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Finnon Lake Recreation Area

95%

· Placerville, El Dorado, California

140 acres hosted by Finnon L.

10 RV/tent sites · 7 tent sites

Best in California: 1st place

Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.

Best all-around: 3rd place

Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.

Amazing views

Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.

Family-friendly

Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.

ALL RV VEHICLES AND VEHICLES WITH TRAILERS MUST TAKE ROCK CREEK RD. (Even if your GPS says to use Mosquito Road). These vehicles will not fit and can not cross over the single-lane suspension Mosquito Bridge. These vehicles and trailers will be forced to turn around or back up to take Rock Creek Road. Use caution - twisty narrow country road. If it's your first time you might want to check out the route ahead of time. From Sacramento on Hwy 50: At the second stop light, Spring St./Hwy 49, turn left, heading north about 1 block to the stop sign. Turn left, staying on Hwy 49, approximately 1 mile. Turn right on Hwy 193. Travel approximately 3.1 miles to Rock Creek Road. Turn right onto Rock Creek Road and travel 8.9 miles to Finnon Lake/Diner on the Left. The campground is behind the Diner. The DINER "Smoke on the Water" is open only Saturday- Sunday. Traveling West on 50 from Tahoe: make a right on HWY 49 traveling north. Follow the above instructions. Welcome to Finnon Lake Recreation Area! Our lovely lake offers serenity in a beautifully unique setting, nestled deep into the forest. Enjoy the scenic and exhilarating drive to our hidden gem along the South Fork of the American River- this is all for you to discover. The night skies above Finnon Lake will reveal stars unseen in most parts of California. Enjoy searching for bullfrogs, and watch the flock of Canadian Geese fly in right at sunset as the horizon blends into the watercolor sky. This private lake supports the fire protection efforts of the Mosquito Fire Protection District and the firefighters of this community. The lake is managed by volunteers of the community for the benefit of the residents and Fire Station. The primary funding source for the Finnon Lake Restoration is the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, which was signed into law in 2004 with a mission to support “efforts that improve the environmental, economic and social well-being of the Sierra Nevada Region, its communities and the residents of California,” according to its Website. Finnon Lake is also home to a popular 18-hole disc golf course and Mosquito’s only restaurant, "Smoke on the Water" Diner. Open on weekends only. Enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, paddling, hiking, or biking during your stay. Potable water, picnic tables, campfire rings, and toilets on site. The property can not accommodate horses. 2 dogs per site limit. Sites are from post to post. Our property is located in Placerville, California. Placerville is a charming California gold rush town named after the placer gold deposits found in its riverbeds and hills in the late 1840s. PLEASE NOTE, there is construction on the Mosquito Bridge. Expect delays, RVs/trailers must use Rock Creek Road (even if your GPS says Mosquito Road). Please message me with any questions. Please see our website: finnonrecreationarea.com for full directions. Diner: https://www.facebook.com/smokeonthewaterplacervilleca 530-622-1060. The diner is only open Saturday and Sunday. NO FIREWORKS OF ANY KIND ARE ALLOWED. Smoking is only allowed in an enclosed vehicle.

Activities

Biking

Boating

Fishing

Hiking

Natural features

Beach

Cave

Forest

Lake

95%

2011 ratings · 1195 reviews

J Q.recommends

October 23, 2024

A13 - Waterfront

A13 is a beautiful and peaceful campsite, tucked away on the left side of the lake, offering plenty of privacy and tranquility. When we visited, there were only a couple of other campers, which made it feel like we had the whole area to ourselves. The lake, though a bit chilly, was refreshing in the summer sun, and even my 2 year old enjoyed it. The restrooms were impressively clean, and the overall surroundings were stunning, making it one of the most picturesque places we’ve ever camped. However, the site itself had some drawbacks. The spot was quite uneven, making it hard to find a flat surface for our tents. There was also little separation between neighbors, which could be a downside if the campground is busier. The road to get there was a bit challenging, especially if you take Mosquito Road, which we’d recommend skipping. Take the longer route instead—it’s worth it to avoid the narrow bridge and fully enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

Gabe A.recommends

October 12, 2024

B4 - Lake View

Site is clean and well maintained. Restrooms and water spicots are a blessing. The lake is warm and fresh.

Elizabeth N.recommends

October 12, 2024

A3 - Lakefront

Quiet, beautiful spot!!

Extremely peaceful and beautiful spot! Will definitely return! Highly recommend taking the Rock Ridge Rd. route over Mosquito Rd.

Megan T.recommends

October 9, 2024

B4 - Lake View

Amazing camping experience

Camping at finnon lake was amazing the bathrooms are always clean and never smell and the campsites are close to the water so you can have a fun time swimming or kayaking

William D.

October 9, 2024

T19 - Lakeside Bluff

Short of the road

All the spots next to the lake are all on an incline. While sleeping I would start at top of tent and wake up at bottom. Being 10 feet from the water was really nice. No campfire, not so nice. Fishing/rafting was good. Everything including the local bathroom was clean. Now the big problem is I was almost not able to make it to the lake/campgroup. The road to get to campground is really really bad. My F150 had issues as some of hairline turns are on a 30% grade. I would have to backup truck to correct angle to clear the turn. Also going over the rickety bridge was interesting. About 3" of clearance on each side of bridge. So short of not wanting to do that road again, I would go back in a heartbeat.

Gina F.recommends

October 7, 2024

A12 - Lake View Pine Meadow

This was our 2nd visit and it was really great. The first time the weather was cooler. We walked the trail and saw baby eagles learning to fly! This time it was during the heat wave so we got to enjoy kayaking on the water! We will be back again and again.

Location

Placerville, El Dorado, California, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla and Nisenan First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking