Crystal Lake Rec Area Campground
The managing agency’s description mentions a closure. Read it below and confirm before you drive out.
The numbers that decide it
- Longest rig
- 40 ft
- Sites
- 185
- Electric hookups
- Not published
- Pull-through sites
- No
- Paved access
- Yes
- Accessible sites
- 5
- Driveway grade
- Slight
- Bear boxes
- Not published
- Campfires
- Yes
- Shade
- Yes
- Group sites
- 1
Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero. See it on Recreation.gov
Crystal Lake Rec Area Campground
General Camping Info : Find helpful guidance and tips for an enjoyable trip to the forest! Know Fire & Other Restrictions Before You Go! : These conditions can affect your entire trip. For example, Extreme and Critical fire use restrictions mean no campfires and no portable cooking systems/stoves. Bring cold food and no S’mores. Be Bear Aware! : Bear safety is critical, for the safety of your group and/or you, as well as our bears. Help keep bears wild by following these tips. Location: Outdoor adventures lie around every corner--including hikes to spectacular peaks of Mt. Islip and Windy Gap--or fishing in Crystal Lake (which is a mile-long hike from the campground). Elevation: 5,539-feet in elevation Amenities: • Visitor Center is open on weekends 9:00 A.M.- 4:00 P.M. (only Adventure passes sold here, no Interagency passes. Cash only.) • Total of 120 campsites with picnic tables spread through Loops A-D + I • Five loops (A-D+I) of campsites • Vault toilets (permanent non-flush/waterless toilets) • Maximum RV length is 22 feet--no hook-ups • Drinking water and water for washing your hands is available via outdoor faucets in Loops A, B, C, & D in front of the Crystal Lake Café • Campsites are first-come - first-served • Nearby Crystal Lake Cafe sells hot meals, sandwiches, and camping necessities, including firewood. Crystal Lake Café and General Store hours are Wed. - Mon. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays. Open on major holidays. • Access road to lake is OPEN to vehicle traff • Visitor center open on weekends (next to cafe) from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Restrictions: • No swimming • No camping at the lake Camping Fee: $12 per night per site, $5 for extra vehicle Day-Use Fee: $5 per vehicle. Adventure Pass or America the Beautiful Pass is required for day use and for vehicles parked outside the campground. Fishing: CA State fishing license required
Before you go
Season
Spring
Reservations
First-come, first-served
Fees
$5 for day use. Camping: $12 for first vehicle and $5 for second vehicle per day/night during the summer; $5 per vehicle during the winter.
Hours
Open for day-use only at Fawnskin Picnic Area. Camping is available in Loops A, B, C, D and I. During winter months, campsite access is walk-in only and drive-in during the summer.
Restrictions
See current fire restrictions
Scenic drives that pass close
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.