FR 02S01 — McCauley Hill in CA -- Camping Rules & Access
FR 02S01 — McCauley Hill in CA
Road corridorStanislaus NF, Groveland Ranger District
13 mi from Pine Mountain Lake
Maps 3,133 ft
Camping permission not confirmed
Miles 8.4–8.7, 9.3–10 and 19.9–20.9 cross land the Forest Service doesn't manage; camping there needs the landowner's permission.
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 23.5 miles of this road are maintained for high-clearance vehicles, 22.2 miles of it dirt.
- Estimated climb: 1,700 ft over 23.5 miles through 23 switchbacks, with sustained grades near 16% and pitches to 21%.
- Terrain estimates show roadside drops of up to ~160 ft on the downhill side.
- Dead-end road; turnaround space is not mapped.
Setting
Some privacy
- Moderately separated here.
- Pilot Ridge stands 2,875 ft above the map pin, 4.1 miles northeast.
- North Fork Merced River runs 1.1 mi off.
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
October normals 45–74°F, 1.8″ precipitation. Monthly averages, PRISM 1991–2020.