FR 01S19 — Mather Ranger Station Trailhead in CA -- Camping Rules & Access in California
FR 01S19 — Mather Ranger Station Trailhead in CA
Road corridorStanislaus NF, Groveland Ranger District
18 mi from Pine Mountain Lake
Maps 4,639 ft
Dispersed camping generally allowed
U.S. Forest Service default; a local order can restrict it.
Motor-vehicle season 4/15–12/15Stay limit: 21 days · Per calendar year, counted per ranger district
VerizonMARGINAL
AT&TNONE
T-MobileNONE
StarlinkGOOD
Road Access
Difficult
- All 5.8 miles of this road are maintained for high-clearance vehicles, 3.1 miles of it dirt.
- Estimated climb: 1,300 ft over 5.8 miles through 6 switchbacks, with sustained grades near 14% and pitches to 16%.
1 known camp spot along this road, at mile 0.1: reported by travellers.
Setting
Fairly secluded
- Well separated here, with the nearest through road 0.8 miles off.
- Bald Mountain stands 2,605 ft above the map pin, 3.9 miles east.
- The Birch Lake shoreline is 0.4 mi off.
- Estimated night sky: Bortle 3, a dark rural sky.
Rules
- The maximum cumulative days camping in any forest ranger district is 21 per calendar year. 36 CFR 261.50(a) Dispersed campers are permitted to park within one vehicle length (including any tow vehicle) of a National Forest transportation route and walk into camp. Dispersed camping is not allowed within a designated developed recreation area. 36 CFR 261.16(e) … camp at least 100 feet away from edges of meadows, lakes, or streams … From December 15 to April 15 all forest roads are subject to a seasonal closure due to winter weather. Due to this closure, traditional dispersed camping is not available during this time.
- Camping rules
Climate averages
September normals 55–80°F, 0.4″ precipitation. Monthly averages, PRISM 1991–2020.