Union Valley Reservoir is one of those Sierra lakes that feels like it was built for the perfect summer getaway. Set in the heart of Crystal Basin in El Dorado National Forest, it is the largest lake in the area, with multiple boat ramps, a long campground-lined shoreline, a paved bike trail, fishing, and enough pine forest and granite country around it to feel like a proper mountain destination.
Yet, its reputation is not new. In a 2015 outdoors feature, Tom Stienstra called Union Valley a “big, gorgeous lake,” and that still feels like an appropriate description today, as well. It has the size and versatility of a major recreation lake, but it still keeps the reclusive-mountain feel that makes Crystal Basin so appealing.
Union Valley Reservoir Quick Facts
- Location: Crystal Basin, El Dorado National Forest, El Dorado County, California
- Elevation: About 4,800 feet
- Main Draws: Boating, swimming, fishing, camping, bike trail, nearby waterfalls and lakes
- Boat Ramps: Sunset, West Point, and Yellow Jacket
Where Union Valley Reservoir is Located
Union Valley Reservoir is in the Crystal Basin area of El Dorado National Forest, northeast of Placerville. It sits on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada and is reached from Highway 50 via Ice House Road..
Its location is one of its biggest strengths. Union Valley feels like real mountain country, but it is still practical for a Sacramento-area weekend trip. That balance helps explain why it remains one of the most popular Crystal Basin lakes.
From Placerville, take Highway 50 east for about 23 miles, then turn left onto Ice House Road. From there, continue north roughly 14 miles to the reservoir, with campground-specific turnoffs depending on which side of the lake you are targeting.
Things to Know Before You Go
Union Valley Reservoir is an active recreation area, but sometimes roads and campgrounds will be closed due to seasons or maintenance. Never assume that the specific campground or boat ramp will be open. Always check first, before making the drive out there.
Camping at Union Valley Reservoir
Camping is one of the major highlights for Union Valley. In fact, this reservoir offers the most camping options out of all the lakes in the Crystal Basin. And, this selection includes a mix of standard campgrounds, group sites, and more remote bike-in, walk-in or boat-in options.
In 2009, Tom Stienstra wrote that “the best camping is at Union Valley,” and that still feels like it’s the case today, when looking to camp in the Crystal Basin.
Campground | Type | Fees | Some amenities |
Azalea Cove Campground | Walk-in / bike-in / boat-in | No fee | Vault toilets, no potable water, picnic tables. |
Big Silver Group Campground | Group campground | $50 / 50 people | Vault toilets, garbage disposal, fire rings, grills; no boat ramp on site. |
Camino Cove Campground | Standard campground | No fee | Vault toilets, no potable water, picnic tables. |
Fashoda Campground | Walk-in tent campground / beach-adjacent campground | $36 single site; $10 day-use area | Vault toilets, potable water, picnic tables, host, showers, dump station, bear boxes, picnic area, nearby swimming beach/boat ramp. |
Jones Fork Campground | Standard campground | $10 single family site; $5 extra vehicle | Vault toilets, no potable water, picnic tables; near bike trail. |
Lone Rock Campground | Bike-in / walk-in / boat-in | No fee | Vault toilets, no potable water, picnic tables; pack out trash. |
Sunset Campground | Standard campground + boat ramp/day use + group site | $28 single; $56 double; $84 triple; $28 boatramp overflow camping; $145 group site; $10 boatramp day use | Vault toilets, potable water, picnic tables. |
Wench Creek Campground | Standard campground | $36 | Fishing / biking / water access area; current snippet confirms fee, but amenities were not fully shown in the search result. |
Wench Creek Group Campground | Group campground | $160 / 50 people (2 sites) | Vault toilets, potable water, picnic tables, horse/pack animals allowed, host, fire rings, grills, garbage disposal. |
West Point Campground | Standard campground + boat ramp/day use + group site | $36 single; $72 double; $108 triple; $145 group site; $10 day use / boatramp parking | Vault toilets, potable water, picnic tables. |
Wolf Creek Campground | Standard campground + group sites | $36 single; $72 double; Group #1 $140; Group #2 $170; Group #3 $140 | Vault toilets, potable water, picnic tables. |
Yellowjacket Campground | Standard campground | $36 single; $72 double; $10 boatramp day use | Flush toilets, potable water, picnic tables. |
Day-Use Access, Beaches and Picnics
Union Valley also works well as a lake to spend the day at, pack things up, and head back home. Despite all of the wonderful camping options, you do not have to commit to an overnight stay to fully enjoy the reservoir. There are multiple launch points, shoreline access, and areas that work well for a day of swimming, picnicking, or laying out and working on your tan.
Yellowjacket Recreation Area Day Use and Sunset-Union Valley Recreation Area Day Use are two popular options for spending the day at the reservoir without any commitments to longer stays.
In addition to those two locations, the Fashoda Picnic Area is a nice place to enjoy some lake-side fun and food. Fashoda also offers one of the more attractive beach areas to swim and soak up the sun.
There is a $10 fee to access all of these popular Day-Use areas.
Boating, Swimming, and Lake time
Union Valley is widely considered to be the best boating lake in Crystal Basin due to its size, three main boat ramps and enough open water to support everything from casual cruising to full summer lake days. In addition to the reservoir’s three main launch areas, the reservoir has 140 trailer-parking spaces and one boarding float.
Sunset Boat Ramp: one of the reservoir’s most full-service access points, with a boat ramp/boarding dock, nearby picnic area, showers, and easy access to the Fashoda beach area and the Union Valley Bike Trail.
West Point Boat Ramp: a practical launch point at the reservoir. However, it has undergone recent reduction of services. So, check official listings before you go.
Yellowjacket Boat Ramp: another launch area that works well for visitors who want direct boat access on the north side of the reservoir. It features a boat ramp/boarding dock and nearby connection to the paved Union Valley Bike Trail.
There is no separate launch fee for motorized boating in Eldorado National Forest, but some Union Valley access points may still charge a day-use or parking fee. Visitors should also use caution around cold water, changing conditions, and fluctuating water levels, wear proper safety gear, and remember that some launch areas, such as West Point, are currently day use only with no camping.
Fishing at Union Valley Reservoir
Fishing is one of Union Valley’s core attractions. The reservoir has long been treated as one of Crystal Basin’s stronger all-around fishing lakes, and current tourism and official reservoir pages continue to position it that way.
That reputation is not just a modern tourism talking point. In his 2015 Union Valley feature, Tom Stienstra wrote that the reservoir “often provides good fishing,” especially for trout or kokanee by small powerboat or kayak in low-light periods around dawn and dusk.
Anglers come here to target rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee salmon, smallmouth bass, and mackinaw, and the reservoir is actively stocked, with the Forest Service saying CDFW plants rainbow trout every other week from May through September.
On a side note, the general statewide rule is a 5-trout daily bag limit and 10-trout possession limit unless special regulations apply.
The Union Valley Bike Trail
One of the best things about Union Valley Reservoir is that the fun does not stop at the shoreline. The Union Valley Bike Trail gives the lake an extra layer of family-friendly appeal, with a paved trail running roughly 12.5 miles along the edge of the reservoir.
It is also a true non-motorized trail, only open to bicycles and foot traffic. Motor vehicles and horses are prohibited.
That makes it a nice option for visitors who want a quieter activity between boat rides, swims, and campground downtime, especially since the trail ties into campground and boat-ramp access around the lake.
The history of Union Valley Reservoir
Union Valley Reservoir is not a natural Sierra lake in the way many visitors first assume. It was created by Union Valley Dam on Silver Creek as part of SMUD’s Upper American River Project, the large hydroelectric system that reshaped much of Crystal Basin in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
The Union Valley Dam is an earth-and-rockfill structure about 453 feet high, creating a reservoir with storage of roughly 277,000 acre-feet. The Union Valley Powerhouse began commercial operation on June 6, 1963.
The reservoir also erased an older landscape. A local history compilation focused on Gerle Creek and upper Crystal Basin says Union Valley ranch lands, including the Lower Bassi Ranch, were removed during reservoir construction in the early 1960s.
Where the Name Union Valley Likely Came From
Local history suggests that the name Union Valley dates back to an earlier period in the 19th century, when a party of men searching the high country supposedly “communed and held services” there after becoming confused by directions, and the place became known as Union Valley for that reason.
Is It Worth Visiting Union Valley Reservoir?
Union Valley works especially well for recreationalists or families who want options. You can spend the day boating, swimming, fishing, or picnicking, or use the reservoir as a base for a longer Crystal Basin weekend with biking, waterfall stops, and side trips to nearby lakes and points of interest.
That versatility is a big part of the charm. Union Valley is large enough to feel open and scenic, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming to the point where you can’t make it the basecamp for your Crystal Basin adventures.
What I love the most about spending time at Union Valley Reservoir, is how different it feels from the other lakes in the Crystal Basin. Union Valley feels like a real summer destination within the Basin. The recreation activities seem endless, and the versatility can easily turn a day trip into a weekend getaway.
In addition to all of the Day-Use access points, the bike trail is my favorite recreational feature for this reservoir. There aren’t many lakes or reservoirs in California with paved, non-motorized bike trails.
For families, mixed groups, and anyone who wants a mountain lake that can turn a day trip into a full weekend getaway, with endless recreational activities, Union Valley Reservoir is the perfect choice.
FAQ about Union Valley Reservoir
Is Union Valley Reservoir open right now?
The reservoir remains an active recreation area, but always check official Forest Service pages for the exact access point or campground you plan to use before heading up.
Can you swim at Union Valley Reservoir?
Yes. Swimming is one of the reservoir’s core summer uses, and official tourism listings continue to highlight it alongside boating and sailing.
Are there boat ramps at Union Valley Reservoir?
Yes. There are three boat ramps at Union Valley: Sunset, West Point, and Yellow Jacket.
Is Union Valley good for fishing?
Yes. Union Valley has long been treated as one of Crystal Basin’s stronger fishing lakes, especially for trout and kokanee-style fishing.
Does Union Valley have a bike trail?
Yes. The Forest Service identifies a paved bike trail around part of the reservoir, and local tourism listings say it runs over 12 miles along the shoreline.
Sources
Eldorado National Forest — Union Valley Reservoir Area: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/eldorado/recreation/union-valley-reservoir-area
SMUD — Union Valley Reservoir: https://www.smud.org/In-Our-Community/Visit-our-Recreational-Areas/UARP-Stream-Flow-and-Reservoir-Conditions/Union-Valley-Reservoir
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
SFGATE — Sunday Drive: Union Valley Reservoir: https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Sunday-Drive-Union-Valley-Reservoir-6392045.php
SFGATE — Sunday Drive: Crystal Basin: https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Sunday-Drive-Crystal-Basin-3225767.php
California Division of Boating and Waterways — Union Valley Reservoir Area: https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/BoatingFacilities/f/715
Recreation.gov — Sunset-Union Valley: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232083
Visit El Dorado — Union Valley Reservoir: https://visit-eldorado.com/activity/union-valley-reservoir/
