Darling Ridge (FR 12N80) in CA -- Free Camping & Overnight Parking in California
Darling Ridge (FR 12N80) in CA
A 14.4-mile stretch of dirt National Forest road in El Dorado County, CA. The road is open seasonally, May 11 to November 9.
Eldorado National Forest, Georgetown Ranger District allows dispersed camping here -- 10-day limit in any 365 days. Camp at least 100 ft from water.
14.2 of the 14.4 miles in are maintained only for high-clearance vehicles. 8 of the 14.4 miles in are dirt. Climbs 690 ft over 14.4 miles -- sustained grades near 14%, with pitches to 25%. Stretches run along a shelf with a drop of up to ~130 ft on the downhill side. Winds through 9 switchbacks. Dead-end road -- no mapped turnaround; expect to back out or unhitch. Gates 2.7 and 3 miles in.
Slat Creek runs 0.1 mi off. Shoemaker Hill stands 759 ft above the site, 1.1 miles northeast. Night skies measure Bortle 2 -- true dark-sky territory. The nearest town, Georgetown, is 2.9 mi off.
September normals 59–86°F, 0.4″ rain. Monthly averages, PRISM 1991–2020.
Set by Eldorado National Forest, Georgetown Ranger District. Stage 1 and 2 orders change within days -- check the current order before you build a fire.
fs.usda.gov