Eldorado National Forest

Stretching across the central Sierra Nevada from the Sacramento Valley foothills to the crest, Eldorado National Forest encompasses 786,000 acres of granite peaks, crystal-clear alpine lakes, and deep river canyons carved by the American River and its tributaries. The Desolation Wilderness, a 63,960-acre preserve of glacially sculpted granite basins and over 130 alpine lakes, is one of the most popular wilderness areas in the country, requiring permits to manage the heavy demand from hikers and backpackers drawn to its stunning scenery. The American River watershed within the forest provides world-class whitewater rafting on the South Fork and Middle Fork, with runs ranging from family-friendly Class II to expert Class V rapids. Gold rush history permeates the landscape, with the forest named for the legendary El Dorado mining district where James Marshall's 1848 discovery at Sutter's Mill triggered the California Gold Rush. The forest also contains the Mokelumne Wilderness and numerous developed campgrounds and day-use areas around Union Valley Reservoir, Ice House Reservoir, and Wrights Lake that serve as summer escapes for Sacramento-area residents. Diverse wildlife including black bear, mountain lion, mule deer, and Pacific fisher inhabit the forest's mixed conifer and red fir stands that transition to alpine terrain above 8,000 feet.