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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%

1989 ratings · 1179 reviews

M S.recommends

September 29, 2024

T14 - Lakefront Haven

A perfect respite after a long day of motorcycle riding. The campground was clean, well organized and quiet. The birds on the lake were chatty and entertaining. Cheryl, our host, was lovely and accommodating. I’d fully stay here again.

Nathan W.recommends

September 27, 2024

A1 - Lakeside at Finnon Point

Sweet Rv spot on a pristine lake!

Loved my time at beautiful Finnon Lake! Easy to find and navigate through the Maps app. My big rig RV spot was right on the water ~ so peaceful & quiet. Enjoyed the disc golf course & swims in the pristine waters. Great place for paddleboarding or fishing too! Planning to return with my family in tow. Thank you!

Debi N.recommends

September 24, 2024

A3 - Lakefront

Love this campground

We've been going to Finnon Lake 3 yrs now and our favorite site is A3 but there is no really bad site. We love that it's a small lake with no motorized vehicles. Each lake front site has it's own little input/output for kayaks or paddleboards which makes it really convenient. We originally discovered it because we were looking for a place that didn't have fireworks so we could bring our dog for July 4th. My only suggestion is for the campground host to drive through a little more often during busy times because some don't follow the rules and keep dogs on leash.

Sahara D.recommends

September 21, 2024

A13 - Waterfront

Paradise

This was definitely one of the most beautiful places we ever camped on! The area was quite and deep in the nature. We were nearly alone and had the paradise for us. Restroom were very clean... The only thing is the trip to the place. But it was worth it.

Matthew E.

September 15, 2024

A12 - Lake View Pine Meadow

Great spot, needs rule enforcement

I've camped here three other times and it has been great, however this time I would have appreciated the host making rounds as a neighbor had two aggressive doberman's off leash and I watched them charge a dad rolling his two little girls by in a wagon. I have a dog as well so I understand wanting to take your pets camping, but dogs like that definitely were not suited for such a densely packed campsite.

Jenny W.recommends

September 14, 2024

B6 - Lake View

My friends and I camped here during Labor Day weekend. The campground was a bit busy with families but not super noisy. Only thing that was a nuisance was the group of teenagers that had a water balloon fight at night. But most folks left Sunday morning and so evening time and Monday was nice and quiet. Miraculously the bathroom stayed clean the entire weekend! The lake is very beautiful and peaceful. Not your super clear lake so expect some mud and fish in the water (definitely bring water shoes).

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