Ponderosa Cove handles groups up to 75 people on a single loop beside Stumpy Meadows Reservoir in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The campground splits between five RV spurs with tables and ten walk-to tent pads, making it work for mixed groups with different camping styles. At 4,400 feet elevation, it's positioned for both lake activities and forest exploration.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 💵Fee per Night
- $8
- 📍GPS
- 38.87417, -120.60278
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- 831-245-6891
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Camp
The campground sits east of Stumpy Meadows Dam, close enough to the reservoir that you're practically camping lakeside. Ponderosa pines provide the shade and give off that distinctive vanilla scent when the sun heats their bark. The setup is straightforward: one loop road with five parking spurs that accommodate RVs and trailers, each with a picnic table. The ten tent sites require a short walk from parallel parking spots along the loop.
Two water faucets and vault toilets serve the entire group facility. It's basic infrastructure that gets the job done without frills.
The Lake
Stumpy Meadows Reservoir runs no-wake, which keeps things peaceful for swimming and fishing. Brown and rainbow trout cruise these waters, and there's a separate boat ramp with its own picnic area if you want to spread out beyond the campground. The lake's foothill setting means you're looking at Sierra Nevada high country rising beyond the water.
What to Know
This is group camping only, so you're booking the entire facility. The 14-day advance reservation window means popular dates fill early, especially given that $8 per night rate. Late cancellations cost you the first night's fee plus a $10 service charge.
Nearby
Bird watching and nature viewing work well here given the mixed habitat of lake and forest. Beyond that, you're positioned to explore Eldorado National Forest's 400-plus miles of hiking trails. The El Dorado County Scenic Highway makes for an easy drive, and Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park offers a dose of California history within reach.