Union Valley, Loon Lake, and other upper-basin destinations.
From Placerville, take Highway 50 east, then turn left onto Ice House Road and continue north into Crystal Basin. The Forest Service places Gerle Creek Reservoir about 30 miles north of Highway 50 and just beyond the Loon Lake junction. A similar route is used for nearby Gerle Creek Campground farther up the road.
Things to Know Before You Go
Gerle Creek Reservoir is best approached as a quieter, non-motorized water destination rather than a big recreation hub. It is a simple place to enjoy and relax, but there are still a few practical details that can shape your visit:
- No motorized boats allowed on the water.
- The main day-use area has a fee.
- The reservoir is better suited to kayaks, canoes, and other quiet-water.
- The site includes a wheelchair-accessible fishing platform.
- Dispersed camping is allowed next to Gerle Creek.
Camping at Gerle Creek Reservoir
Gerle Creek Campground gives the reservoir a more complete camping setup than it might seem at first glance. There are roughly 50 sites, with current reservations running about $36 to $72 per night. The campground offers a quieter, more rustic stay than the larger Crystal Basin lake campgrounds.
Visitors can expect basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, and bear boxes, along with easy access to fishing, water play, and nearby hiking and biking.
Day Use, Picnic Area, and Access
One of Gerle Creek Reservoir’s biggest strengths, is how well it works as a day-use lake. The reservoir features two options: Angel Creek Day Use and Gerle Creek Picnic Area. Both charge a $10 day-use fee, which is separate from the camping fees above.
Day-use visitors can enjoy picnic units, tables, grills, vault toiles, the interpretive trail, and a wheelchair-accessible fishing platform.
Gerle Creek is the ideal lake for a Crystal Basin afternoon. And, you don’t need to overthink it. A quick drive, picnic table, some shore time, and a couple of hours fishing or kayaking are more than enough to make any visit feel worthwhile.
The Gerle Creek Interpretive Trail
The Gerle Creek Interpretive Trail is a nice addition to this lake as it provides visitors with an easy way to add a lake-side stroll to a day built around fishing, paddling, or a picnic. The trail begins at Angel Creek Day Use Area on Gerle Creek Reservoir and runs 1.6 miles to Gerle Creek Campground.
Kayaking, Canoeing, and Lake Time
Gerle Creek Reservoir is made for quiet-water recreation, as canoeing and kayaking are often highlighted as fun activities for this lake. Additionally, with no motorized boats allowed on the water, this reservoir has a calmer feel that embraces an afternoon of paddling.
Gerle Creek is not trying to compete with Union Valley’s open-water, full-day boating energy. It is a quieter lake, one that feels better suited to an easy paddle and shoreline drift than to speed and noise.
Fishing at Gerle Creek Reservoir
Fishing is one of the best reasons to stop at Gerle Creek Reservoir, especially if you prefer a quieter, more relaxed angling setting than the busier lakes elsewhere in Crystal Basin. Brown and rainbow trout as common catches here.
One of the highlights to fishing at Gerle Creek Reservoir is that the lake features a handicapped-accessible fishing pier.
For anglers who want to explore a little farther, the Forest Service notes you can easily walk from Gerle Creek Campground up Gerle Creek, and the area is generally fished from the last Saturday in April through November 15.
Things to Do Near Gerle Creek Reservoir
Like the other lakes in this region, there are more Crystal Basin destinations that you can do in addition to visiting the Gerle Creek Reservoir:
Union Valley Reservoir: is one of the best nearby visits, if you want a larger lake experience with more boating, campgrounds, beaches, and day-use activity. Union Valley Reservoir makes a nice contrast to Gerle Creek, while still sitting in the same region of the Crystal Basin.
Ice House Reservoir: is the first stop when entering the Crystal Basin. Ice House Reservoir pairs well with Gerle Creek because it’s two very different settings.
Loon Lake: a strong nearby option if you want to keep heading deeper into the Crystal Basin. Loon Lake is one of the Basin’s more rugged, granite-heavy reservoirs, which gives the trip a more adventurous.
Bassi Falls: a short, but rewarding waterfall in the Crystal Basin. Bassi Falls is an easy addition to any Gerle Creek trip that wants more variety.
Wrights Lake: if you want another wonderful option for a calm, quiet day on the water or shoreline, then Wrights Lake is a great choice.
The History of Gerle Creek Reservoir
Gerle Creek Reservoir may feel quiet and low-key today, but it came out of one of the biggest engineering changes ever made to the Crystal Basin. It is part of SMUD’s Upper American River Project, a hydroelectric system authorized in 1957, and built out between 1959 and 1985, when the upper American River country was reshaped into a chain of reservoirs, dams, canals, and powerhouses.
Gerle Creek became part of the project’s Robbs Peak Development, which ties together water from Loon Lake, Gerle Creek, Angel Creek, and the South Fork Rubicon River before sending it onward through connected hydro facilities.
SMUD’s project documents show that this development included Gerle Creek Dam and Canal along with Robbs Peak’s other major features, and that Robbs Peak Powerhouse began operating in 1971.
The basin had been on engineers’ radar even earlier. A 1950 USGS report already identified the Gerle Creek reservoir site as a potential dam location, which helps show that this part of Crystal Basin was being studied for water storage long before the modern recreation era took shape.
Where the Name Gerle Creek Came From
Gerle Creek was named for the Gerle brothers (Christopher C. and Charles W.), Swedish immigrant stockmen who were using a summer ranch on the creek by the early 1860s. There’s an urban legend claiming that the Gerle brothers bought the land from Native Americans. However, no official sources confirm this lore.
Local history goes on to say that the Gerle brothers raised hogs and cattle there and moved products over the old Georgetown–Wentworth Springs–Rubicon Springs–Lake Tahoe Road, while federal place-name records from the 1890s show that “Gerle” had already become established as both a creek name and a settlement name in El Dorado County.
Later local-history sources say part of the Gerle ranch passed to the California Water and Mining Company in the late 1880s or early 1890s, showing how a family ranching landmark gradually became part of the larger water-development story of the Crystal Basin.
Why Gerle Creek Reservoir Is Worth a Stop in Crystal Basin
Gerle Creek Reservoir is a wonderful experience in the Crystal Basin, especially due to its contrasting environment to places like Union Valley Reservoir and Loon Lake. Where those lakes provide more of a summer-destination energy, Gerle Creek gives visitors a quieter, more relaxed experience.
That starts with non-motorized boats on the water. Where other lakes have boats zipping along the waters, Gerle Creek Reservoir does not. Instead, you can safely canoe or kayak and enjoy a more peaceful water environment. It’s very similar to Wrights Lake in this regard, but still a different scene than the latter.
Another feature that stands out is the wheelchair-accessible fishing platform. It’s a fantastic option that many lakes do not offer.
When I think of a quiet, peaceful day in the Crystal Basin, I picture Wrights Lake and Gerle Creek Reservoir. However, the former offers more hiking trails and surrounding cabins. Gerle Creek Reservoir is even calmer than that. There are no cabins or gateways to the mountains and Desolation Wilderness.
Instead, there’s a day at the lake with picnicking, fishing, paddling and relaxation. And, if that’s what you are looking for, then the Gerle Creek Reservoir is a perfect choice for your next Crystal Basin trip.
FAQ about Gerle Creek Reservoir
Can you boat at Gerle Creek Reservoir?
Yes, but only with non-motorized boats.
Is Gerle Creek Reservoir good for kayaking?
Yes. Canoeing and kayaking as two of the main water activities to do here.
What fish are in Gerle Creek Reservoir?
The Forest Service lists brown trout and rainbow trout as common fish in this reservoir.
Is there a picnic area at Gerle Creek Reservoir?
Yes. The day-use area has four picnic units, tables, grills, a vault toilet, and hiking trails.
Is Gerle Creek Reservoir accessible?
It has a wheelchair-accessible fishing platform, which is one of the most useful access features at the site.
Sources
Eldorado National Forest – Gerle Creek Area – https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/eldorado/recreation/gerle-creek-area
Eldorado National Forest – Fishing – https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/eldorado/recreation/opportunities/fishing
Eldorado National Forest – Picnicking – https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/eldorado/recreation/opportunities/picnicking
SMUD – Upper American River Project: stream flow and reservoir conditions – https://www.smud.org/In-Our-Community/Visit-our-Recreational-Areas/UARP-Stream-Flow-and-Reservoir-Conditions
State Water Board – Upper American River Project water quality certification document – https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/water_quality_cert/docs/uppramrvr/uarp_401wqc_combined.pdf
SMUD – Scoping Document 2 – https://www.smud.org/-/media/Documents/Corporate/Environmental-Leadership/Hydro/hydro-rel-rpt-Scoping-Document2.ashx
Gerle Creek History – https://www.gerlecreek.com/gerle-creek-history
