The Long Way
El Dorado County
A small cabin stands among pine trees in a mountain setting.
Plate I. Exterior of Van Vleck Bunkhouse. From fs.usda.gov
A cabin with a solar panel and green roof sits in a landscape with mountains.
Plate II. Van Vleck Bunkhouse. From recreation.gov
A scenic landscape showing a meadow, pine forest, and mountains under a blue sky, viewed from a wooden deck.
Plate III. Meadow view, Van Vleck Bunkhouse. From recreation.gov
Interior view of a rustic cabin featuring a kitchen counter, living area, wood stove, and bunk beds.
Plate IV. Interior, Van Vleck Bunkhouse. From fs.usda.gov
A bedroom with wooden walls and multiple beds.
Plate V. Bedroom, Van Vleck Bunkhouse. From recreation.gov
An interior shot of a room with wooden bunk beds.
Plate VI. Bedroom interior, Van Vleck Bunkhouse. From recreation.gov

Van Vleck Bunkhouse

El Dorado County, California. Cabin; year round.

Details

Map. El Dorado County, California. Larger map
Where
El Dorado County, CA. No street address stated. Directions
When
Check out time is 1pm and check in time is 2pm.
Getting there
From Placerville, drive 21 miles on Highway 50, then turn left on Ice House Riverton Road. Go 23 miles north and turn right on Tells Creek Road. Then drive 5 miles east and turn left on the gated, dirt/gravel road to the bunkhouse, which is 0.5-miles ahead on the left side.
Fees
$75 (6 person max.).
Access
Winter guests take on a more challenging adventure and must traverse an approx. 6-mile trek with a 1,300-foot elevation gain to reach the bunkhouse. The route is marked by blue reflective diamonds and this journey is for intermediate to advanced backcountry skiers only. Winter vehicle access from Jan. 1 through May 15 is restricted by snow. Winter user access is from the Loon Lake Campground vehicle pull out.
Walk-in or reserve
Guests must contact the Eldorado National Forest at (530) 644-2324 to arrange for permit, access, check-in and current conditions at least 7 days prior to arrival.
Phone
530-644-2324
Managed by
Eldorado National Forest.
Established
1957.
Coordinates
38.93661, -120.321771.

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.

Notable Events

  1. 1860sThe area was operated as a cattle ranch from the 1860s to the 1960s. recreation.gov
  2. 1950sUntil the 1950s, the family used horses to drive their cattle up Highway 50, then a two-lane road, to their summer pastures at Tells Peak, near Lake Tahoe. Later, the cattle were brought to the mountains by truck. vv-ranch.com
  3. 1957Built in 1957, the bunkhouse is the last remaining building at the Van Vleck Ranch site. recreation.gov
  4. 1970sIn the 1970s, the family sold the Tahoe land and used the funds to build irrigated pasture in Sacramento County so the cows could stay there in the summer. vv-ranch.com

Sources

  1. recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233104
  2. fs.usda.gov/r05/eldorado/recreation/van-vleck-bunkhouse
  3. vv-ranch.com/our-history