Central Sierra / Alpine

6,000–11,000 ft · CA🚗 Directions

Stanislaus NF and Humboldt-Toiyabe NF. High Sierra passes with lodgepole, red fir, whitebark pine. Late-season morels follow snowmelt. King boletes near timberline.

Permit Info →

Updated Apr 13, 6:44 PM

Foraging Potential35/100

✅Moisture

❌Soil Temp

❌No Freeze

✅No Drought

Precip 7d

3.85"

Precip 14d

6.25"

Soil Temp

33°F

SWE

Snow Water Equivalent — how much water is in the snowpack vs. normal. Declining SWE means snowmelt is adding moisture to the soil.

75%

Drought

None

Snowmelt

steady

Limiting Factors

Soil too coldOutside season windowHard freeze in 48h

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Nearby Camping

Silver Lake

developed

USFS7,200 ft~4 mi from center$24/night

62 sites

Eldorado NF on Carson Pass corridor. Lodgepole and red fir. Bolete habitat.

vault toiletwaterfire ringpicnic tableboat ramp

Open May–OctReserve →

Blue Lakes Dispersed

dispersed

USFS8,100 ft~5 mi from centerFree/night

Dispersed camping near Blue Lakes south of Markleeville. High-elevation conifer.

fire ring

Open Jun–Sep

Wolf Creek

developed

~5.4 mi from center

Highland Lakes Upper Campground

developed

~5.7 mi from center

Highland Lakes Campground

developed

USFS~5.8 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Highland Lakes Lower Campground

developed

~5.9 mi from center

Caples Lake

developed

USFS7,800 ft~6 mi from center$22/night

35 sites

High Sierra along Hwy 88. Late-season morels follow snowmelt.

vault toiletwaterfire ringpicnic table

Open Jun–SepReserve →

Sherrold Lake

developed

~7.1 mi from center

Bloomfield Campground

developed

USFS~7.2 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Silver Creek Campground

developed

USFS~7.5 mi from centerFee required/night

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Reserve →

Silver Creek

developed

USFS~7.7 mi from center

Reserve →

Silver Creek Campground

developed

~7.7 mi from center

Sand Flat Campground

developed

USFS~8.1 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Sand Flat Campground (4wd only)

developed

USFS~8.2 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Clark Fork Horse Camp

developed

USFS~8.9 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Clark Fork Campground

developed

USFS~9 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Clark Fork Campground

developed

~9.1 mi from center

Centerville Flat Campground

developed

USFS~9.2 mi from center

Centerville Flat Campground

developed

USFS~9.2 mi from center

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Hermit Valley Campground

developed

USFS~11 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Pacific Valley Campground

developed

USFS~11 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Hermit Valley Campground

developed

~11.2 mi from center

Mosquito Lakes Campground

developed

USFS~11.6 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Eureka Valley Campground

developed

USFS~12 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Eureka Valley Campground

developed

Dodge Ridge Corporation~12.1 mi from centerFee required/night

28 sites

Reserve →

Chipmunk Flat Campground

developed

~12.2 mi from center

Pigeon Flat Campground

developed

USFS~12.4 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Baker Campground

developed

USFS~12.4 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Pigeon Flat Campground

developed

Dodge Ridge Corporation~12.4 mi from centerFee required/night

7 sites

Reserve →

Baker Campground

developed

~12.5 mi from center

East Fork Resort Campground

developed

~12.8 mi from center

Deadman Campground

developed

USFS~12.9 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Brightman Flat Campground

developed

USFS~13 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Brightman Flat Campground

developed

~13 mi from center

Fence Creek Campground

developed

~13 mi from center

Dardanelle Campground

developed

USFS~13 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Dardanelle Campground

developed

~13.1 mi from center

Fence Creek Campground

developed

USFS~13.1 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Boulder Flat Campground

developed

~13.3 mi from center

Leavitt Meadows Campground

developed

USFS~13.7 mi from centerFee required/night

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Reserve →

Leavitt Meadows Campground

developed

USFS~14 mi from center

Reserve →

Boulder Flat Campground

developed

USFS~14.2 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Markleeville Campground

developed

USFS~14.2 mi from center

Markleeville Campground

developed

USFS~14.3 mi from centerFee required/night

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Reserve →

Bootleg Campground

developed

USFS~14.5 mi from center

Reserve →

Bootleg Campground

developed

USFS~14.5 mi from centerFee required/night

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Reserve →

Lower Blue Lake Campground

developed

Pacific Gas and Electric~14.5 mi from centerFee required/night

Reserve →

Sonora Bridge Campground

developed

USFS~14.9 mi from centerFee required/night

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Reserve →

Chris Flat Campground

developed

USFS~15.1 mi from centerFee required/night

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Reserve →

Sonora Bridge Campground

developed

USFS~15.3 mi from center

Reserve →

Chris Flat Campground

developed

USFS~15.3 mi from center

Reserve →

(LAKE ALPINE) SILVER VALLEY CAMPGROUND

developed

USFS~15.5 mi from center

Reserve →

Middle Creek Expansion Campground

developed

Pacific Gas and Electric~15.6 mi from centerFee required/night

Reserve →

Middle Creek Campground

developed

Pacific Gas and Electric~15.6 mi from centerFee required/night

Reserve →

Silver Valley Campground

developed

USFS~15.6 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Pine Marten Campground

developed

USFS~15.7 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Backpacker's Walk-In Campground

developed

USFS~15.7 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Lake Alpine Recreation Area

developed

USFS~15.8 mi from center

Upper Blue Lake Dam Site Campground

developed

Pacific Gas and Electric~15.8 mi from centerFee required/night

Reserve →

SILVER LAKE EAST- ELDORADO

developed

USFS~15.8 mi from center

Reserve →

Eagle Meadow Horse Camp

developed

USFS~16.3 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Union Reservoir East Campground

developed

USFS~16.6 mi from center

Reserve →

Union East Campground

developed

USFS~16.6 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Niagara OHV Campground

developed

USFS~16.6 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Lake Alpine Campground

developed

~16.6 mi from center

Lake Alpine Campground (West Shore)

developed

USFS~16.7 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Upper Blue Lake Campground

developed

Pacific Gas and Electric~16.8 mi from centerFee required/night

Reserve →

Union Reservoir West Campground

developed

USFS~16.9 mi from center

Reserve →

Niagara Creek Campground

developed

USFS~16.9 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Union West Campground

developed

USFS~16.9 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Lost Campings

developed

~17 mi from center

Silvertip Campground

developed

USFS~17.2 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

(LAKE ALPINE) SILVER TIP CAMPGROUND

developed

USFS~17.2 mi from center

Reserve →

Silvertip Campground

developed

~17.3 mi from center

Spicer Meadow Campground

developed

USFS~17.3 mi from centerFee required/night

Spicer Reservoir Campground

developed

USFS~17.4 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Spicer Reservoir

developed

USFS~17.5 mi from center

Lodgepole Campground

developed

USFS~17.6 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Utica/Union Reservoirs

developed

USFS~17.6 mi from center

(Lake Alpine) Lodgepole Campground

developed

USFS~17.6 mi from centerFees will NOT be waived for things like changes in weather, or naturally occurring wildlife in the area./night

Reserve →

Utica Reservoir Campgrounds

developed

USFS~17.7 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Spicer Reservoir Group Campground

developed

USFS~17.7 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Camp Irene

developed

~18.6 mi from center

Mill Creek Campground

developed

USFS~18.9 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Mill Creek Campground

developed

~19 mi from center

Sheep Camp

backcountry

~19.3 mi from center

Obsidian Campground

developed

USFS~19.4 mi from center

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Stanislaus River Campground

developed

USFS~19.5 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Stanislaus River Campground

developed

Stanislaus National Forest~19.6 mi from centerFee required/night

Reserve →

Obsidian Campground

developed

USFS~19.7 mi from centerFee required/night

Reserve →

Cascade Creek Campground

developed

USFS~21.1 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Desert Creek Campground

developed

USFS~21.2 mi from centerFee required/night

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Reserve →

Camp Wolfeboro

developed

BSA~21.3 mi from center

Herring Creek Reservoir Campground

developed

~21.5 mi from center

Snyder Camp

backcountry

~21.5 mi from center

Herring Reservoir Campground

developed

USFS~21.6 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Hells Kitchen Campground

developed

USFS~21.6 mi from center

Herring Creek Campground

developed

USFS~21.7 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Paiute Cabin

dispersed

~22.6 mi from centerFree/night

Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)

developed

USFS~22.7 mi from center

Reserve →

Big Meadow Campground

developed

USFS~22.7 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Big Meadow Group Campground

developed

USFS~23 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Stock Camp

backcountry

NPS~23.2 mi from centerFee required/night

Piute Lake Campground

developed

~24.2 mi from center

Horse Gulch Campground

developed

USFS~24.5 mi from center

Reserve →

Crabtree Camp

developed

~25 mi from center

Shriner Lake Campground

dispersed

~25 mi from centerFree/night

Pine Valley Horse Camp

developed

USFS~25.4 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Pine Valley Horse Camp

developed

~25.4 mi from center

Swauger

developed

~26 mi from center

Buckeye Group

developed

~26.3 mi from center

Kerrick Corral Horse Camp

developed

USFS~26.4 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Buckeye (Upper)

developed

~26.4 mi from centerFee required/night

Buckeye

developed

~26.5 mi from centerFee required/night

Pinecrest Campground

developed

USFS~26.6 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

PIONEER TRAIL

developed

USFS~26.6 mi from center

Reserve →

Pinecrest Campground

developed

~26.8 mi from center

watertoilet

Reserve →

PINECREST

developed

USFS~26.8 mi from center

Reserve →

Meadowview Campground

developed

USFS~27.1 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Buckeye Campground

developed

USFS~27.2 mi from centerFee required/night

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Reserve →

Meadowview Campground

developed

~27.3 mi from centerFee required/night

watertoilet

B Circle

developed

~27.4 mi from center

D Circle

developed

~27.5 mi from center

C Circle

developed

~27.5 mi from center

Bridgeport Ranger District Office

developed

USFS~27.8 mi from center

Black Springs OHV Campground

developed

USFS~28.1 mi from center

TeleLi puLaya (Black Oak) Campground

developed

USFS~28.5 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Beardsley Dam Campground

developed

USFS~28.5 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Honeymoon Flat Campground

developed

USFS~29 mi from centerFee required/night

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Reserve →

HONEYMOON FLAT

developed

USFS~29.1 mi from center

Reserve →

Honeymoon Flat Campground

developed

USFS~29.2 mi from center

Reserve →

Robinson Creek South/North Campground

developed

USFS~29.8 mi from centerFee required/night

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Reserve →

Annett's Mono Village Campground

developed

~29.9 mi from center

Reserve →

Paha Campground

developed

USFS~29.9 mi from centerFee required/night

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Reserve →

Robinson Creek Campground

developed

USFS~29.9 mi from center

Reserve →

ROBINSON CREEK NORTH

developed

USFS~30 mi from center

Reserve →

Lower Twin Lake Campground

developed

USFS~30 mi from centerFee required/night

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Reserve →

PAHA

developed

USFS~30.1 mi from centerCamping fees for single sites include one vehicle. (Double sites and yurt include 2 vehicles). Extra vehicle fee of $6 per vehicle per night is due at the kiosk in the campground. Extra vehicle parking is limited. Vehicles must fit on asphalt pad of campsite. See host for alternative parking if needed. /night

Reserve →

Paha Campground

developed

USFS~30.1 mi from center

Reserve →

LOWER TWIN LAKES AT BRIDGEPORT

developed

USFS~30.2 mi from centerCamping fees include one vehicle. Extra vehicle fee of $6 per vehicle per night is due at kiosk in campground upon arrival./night

Reserve →

Bridgeport Reservoir Marina & Campground

developed

~30.2 mi from center

Reserve →

Crags Campground

developed

USFS~30.3 mi from centerFee required/night

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Reserve →

Fraser Flat Campground

developed

USFS~30.4 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

White Azalea Campground

developed

USFS~30.4 mi from center

Eldorado National Forest

Crags Campground

developed

USFS~30.4 mi from center

Reserve →

Wa Ka Luu Hep Yoo (Wild River) Campground

developed

~30.4 mi from center

Wakalu Hep Yo (Wild River) Campground

developed

USFS~30.6 mi from center

Wakalu Hep Yo (Wild River) Campground

developed

USFS~30.6 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Lower Twin Lake Campground

developed

USFS~30.6 mi from center

Reserve →

Moore Creek Campground

developed

USFS~30.7 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Mokelumne Campground

developed

USFS~30.9 mi from center

Eldorado National Forest

CRAGS CAMPGROUND

developed

USFS~31.1 mi from centerCamping fees on single sites include one vehicle. Extra vehicle fee of $6 per vehicle per night is due at kiosk in the campground. All extra vehicles must fit on the asphalt at the campsite. (Double, Triple and Group sites have additional vehicles within the camping fees). /night

Reserve →

Sand Bar Flat Campground

developed

USFS~33 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Hull Creek Campground

developed

USFS~33.6 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Green Creek Campground

developed

USFS~35.4 mi from center

Reserve →

Lone Snag

developed

State~35.4 mi from center

GREEN CREEK GROUP

developed

USFS~35.4 mi from center

Reserve →

Stanislaus View

developed

State~35.5 mi from center

Oak Hollow Campground

developed

~35.6 mi from center

Green Creek Campground

developed

USFS~35.7 mi from centerFee required/night

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Reserve →

Sugar Pine Environmental Camp

developed

~36.1 mi from center

Lake Eleanor Campground

developed

~36.8 mi from center

Cherry Valley Campground

developed

~37.4 mi from center

watertoilet

CHERRY VALLEY

developed

USFS~37.4 mi from center

Reserve →

Cherry Valley Campground

developed

USFS~37.8 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Cherry Lake

developed

USFS~38.1 mi from center

Highway 108 Corridor

developed

USFS~38.1 mi from center

Hetch Hetchy Backpackers Campground

developed

~38.7 mi from centerFee required/night

Reserve →

Trumbull Lake Campground

developed

USFS~38.9 mi from centerFee required/night

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Reserve →

TRUMBULL LAKE

developed

USFS~39.3 mi from center

Reserve →

Upper Virginia Creek Primitive Campground

dispersed

USFS~39.4 mi from centerFee required/night

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Reserve →

Lower Virginia Creek Primitive Campground

developed

USFS~39.4 mi from center

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Upper Virginia Creek Primitive Campground

developed

USFS~39.5 mi from center

Lower Virginia Creek Primitive Campground

developed

USFS~39.6 mi from center

Lundy Canyon Campground

developed

~41.9 mi from center

36 sites

Reserve →

Highway 4 Corridor

developed

USFS~42 mi from center

White Wolf Campground

developed

~43.6 mi from centerFee required/night

74 sites

Reserve →

Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp

backcountry

DNC~43.6 mi from center

toilet

Saddlebag Lake Campground

developed

USFS~43.6 mi from centerFee required/night

Inyo National Forest

Reserve →

Saddlebag Lake Campground

developed

~43.7 mi from center

Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp

developed

USFS~43.7 mi from center

Inyo National Forest

Reserve →

Trailhead Group Campground

developed

~43.7 mi from center

River Ranch - Hacienda Campground

developed

USFS~43.7 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

River Ranch Campground

developed

~43.7 mi from center

Sawmill Walk-in Campground

developed

USFS~44.1 mi from center

Reserve →

Sawmill Walk-in Campground

developed

USFS~44.3 mi from centerFee required/night

Inyo National Forest

Reserve →

Dimond O Campground

developed

USFS~44.9 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

Dimond O Campground

developed

USFS~45 mi from centerFee required/night

26 sites

Reserve →

Junction Campground

developed

USFS~45.8 mi from centerFee required/night

Inyo National Forest

Reserve →

Ellery Lake Campground

developed

USFS~46 mi from centerFee required/night

Inyo National Forest

Reserve →

Ellery Campground

developed

Vista Recreation~46.1 mi from centerFee required/night

12 sites

watertoilet

Reserve →

Tioga Lake Campground

developed

USFS~46.3 mi from centerFee required/night

Inyo National Forest

Reserve →

May Lake High Sierra Camp

backcountry

DNC~46.6 mi from center

watertoilet

Yosemite Creek Campground

developed

~46.7 mi from centerFee required/night

75 sites

Reserve →

Big Bend Campground

developed

USFS~46.9 mi from centerFee required/night

Inyo National Forest

Reserve →

Tuolumne Meadows Campground

developed

NPS~47.2 mi from center

Reserve →

Tuolumne Meadows Backpackers Campground

developed

~47.4 mi from centerFee required/night

Tuolumne Meadows Horse Camp

developed

NPS~47.4 mi from centerFee required/night

DIMOND O

developed

USFS~47.5 mi from center

Reserve →

Aspen Grove Campground

developed

Inyo National Forest~47.7 mi from centerFee required/night

45 sites

Reserve →

Aspen Campground

developed

USFS~47.8 mi from centerFee required/night

Inyo National Forest

Reserve →

Porcupine Flat Campground

developed

~48.2 mi from center

Lumsden Bridge Campground

developed

USFS~48.5 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Lumsden Bridge Campground

developed

NFS~48.6 mi from center

Reserve →

Moraine Campground

developed

USFS~49 mi from centerFee required/night

Inyo National Forest

Reserve →

Moraine Campground

developed

Inyo National Forest~49.1 mi from centerFee required/night

27 sites

Reserve →

Lower Lee Vining Campground

developed

USFS~49.2 mi from centerFee required/night

Inyo National Forest

Reserve →

Berkeley Tuolumne Camp

developed

City of Berkeley~49.2 mi from center

Reserve →

Cattleguard Campground

developed

~49.2 mi from center

Hodgdon Meadow Campground

developed

NPS~49.3 mi from center

Reserve →

San José Family Camp

developed

San José Department of Parks, Recreation & Neighbo~49.3 mi from center

Reserve →

South Fork Campground

developed

USFS~49.3 mi from center

Stanislaus National Forest

Lower Lee Vining Campground

developed

Inyo National Forest~49.4 mi from centerFee required/night

51 sites

Reserve →

Camp Azuza Senior Camp

developed

~49.4 mi from center

Sweetwater Campground

developed

~49.5 mi from centerFee required/night

Reserve →

Lumsden Campground

developed

USFS~49.5 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

South Fork Campground

dispersed

NFS~49.5 mi from centerFree/night

Reserve →

Sweetwater Campground

developed

USFS~49.6 mi from centerFee required/night

Stanislaus National Forest

Reserve →

⚠ Road Access Notice

Always verify road access is public before following GPS directions to mountain areas. Many forest roads are seasonal, gated, or require 4WD. Dispersed camping follows USFS/BLM rules (typically 14-day limit). Check ranger district offices for current road and campground conditions.