Sly Park Recreation Area offers a beautiful wooded lakeside setting at 3,600 ft elevation located near Pollock Pines in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Sly Park is a wonderful place to bring the whole family for an unforgettable experience.

There are many historical aspects to the area, which is located 18 miles east of historic Placerville. Briefly, it was the site of an early Indian habitation dating back several thousand years. It was also the site of an encampment for the Mormon battalion and is bordered on the south by the Mormon Emigrant Trail.

Campers, hikers, boaters, anglers, equestrians, photographers, and all-around nature lovers enjoy Sly Park. Jenkinson Lake, at the center of the park, is popular for boating, swimming, water skiing, and fishing. Hiking and mountain biking trails encircle the lake, covering 8 miles of mostly shoreline. Equestrian trails extend 9.5 miles around the lake above the hiking trail. The Miwok and Liberty trails, both reserved for hikers only, include interpretive information.

The park features 8 family campgrounds that contain a total of 191 individual sites, each with a picnic table, fire ring, and barbecue. Vault toilets and water faucets are nearby. The 1600 acre Sly Park Recreation Area also offers group camps, an equestrian camp (with corrals), and day use facilities.

Reservations for family campsites are accepted all year long and up to 14 months in advance. Visit http://www.eid.org/recreation/recreation.htm for more details.

Driving Directions: From Sacramento, take Hwy 50 exit 60 south and head 5 miles to the Sly Park exit in Pollock Pines.

Year round.

Fees: Day Use $10, Campground $28 to $40

Dogs are welcome, county leash laws enforced; state mandate prohibits domestic animals in the lake as it is local drinking water.