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Camping · California

Van Vleck Bunkhouse

USFS · Lookout/Cabin · Fee

Fast facts

Cost
Fee charged
Managed by
USFS
Type
Lookout/Cabin
Hours
Check in: 2:00 p.m.; Check-out: 11:00 p.m.
Reservations
recreation.gov
Nearest dump station
French Meadows Rv Dump Station · 14.0 mi
Nearest water fill
Indian Creek Camp Ground-Potable Water · 31.7 mi
Coordinates
38.9366, -120.3218
Last verified
September 18, 2026
38.9366° N · 120.3218° W
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Last verifiedSeptember 18, 2026

About this place

Van Vleck Bunkhouse overlooks a 40-acre meadow and the Tells Peak portion of the Crystal Range of the Sierra Nevada, providing a rustic camping experience year-round. Built in 1957, the bunkhouse is the last remaining building at the Van Vleck Ranch site. The area was operated as a cattle ranch from the 1860s to the 1960s.

From the USFS.Official page

Is Van Vleck Bunkhouse free?

No. Van Vleck Bunkhouse charges a fee. It is managed by the USFS. Sites are reservable through recreation.gov.

How do I get to Van Vleck Bunkhouse?

Check in is done in person at the Placerville Ranger Station 4260 Eight Mile Rd., Camino Ca. 95709.

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Nearby

SourceData from the USFS. Last synced September 18, 2026. Community reports and photos are submitted by travelers and are not verified by the agency.

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Disclaimer TerrainKit is an independent product with no affiliation with, sponsorship from or endorsement by the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service or any other public agency. Site and access information is compiled from publicly available sources and can go out of date without notice. Confirm current rules, closures, fire restrictions and stay limits with the managing ranger district or field office before you camp.
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47.5053° N · 111.3008° W
Van Vleck Bunkhouse, Camping in California - TerrainKit