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A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

Forest Service campground

Pipi Campground

Forest Service campground in Eldorado National Forest, El Dorado County, California. 4,244 feet. 22.3 miles from Placerville.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Eldorado National Forest
Elevation
4,244 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
50 33 standard non-electric, 16 tent only non-electric, 1 walk to
Longest rig
35 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
El Dorado County

Overview

Pipi Campground (pronounced "pie pie") offers RV and tent camping along the Middle Fork of the Cosumnes River, offering great fishing and swimming opportunities.

The Cosumnes River flows from the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada and runs for about 52 miles through California's Central Valley and into the Mokelumne River. Historically, the native Miwok people of northern California used to camp in this region in summertime.

Recreation

Rainbow trout are regularly stocked in the river and wheelchair accessible fishing is provided from the paved river walkway. The walkway meanders along the river for just under a mile.

Facilities

A spacious picnic area is located along the river. The campground provides drinking water and vault toilets. Most parking aprons are paved, but some are gravel. Single sites fit a maximum of two vehicle and six people.

Interpretive programs take place in peak season.

Natural Features

At an elevation of 4,100 feet, PiPi boasts three camp loops with a dense mixture of conifers like cedar and fir. The area is part of the Eldorado National Forest located in the central Sierra Nevada. A Mediterranean climate extends over most of the forest with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • camping
  • fishing
  • swimming site

The land around Pipi Campground

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated May 2, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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