Just returned from Wench Creek and had a great time! 1. Sites are first come, first serve. Its a large campground so not finding a spot would be surprising. We arrived and quickly found a spot that we liked. Camp Host Dave came up and greeted us and helped up check in right at the site which was nice. He was very nice and said he had been at this location just this year. Our car battery was dead and he kindly helped us with a jump. 2. Sites along the lower loop near the water are LARGE and pretty private. Our site (Number 73) was in close proximity to the bathrooms and water spigot and had a private trail to the beach/lake. Site 84 is nice too with a beach view and easy water access. We will probably stay there next time. 3. The lake was great for swimming. Clean, clear water that was not cold. Our entire family (including our dog) swam for hours. Bring a tube to float on! 4. This campground is QUIET. I know it depends on the groups camping but it was very very quiet every night at 8pm. My husband and I felt bad quietly playing our country music because it was that quiet. 5. Bears will come through here. We were sitting by the fire at 11:30 and I saw a giant moving black blob with glowing eyes and we turned our flashlight on and yep.. Bear. Throw your trash away and put your food in your cars! 6. My ONLY gripe was that this campground seems to have a Yellowjacket problem. There were lots everywhere. With that being said, we were there two nights and none of us got stung. Maybe bring a few Yellowjacket traps to hang on the trees around camp. 7. No showers but they are a quick drive up the road at Fashoda. The closest store is Ice House Resort which is about 15 minutes away. We will be back! read more

See all

Not gonna lie- I was hesitant after reading the bad reviews on this campsite but I took a chance and I was glad to be proven wrong. Camp host didn't interact with us, just did his job and verified that we paid for our campsite. The campsite was very nice and clean, we were at a perfect distance to walk with our kayaks to the lake. The only bad thing were the bathrooms...they are SMELLY. There's definitely better bathrooms out there but these will do lol. Definitely coming back!! read more

See all

The camp hosts are fucking horrible! 2nd year we have been here(and the last!). Same woman as last year with her husband and she is the WORST. She is rude, snappy and very pushy. The camp host double booked a spot possibly. A spot next to us had opened after a young gentleman had been sitting on the back of his jet skis at the spot next to us at 4pm. just a car and jet skis nothing else. No tent no food. No nothing!!. once they left, we went to the kiosk and paid for the site next to us nooooooooo problem! campsite was not reserved there was no ticket on the post saying it was reserved and no personal items left from the previous guests(kid and jet skis)...this was also about 4:00 in the afternoon where check out is much earlier. About 10min later a lady came and started argueeing with my husband that they had reserved the site.... but we had paid for the site and they had no ticket to prove it or reservation confirmation. If the guest did have a reservation the host never posted on the post which is not our fault the ticket should have been posted on the post before the new guests arrived. Mind you its 4pm way past check out time!! Arguement insued with this lady anf she insists and WE pay her 36 dollars for the camps mistake! The host never offered to refund. We had a ticket and sh3 had no proof of anything!!!! We handed $36 to a lady who may not have had a reservation and scammed us! could have been the camp host friends since the camp host didn't seem to want to help! read more

The camp host (a man) was super rude, and went out of his way to be unhelpful. Other campers were rowdy and disrespectful, screaming and playing music late into the night. Generators were running until midnight, and there were loud parties with amplified music roaring past midnight as well. If that's your crowd then perhaps this is your spot. It wasn't comfortable for my family with young kids. One good thing is the toilets had toilet paper and the bathroom garbage seemed to be emptied daily. But that's about the only good thing this campground really had. I won't be back to camp here again. read more

this place is the worst place I ever camped the rudest camp host I ever ran across.screamed at us for music and talking past ten but the Russians camping there sang and partied all night long must have been lady camp host friends .they really need to be fired before nobody wants to come back read more

I camp here with my family and our 2 dogs for 3 nights. There are bathrooms. Great clean spaces for all your camping needs. Each cite has table and a bear box for your food. Be aware there are bears. We did see and hear bears close to our campground.Only at night so make sure you lock all your food. Everything even your coolers. Beautiful lake just a few minutes walk from the campgrounds. read more

If I there was a zero star option I would. If you are not white don't even bother in going there they will kick you out with a bunch of BS and are extremely racist. So if your white PERFECT location for you!!!! Host is such a hypocrite and doesn't respect your privacy any second you're there. No refund for your days paid. Just straight leave and get a ticket. Needs a new respectful host ranger. read more

Bears are active this year. Be Alert! Came in the neighbors site both nights We just scared it off. The camp host at site 1-29 was a WENCH. not nice at all. We came with 4 families and we will not be coming back. There was portal potty's for use and they were filthy. We only stayed 2 nights. Usually stay 4. read more

Doesn't seem like any standard common rules here apply. I'm talking unquiet hours with a speaker broadcasting over the lake with people signing karaoke and club beats from 11pm-4am is normal. Heard multiple campsites get into arguments around 2-3am. Completely unacceptable. Bathrooms are either in great standing being ultra clean, fully stocked, and in great condition or you open the door and it's a scene from a horror movie. Spiders/flies rule the land and the amount of trash thrown into the toilet is wild. Most of the trails are littered with trash and from a short walk we managed to grab a full bag of other people's trash. Poorly managed, extremely loud and rude guests with no camp host in site. We left a day early and couldn't have waited another minute. read more

This park has gone way downhill. First of all there is zero noise rules so people party and have music blasting until 3am. The bathrooms are overflowing causing a biohazard. The people staying here leave trash everywhere and no one enforces any rules. The people who are running this park are non existent. I do not recommend staying here unless you are partying on meth. read more

Wench Creek Campground - Campsite - Lakes Near Me - Placerville, California

Couple things. First of all the campground is very nice beautiful scenery. The trees are big and the lake is close by. The spaces are very spacious. You can easily fit 3 or 4 large tents in one space. They have a small grill and a large fire pit. By 10pm everyone turns off their music and enjoy the quiet peaceful atmosphere. The lake is beautiful! The reason I'm giving it a 3 star is because the restrooms are awful! There was flies and bees coming out of the toilet non stop!!! And smelled horrible!!! I couldn't use the restroom at all the second day. I just waited until we left the camping site and got to Placerville and used the restroom in the gas station. They have to do something about this. read more

See all

While our campground didn't have running water as promised like the other campsites, our family still had a great time. The walk to the lake was prompt and had easy access to a bike trail that connected to the other sites. Word of advice - check the weather before you go! The night temperatures got as low as the 30s even though it's June. Overall wonderful place to take your friends, family, and dogs. read more

See all

First time camping up here and we went to a first come first serve area. The process to check in was easy after finding the spot we wanted. We stayed a couple days. They have water available and the restrooms are like any other camping spots but at least it is well maintained. read more

The camp host, Chris made this camping experience amazing. I would highly recommend this place and will be coming back for more!

came here for a birthday/vacation and i loved the scenery! but the camp host was very rude and ableist. we were on our way out to get some ice and my fiancé and i needed to use the restroom but we had already left our campsite. so we went the nearest one which happened to be the campsite the camp hosts are in. someone had told us those bathrooms are flushable and not filled with bees (which i am deathly allergic to). we were walking up and here comes the camp host complaining that everyone was using "their" bathrooms and no where does it say other campers can't use the bathroom. so my fiancé explains to him that im super allergic to bees and we're not risking using the other bathrooms. and this guys said "everyone has their excuses, if you guys wanted to use our bathrooms you f***ers should've camped over here". we finally get to use the bathroom but my fiancé waits outside for me and the camp host comes back and starts bickering again to my fiancé and he came up behind my fiancé and gave him an aggressive nudge in the back. my fiancé cuts him off and basically tell him to leave us alone and that we already explained ourselves. we finished using the bathroom and as we were walking to our car. i can hear him saying that he was gonna lock those bathrooms so no one else but them could use it. i just think that's very ableist of him to say something like that because what if someone who was disabled came to use it? he made it look like only the camp host could use the bathroom. overall the camping experience was great but not the camp host. read more

With free spots in the area limited we had no choice to pay $25 to stay at Wench campgrounds (plus $1 per dog). We arrived at 11 am on a Friday and the few spots with water access were already taken. We drove around to look at the sights while the camp host followed us around. As soon as we parked the host was right there to collect money and give long speech about what is and isn't allowed at the campground (very akward). The campground has flush toilets and water near each restroom. The water station says, no bathing, no dish washing and no fish cleaning. Since the flush toliets have no sink I washed my hands and filled my dogs water bowl at the station. Took no time to be warned by the host what I was doing was not allowed. Seriously? Washing my hands is considered bathing and filling my dog bowl is washing dishes? Saw tons of dogs off leash despite the strict rules we were told. Quiet hours are supposed to be 10pm to 6am yet our neighbors were up till midnight and we're loud at 5 am. Not really into paying $27 with such strict rules that are oddly enforced. read more

This is my favorite place to camp. Hands down. I grew up going camping, many times up at the Ice House campgrounds. I had never been to the Wench Creek Campground though until 10 years ago when I went with a group of friends. It's only about and hour-hour and a half from Sacramento (depending on how fast your drive). not only is it beautiful but there are great places to stop along the way! A little ways after you turn from Hwy 50 onto Ice House Road is a little family owned market, restaurant & bar. This place is awesome! When you see it pull over and go inside. Plus, you're going to want to see what all the market has in case you forgot anything or run out of stuff :) I really enjoy all of the campgrounds along Ice House Road but Wench Creek stole my heart. The campground managers are a super sweet older couple but they don't mind if you get a little rowdy. Certain times of the year are busier than others but I typically camp Sunday-Wednesday so I'm not there on the peak weekend days. You can see your camper neighbors but the campsites aren't so close together that you can hear everything that is going on 'next-door'. I like to have a good time when I go camping as do my friends. We get a little loud on occasion but we are not obnoxious or disrespectful. Same goes for all the people I have camped next too. I have been up there when the campsites are all filled and even then you still get a sense of alone and quiet. Campsites are very well maintained as are the ever dreaded bathrooms! No one likes using the toilet while camping. We are always scared of the odor, flies and overall nast-factor. The toilets here are some of the cleanest I have bestowed my booty upon. Another thing I like is that these are dog friendly campgrounds! Most people bring their dogs. I have dogs and don't usually bring mine camping because I don't want that kind of responsibility but I like having the option. That being said, you don't hear dogs barking non stop or have to watch for dog poo land mines while walking. Part of what I am so drawn too about this campground is the water access. Union Valley Reservoir is really clear and clean. Just like Lake Tahoe you can actually SEE below you in the water. This might not matter to many people but I have watched one too many episodes of 'River Montster's' and have become completely creeped out by dark waters with no visibility. It gets warm enough June-September that the water heats up to perfection! It's not freezing cold but it's still cool enough to feel good. You can swim, boat, fish or jet ski here. Writing this has made me want to go camping again ASAP! read more

See all

An amazing campground, great for kids! Lot of nature around but also a nice campsite! Just went through renovation and it's even better now. It even has a cliff jumping spot off to a trail that's really fun to jump off of (~15 feet). The lake is fun to hang out at and the campsites are large. read more

Campsites were great size! It was a trek to the water with kayaks but that's to be expected. Camp hosts were diligent in making sure everyone had a fire permit for PROPANE flames/cooking. It was nice to see EDS driving through at night. Great atmosphere. We will be back. read more

Beautiful setting, and campsites are pretty spacious. It is 1st come 1st served as far as reserving a spot though, so come early. It's probably not normally like this, but we went in late May, and it was SNOWING. So, just be prepared. Other than that, we loved it here. read more

Nice campground with large sites. Proximity to the Union Reservoir was very good. Facilities (toilet which consisted of a pit with a cover in an enclosure around it) was well maintained. The Camp Host was friendly and made numerous trips around the campground keeping an eye on things. If I had one complaint it would be that quiet time of 10 pm was not enforced as we had to listen to our neighbors generator and them talking until 1am. We will definitely be going back and would recommend the campground. read more

We've been coming to this campground for several years already and it never disappoints!! The lake is gorgeous and the water is warm. The campground is nice and clean the host is always attentive to anything that comes up. We've actually seen this campground go through several hosts and I would say Chris has been the best one out of all of them. We've never had any issues with him and we always come with a big crowed; several cars/trailers. read more

This place is bs , told us when we first arrive to keep it done after 10 pm, and all the rules and regulations but for the two nights we were here the group site #1 was fucking having karaoke night until 2 am what kind of bs is that and the host Pat not once told them to keep it down. I called his phone over 3xs no replies. Racist prick came to my campsite every 2 hrs to remind us about the rule but not once to tell them to keep it down , I wouldn't be as irritating if the rules applied equally why was it OK for them to have a concert till 2 am because their same skin tone as him.? Bs never booking here again! read more

Found it by random when Wright's Lake was full. Pretty, Secluded, No showers, rudimentary bathrooms. Showers are up at Fashoda campsite a whole 5 minutes away. This is camping... there is dirt, some wild life, definite climate changes and GORGEOUS environment. We had 6 adults, 2 kids and had a BLAST!!! Definitely a new favorite. read more

Wench Creek Campground - Lakes Near Me - Placerville, California

See all

Camp hosts were very nice but otherwise disappointing! So many trees sick and cut down. Union Valley reservoir low and a hike to carry kayaks. Fishing for 2 days not a bite. Pit toilets horrible, full of flies and smell. Showers closed. No one enforces quiet hours with generators running all night and people screaming. Music blasting (why camp if you have to have a generator and boom box? You can do that at home!). Will not be returning unless conditions drastically improve. read more

We had a very similar experience like Danielle M. who posted 9 days ago. While washing my hands with soap at the water spicket right outside the restroom (no sink in the restroom) Pat, the unfriendly host, said I was not allowed to use soap. When I asked how I was supposed to wash my hands after I use the restroom, he said I could rinse them without soap (unhealthy) or I can carry a bucket of water back to my site and use soap there. Also, the bathroom toilet was very disgusting the whole weekend we were there. It appeared the only thing the host made sure of is that there was toilet paper in the restroom but didn't clean toilets? Maybe another service cleans them, I'm not sure. By the time we were packing up to go on Sunday most of the other campers had already vacated the campground. Our friends had brought their trailer and parked their truck in the overflow parking so we could park our truck in their spot at our site. Since we had loaded our truck up my husband moved it to the next empty campsite just long enough for our friends to pull their truck in and hitch up their trailer. Pat, the unfriendly host, came by and told my husband to move our truck or he would charge him $25 to park there. Even after my husband explained it would be parked their only long enough for our friends to hitch their trailer up (remember hardly anyone was even in the campground at this point) Pat said he didn't care and that he would charge him $25 if he didn't move it to the overflow parking. I have never stayed in a campground where the host was as unfriendly as this man. I hope Wench Creek could do better and find a host that has better friendly customer service skills. read more

I love this campground, my family has been coming year for years! I have to say the camp host this year, Chris and a few volunteers Sheri and jerry were amazing! I got into a mountain biking accident and they didn't hesitate to jump into action and come find me on their golf cart when I was out on the trail! Not only did they come find me and transport me to my family car, but the entire time I was at the hospital they kept checking in with my family! Highly recommend this campground and seriously KEEP CHRIS every year. I would come back just on the knowledge that he would be the camp host. read more

Labor Day weekend spent on the gorgeous Union Valley Reservoir...days spent on the beach/lakeshore and nights spent in the company of good friends around a campfire with a beer. The campground was very well maintained, with large campsites all within walking distance to the lake. The setting was gorgeous too! On the downside, there is not a lot of good firewood around so be sure to bring your own, and the campground is on a first come first serve basis so get there early! read more

The camp host for camp circle 1 is a jerk. He likes to make up his own rules. Last time I checked he was not wearing a badge. Way to ruin family camp. It's ok for him to reserve spots for his friends and co-workers but heaven forbid we, the paying customers that keep this facility running request to pay for a spot for our friends that are 20 minutes behind, yes I said pay. Seriously?! And he pointed out that we should have known better since we are a regular camper. Exactly! We visit regularly and leave the campground in better condition than when we arrived. We will definitely be looking for a new campground since this host has been getting more rude and micro managing each year. read more

Expect bears every night! We just went camping here for two nights. First night I got woken up at around 3am to a grown man screaming "it's a bear!!!" And then a lady screaming. My brother talked to the manager guy and he confirmed it. Second night (a little after 4 am i think.).. you could hear one outside the tent making its rounds, sounded like two of them. DO NOT LEAVE ANY food out! It's no joke. Seems it makes its rounds every night. People start banging what sounds like pots and pans to scare away the bear when it comes in the camp ground. So, do not expect a good sleep. I came with young kids and it's quite terrifying. The good thing is that they do have flushing toilets and they are kept pretty clean. The water is not super close but it's a good spot for kids because it's pretty shallow on the edge, it also wasn't crowded which is a major plus for us. They do provide firewood. And have a spout of running water. I would suggest that you do not bring little ones here, and buy bear mace because between 3 and 4 am you will have one outside your tent... and I mean directly outside your tent where you can hear it sniffing by your head. But it seems that it only comes for the food and leaves the people alone. My 9 year old daughter said it was the most terrifying night of her life. :) we still had fun... Bassi falls is a good spot to hike to and visit near by. The camp host was not the kindest person. He drives around it his golf cart and you feel like your being watched. We thought maybe this camp site was pretty empty for a reason! As our trip went on he seemed to lighten up. read more

Group site camping here is great. Huge site allows several tents to be set up quite a bit apart from each other. There's a lot of driveway space, too, which was perfect for letting the kids ride scooters without any other random vehicles coming through (group sites are gated off from anyone else not included in our group). BUT, the bathrooms could be cleaned a little better, considering the camp host comes through every day on the golf cart. Toilets do not get cleaned and sinks do not get wiped down while we are there (several nights). Toilet paper gets replenished sometimes, but not always. We still like it here, though. Weather is mild here in the summertime. No wind, and only a little bit chilly at night. Nothing a good campfire can't fix! Bears come out though...be forewarned. read more

We stumbled upon this campground after staying at Yellow Jacket on the north side of the lake. We found the PERFECT site - no neighbors, lots of shade, lots of privacy behind, big - on a Saturday in July - that we just had to stay another night. We camp a LOT and it is by far one of our favorite campgrounds. $22 walk-in only. read more