WENCH CREEK

The Camp

Wench Creek sits in ponderosa pine forest at 4,900 feet, giving you shade and that Sierra Nevada foothill feel while keeping the reservoir close. The two group sites can handle up to 50 people each — one is tent-only, the other takes RVs and trailers. Single family sites operate first-come, first-served, so arrive early during busy periods.

You get the standard forest service setup: fire rings, picnic tables, drinking water, and flush toilets. No electric hookups. Firewood costs extra, but you can moor boats right on the shoreline, which beats dealing with the boat ramps down at Sunset or Yellowjacket campgrounds.

The Lake and Trails

Union Valley Reservoir offers the full menu of water activities — swimming, skiing, fishing for kokanee salmon, rainbow, brown, smallmouth bass, and mackinaw trout. The Union Valley Bike Trail starts right at Wench Creek and runs 4.8 miles to Jones Fork Campground with an easy 300-foot climb. Interpretive signs along the way cover the area's water development history. Hikers and bikers both use this trail.

The Bassi Falls Hiking Trail is also accessible from here, though the source doesn't detail the specifics.

What to Know

This is Crystal Basin country, part of the old California Gold Rush territory with remnants still scattered around the forest. The Desolation Wilderness sits nearby for when you want to escape the reservoir crowds entirely. Wildlife includes the usual Sierra suspects: black bears, mule deer, bobcats, and various squirrels.

Standard recreation.gov reservation policies apply, with the typical $10 cancellation fee and 4-day advance booking cutoff.