Loon Lake Chalet
The numbers that decide it
- Longest rig
- Not published
- Sites
- 1
- Electric hookups
- Not published
- Pull-through sites
- Not published
- Paved access
- Yes
- Accessible sites
- Not published
- Driveway grade
- Not published
- Bear boxes
- Not published
- Campfires
- Not published
- Shade
- Not published
- Group sites
- Not published
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
Loon Lake Chalet
Sub-alpine red fir and lodgepole forests, granite bowls, and a spectacular view of the Crystal Range of the Sierra Nevada Mountains characterize the area. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) built the Loon Lake Chalet in 1989. Popular summer activities include hiking, backpacking in Desolation Wilderness, fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding, and four-wheel driving on the Rubicon 4WD Trail. In the winter, the Chalet is the focal point of the Loon Lake Winter Recreation Area offering many miles of non-groomed backcountry skiing trails. The Chalet is located at Loon Lake, northeast of Placerville and is at 6,378 feet above sea level. You can reach this area by traveling east on Highway 50 to Ice House Road (8.5 miles east of Pollock Pines), then north on Ice House Road 30 miles to Loon Lake. Winter snow depth averages 3 to 8 feet; snow may fall from September through May. Motorized over the snow travel is prohibited in the Loon Lake Winter Recreation Area. Loon Lake Chalet Campground Recreation Opportunity Guide (ROG) - This guide contains information, maps, and directions to assist you in enjoying your trip to the Eldorado National Forest.
Before you go
Reservations
Reservations accepted
Fees
Fee: $100.00 per night for up to 20 people. • Expect to pay a reservation and cancellation fee when appropriate. • No refunds for bad weather unless Ice House Road is not passable.
Hours
The Loon Lake Chalet will be closed until further notice. Re-design is in progress for future reconstruction. • Check-out time is 1:00 pm, and check-in time is 2:00 pm.
Restrictions
No pets are allowed in the building.
Scenic drives that pass close
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.