Dispersed Camping in Calaveras County, California
Showing 101 locations in Calaveras County.
(Lake Alpine) Lodgepole Campground
Lodgepole Campground is a developed Forest Service group campground situated a couple of miles west of Lake Alpine in northern California. Surrounded by the scenic Stanislaus National Forest, it serves as an excellent base for hiking, biking, and horse riding along Bear Valley trails, which connect to the historic Emigrant Trail.
Acorn Campground
Developed lakeside campground in a brush-covered foothill setting. The facility features spacious, shaded campsites equipped with fire rings, grills, and picnic tables. Amenities include flush toilets, coin-operated hot showers, and a dump station, though visitors note some facilities are in need of maintenance. Ideal for boating, fishing, and hiking, with quiet mid-week stays and busier weekends.
Amador District, Eldorado National Forest
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Angles Creek Parking (Angels Camp)
A quiet roadside pullout next to Angles Creek and Tryon Park. It provides a convenient urban stop, though camping within the adjacent park itself is strictly prohibited.
Bear River Group Campground
Spacious developed group campsites set in a mixed pine forest above the south side of the Lower Bear River Reservoir, ideal for group retreats.
Bear River Group Campground
A dedicated group camping facility situated in a scenic conifer forest near Lower Bear River Reservoir. Offering multiple group sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, it is ideal for family reunions and larger organized gatherings looking for a coordinated wilderness retreat.
Bear River Lake Resort
A full-service private resort located on the north shore of Lower Bear River Reservoir. This facility features a general store, restaurant, bar, boat launch, fuel pump, and watercraft rentals. It includes a private campground offering small, tightly spaced sites with water and electrical hookups.
Bear River Reservoir Dispersed Camping
This zone encompasses the dispersed forest service camping areas surrounding Lower Bear River Reservoir in Eldorado National Forest. Standard options range from wide gravel pullouts directly along the lakeside road past the dam to rugged, secluded dirt spurs on the ridges. It offers a beautiful, natural mountain setting for self-contained rigs, though access difficulty varies significantly depending on the specific spur road chosen.
Beardsley Road Dispersed
A scenic dirt corridor providing dispersed camping opportunities within the Stanislaus National Forest, accessible seasonally for multiple rig types.
Beardsley Road Dispersed
Beardsley Road provides scenic dispersed camping opportunities winding through the Stanislaus National Forest. The unpaved corridor is passable for standard passenger vehicles and larger motorhomes during the dry season. Primitive pull-outs along the road offer peaceful wooded settings with typical forest privacy.
Beaver Creek Environmental Campground
A primitive hike-in environmental campground situated near Beaver Creek in Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Camping requires a short walk from the dedicated parking lot to quiet, shaded sites in a deep pine forest.
Big Meadow Campground
Situated in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains within the Stanislaus National Forest, this developed campground offers spacious individual and group sites. Located east of Arnold, the area provides scenic views, hiking opportunities, and abundant local wildlife.
Black Springs Road Dispersed
Dispersed camping along Black Springs Road within Stanislaus National Forest offers tranquil wooded sites. Accessible by passenger cars, this gravel forest corridor is seasonally open to motorized camping.
Boards Crossing Road Dispersed
Boards Crossing Road Dispersed offers beautiful, forested dispersed camping sites within the Stanislaus National Forest near the Stanislaus River corridor.
Calaveras Big Trees State Park - Oak Hollow Campground
Nestled under a canopy of pines and giant sequoias within Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Oak Hollow Campground offers well-shaded developed sites with excellent access to nearby hiking trails. The campground features paved roads and standard state park amenities, making it ideal for a variety of rig sizes.
Calaveras Big Trees State Park Group Campground
A dedicated group campground situated inside Calaveras Big Trees State Park. The campsite is nestled within a lush forest of giant sequoias and mixed conifers, offering convenient access to park trails and interpretive exhibits.
Calaveras District, Stanislaus National Forest
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Camanche Lake South Shore Campground
A developed lakeside campground offering both traditional tent sites and full hook-up RV spaces on the south shore of Lake Camanche.
Candy Rock Road Dispersed
Dispersed camping corridor along Candy Rock Road in the Stanislaus National Forest. The area features roadside pull-outs suitable for boondocking, surrounded by scenic pine forest. Be prepared for rough road conditions on the approach, which features several washouts and steep dips.
Cottage Springs Forest Spurs
These forest spurs off Highway 4 near Arnold offer convenient dispersed camping in the Stanislaus National Forest. Nestled in a scenic pine forest, they provide quick access to the Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway and the historic Cottage Spring. While passenger vehicles can navigate the native surface roads in dry conditions, some spurs are tight for larger rigs.
Coyote Point Campground
Coyote Point sits along New Hogan Lake in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, offering recreational water sports, boating, and fishing. The developed site provides access to boat ramps, hiking trails, and multi-use bike paths.
Cuneo Camp Road Dispersed Area
Scenic dispersed camping corridor along Cuneo Camp Road within the Stanislaus National Forest. The area offers several flat spurs surrounded by tall pines, suitable for various rig types looking for peaceful woodland camping.
Deer Flat Boat-In Campground
Secluded boat-in campground on the shoreline of New Hogan Lake. Featuring 30 tent-only sites, this location is accessible strictly by watercraft and offers vault toilets and waste receptacles.
Dorrington Station Forest Roads
A network of National Forest roads and dirt spurs extending off Highway 4 near Dorrington. These roads provide access to secluded dispersed camping opportunities within the Stanislaus National Forest, with quiet pullouts tucked under towering pine trees. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for the rougher unpaved spurs, while the main access road is paved. Use caution as some spots sit close to private timber land boundaries.
Douds Landing Road Dispersed
A scenic forest road corridor winding through the Stanislaus National Forest near Arnold, California. Dispersed camping is possible along pullouts off this native material dirt road during the open season.
Dufrene Tie Road Dispersed
Rustic dispersed camping corridor situated along Dufrene Tie Road and adjacent forest spurs in Eldorado National Forest. This heavily wooded area offers secluded pullouts among mature pines and seasonal wildflower blooms. Ideal for campers seeking quiet solitude with nearby creek access, though access roads require care during wet conditions.
Elephant Rock Hike-In Camp
A secluded hike-in backcountry campsite situated in the scenic timberlands near Elephant Rock.
Fence Creek Road Dispersed
A rugged and scenic forest corridor in the Stanislaus National Forest offering dispersed camping opportunities along Fence Creek Road and its adjacent spurs. Positioned near picturesque hiking trails and scenic overlooks, these sites provide a quiet wilderness experience surrounded by mixed conifer forest. Access is via native-surface roads suitable for most vehicles in dry conditions, though high-clearance is beneficial for the tighter spurs.
Forest Road 07N01 Dispersed
A scenic forest corridor along Forest Road 07N01 in the Stanislaus National Forest. It provides access to numerous dispersed camping opportunities on unpaved spurs nestled amidst pine forests.
Forest Road 7N08 Dispersed
Secluded dispersed camping options situated along Forest Road 7N08 in the Stanislaus National Forest near the Mokelumne River.
Forest Road 8N15 Dispersed
A scenic dispersed camping corridor situated along Forest Road 8N15 near the Tanglefoot Trailhead. The area offers several wooded clearings suitable for boondocking, with easy access to hiking trails and proximity to Bear River Reservoir.
Forest Route 7N01 & Union Reservoir Dispersed Camping
A rugged network of primitive dispersed campsites scattered along Forest Route 7N01 and surrounding Union Reservoir. Located in the Calaveras Ranger District of the Stanislaus National Forest, this highly scenic area is characterized by stunning granite slabs, dense pine forests, and direct waterfront access, but requires high-clearance vehicles due to rough, rocky, and heavily rutted roads. Expect heavy traffic and limited privacy during popular summer weekends.
Forest Route 7N17 Dispersed Camping
A rugged network of dispersed camping sites located within the Stanislaus National Forest along Forest Route 7N17 and the adjacent Slick Rock Trail. The area offers exceptional Sierra Nevada pine forest and granite landscape views, with sites situated near the Stanislaus River. High-clearance vehicles are required to navigate the rough and rocky dirt tracks, while the intersecting Slick Rock Trail is a well-known extreme 4WD route.
Forest Route 7N23 Dispersed Camping
This dispersed camping area along Forest Route 7N23 offers wooded sites in the Stanislaus National Forest, close to local OHV trails. The main area near the trailhead features picnic tables and fire rings, making it a comfortable spot for campers. Standard passenger vehicles can easily reach the trailhead, though surrounding spurs may require higher clearance. Be aware that the surrounding forest is popular for active target shooting, which can generate noise during the day.
Forest Spur (Lower)
A serene camping corridor along a well-graded gravel road in the Stanislaus National Forest, featuring tall pines and easy access for standard vehicles.
Forest Spur (Stanislaus National Forest)
This native-dirt forest spur in Stanislaus National Forest offers quiet, seasonal dispersed camping. It is accessible by most vehicle types during dry conditions.
Forest Spur (Stanislaus NF)
A scenic dirt spur road within the Stanislaus National Forest offering quiet dispersed camping. It provides a peaceful wooded retreat near Arnold, CA.
Forest Spur (Upper)
A quiet dispersed camping area situated on an unpaved forest road within the Stanislaus National Forest. Surrounded by mixed conifers, it offers an authentic rustic camping experience.
Forest Spur Dispersed (Arnold East)
This asphalt and dirt forest spur offers secluded dispersed camping within the Stanislaus National Forest. It provides a quiet setting with tall pines, situated just outside Calaveras Big Trees State Park.
Forest Spur Dispersed (Arnold South)
A seasonal dirt spur of native material offering quiet, wooded dispersed camping spots. Accessible to most vehicles during dry conditions, this road is subject to winter closures.
Forest Spur Dispersed (Stanislaus National Forest)
A quiet dirt forest spur road offering dispersed camping opportunities within the Stanislaus National Forest.
Forest Spur Dispersed (Stanislaus National Forest)
A quiet forest road spur within the Stanislaus National Forest offering dispersed camping options under the canopy. This spur provides a secluded wooded escape with easy access to nearby trails.
Forest Spur Dispersed (Stanislaus National Forest)
A short unpaved forest road spur offering quiet dispersed camping spots tucked in the pine forest of Stanislaus National Forest, located near Lake Alpine and Mount Reba.
Forest Spur Dispersed Area
Dispersed camping opportunities along a forest spur road in the Stanislaus National Forest. Located near Arnold, California, this area provides a quiet forest setting accessible via a native-material dirt road.
Forest Spur Dispersed Camping
This dispersed camping corridor runs along a native-surface forest spur road in the Stanislaus National Forest. The area features numerous dirt pullouts and clearings nested within a scenic pine forest. Because it sits adjacent to active off-highway vehicle routes, expect ambient motor noise, especially on weekends.
Forest Spur Dispersed Camping
A quiet forest spur located within the Stanislaus National Forest near Arnold, California. This dirt road offers rustic dispersed camping options among the pine trees, ideal for those seeking a secluded natural retreat.
Forest Spur Dispersed Corridor
This forest spur corridor in the Stanislaus National Forest provides dispersed camping opportunities along a native dirt road. The area offers quiet, forested spots with standard boondocking access from spring through autumn.
Forest Spur Dispersed
This quiet dirt spur road leads into the scenic pine forests of the Stanislaus National Forest, offering standard dispersed camping opportunities. Access is straightforward for most vehicles during dry conditions.
Forest Spur Dispersed
Located within the Stanislaus National Forest, this native-surface dirt forest spur offers peaceful dispersed camping. The road is accessible to most vehicles during dry periods but is subject to seasonal winter closures.
Forest Spur Dispersed
A quiet, native-surface forest spur offering dispersed camping within the Stanislaus National Forest near Arnold, California. Located close to scenic trailheads, this corridor provides an excellent base for exploring the surrounding pine woods.
Forest Spur Dispersed
This dirt forest spur in the Stanislaus National Forest offers opportunities for dispersed camping in a typical wooded setting.
Forest Spur Dispersed
A quiet, seasonally accessible forest road corridor situated in the Stanislaus National Forest, offering dispersed camping in a secluded pine setting. The area is suitable for low-profile vehicles and small rigs seeking a peaceful wilderness experience. Access is available during late summer and autumn months.
Forest Spur Dispersed
A quiet forest spur road within the Stanislaus National Forest offering dispersed camping opportunities on native dirt surfaces. This area provides a peaceful woodland escape suitable for those looking for basic boondocking.
Forest Spur Dispersed
An unpaved forest corridor offering rustic dispersed camping options in the Stanislaus National Forest. While the nearby trailhead parking lot experiences early morning traffic noise and strict overnight enforcement, the forest spur road itself provides a more secluded and permitted alternative for standard dispersed stays.
Forest Spur Dispersed
A rustic forest spur road located in the Stanislaus National Forest, offering dispersed camping on native dirt terrain.
Forest Spur
A quiet dirt forest spur located within the Stanislaus National Forest. Dispersed camping is permitted along this native surface corridor from mid-April to mid-December.
Forest Spur
Secluded forest service road spur located near Garnet Hill in the Stanislaus National Forest, offering primitive camping options.
Glory Hole Recreation Area
Glory Hole Recreation Area is located at New Melones Lake on the Stanislaus River, the fourth largest reservoir in California. The diverse and resource-abundant Foothill Oak Woodlands hug the 100 miles of shoreline. Popular activities on and around the large, yet uncrowded lake include fishing, boating, water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing, sailing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, wildlife viewing, hiking, and biking. Developed camping is permitted in designated campsites only.
Gold Strike Village Campers
Gold Strike Village Campers offers developed campsites in a quiet, wooded setting just outside of San Andreas.
Hathaway Pines WC Road Dispersed
This forest corridor along Hathaway Pines WC Road offers access to dispersed camping within the Stanislaus National Forest. The lower portion of the road is paved and remains accessible year-round, while the upper native-surface segment is subject to seasonal winter closures from mid-December through mid-April. Pullouts along the road provide quiet, forested sites suitable for various rig sizes.
Hells Kitchen Campground
Primitive developed campground located in the Stanislaus National Forest along the Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway. Features numerous individual shaded walk-in campsites surrounded by towering pines and firs. Amenities are limited to vault toilets and fire rings. This peaceful location offers excellent hiking access and scenic rock formations.
Horse Gulch Campground
Horse Gulch Campground is a rustic Forest Service facility situated along Forest Route 7N09 within the Stanislaus National Forest, offering primitive camping suitable for those seeking a quiet mountain getaway.
Lake Alpine Backpackers Campground
A walk-in tent campground located on the east end of Lake Alpine near several trailheads. Campers must park on the adjacent street and walk to the wooded campsites.
Lake Alpine West Shore Campground
A developed campground situated on the north shore of Lake Alpine within Stanislaus National Forest. Offers easy access to boating, fishing, and forest trails, with basic amenities and nearby resort services.
Little Bear Road Dispersed
A scenic dispersed camping corridor along the dirt forest road leading near the Eldorado National Forest, offering quiet forest surroundings.
Lower Cole Creek Tie Dispersed
A primitive dispersed camping corridor along Lower Cole Creek Tie in the Eldorado National Forest. The native dirt road winds through a quiet pine forest, providing secluded camping spots close to nature.
McKays Road Dispersed
Dispersed camping corridor along McKays Road in the Stanislaus National Forest, offering quiet wooded spots with easy access from Arnold.
Mokelumne Campground
A quiet, remote developed campground situated in the Eldorado National Forest near the Mokelumne Wilderness. Offers basic amenities like restrooms and provides direct access to nearby wilderness trails.
North Bear Reservoir Dispersed
Dispersed camping corridor along the dirt road leading toward the North Bear River Reservoir in Eldorado National Forest. This area offers a quiet forest setting with native-surface road access.
North Grove Campground
An official developed campground situated under giant sequoias within Calaveras Big Trees State Park. This campground features approximately 74 sites equipped with picnic tables, fire rings, food lockers, and access to drinking water, flushing toilets, and coin-operated showers.
Oak Knoll Campground
Oak Knoll Campground sits along New Hogan Lake in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, offering water recreation, boating, and fishing. This developed campground provides a scenic lakeside setting with easy paved access.
Pardoes Point Campground
A developed campground nestled in the trees near the Bear River Reservoir boat ramp, offering scenic tent and small trailer camping options. Features basic amenities like vault toilets, picnic tables, and drinking water in a peaceful pine forest environment. Sites are generally small and cozy, suitable for low-profile rigs. Closed for the season starting in late September.
Pine Marten Campground
Pine Marten Campground is a developed US Forest Service campground located near the east end of Lake Alpine. Nestled in a dense coniferous forest, it offers easy access to lake activities like boating and fishing, as well as several surrounding trailheads. The campsites are well-shaded and equipped with picnic tables and campfire rings.
Pine Needle Flat Road Dispersed
Located in the Stanislaus National Forest near Arnold, California, Pine Needle Flat Road and its connecting forest spurs offer scenic dispersed camping options amidst a dense pine forest canopy. The main corridor consists of native-dirt roads that are generally accessible to passenger cars during dry weather, providing a peaceful wilderness setting.
Rattlesnake Road Dispersed Camping
A quiet and heavily forested dispersed camping corridor along Rattlesnake Road and its surrounding forest spurs within the Stanislaus National Forest. Located near Arnold, California, this area provides several shady sites nestled among tall pines. The main road is composed of crushed aggregate or gravel, while the branching forest spurs consist of native dirt material.
Rattlesnake Road Dispersed
Quiet dispersed camping options nestled along Rattlesnake Road in Stanislaus National Forest. The corridor consists of dirt and gravel spurs winding through pine forest terrain, providing basic campsites suitable for self-contained rigs.
Shriner Lake Campground
A remote, rustic Forest Service campground located near Shriner Lake. The area offers scenic pine woods and immediate proximity to mountain trails, making it perfect for a quiet wilderness retreat.
Silver Saddle Drive Dispersed
Silver Saddle Drive offers seasonal dispersed camping opportunities within the scenic Stanislaus National Forest. The native dirt road is accessible by passenger vehicles and standard rigs during dry weather.
Silver Tip Campground (Lake Alpine)
Silvertip Campground is situated in a scenic pine forest less than a mile west of Lake Alpine. It features a convenient walking trail leading directly from the campground loops down to the lake shore for water-based recreation.
Silver Valley Campground
Silver Valley Campground is a developed US Forest Service campground situated near the east end of Lake Alpine. Surrounded by a quiet, wooded setting, it provides a peaceful atmosphere with convenient access to hiking trails and water recreation. The site is equipped with standard vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings.
Snyder Camp
A rustic walk-in campsite nestled in the pine woods of the Stanislaus National Forest. Camping is walk-in only, with parking available in turnouts along the forest road.
South Bear River Road Dispersed
Dispersed camping corridor located along South Bear River Road, offering scenic views of the reservoir and a quiet forest setting. The sites are spacious with multiple pull-outs and stone fire rings.
South Lake Tulloch R.V. Campground & Marina
A developed lakeside RV park and marina offering full amenities and direct water access on South Lake Tulloch.
South Shore Campground
A scenic public campground nestled in a mixed conifer forest on a hillside directly above the south shore of Lower Bear River Reservoir. The facility provides spacious, partially shaded sites, making it highly popular for trout fishing, swimming, boating, and canoeing. Pardoes Trail can be accessed just past the nearby upper reservoir.
Stanislaus Forest Spur Dispersed
This quiet dirt spur road in the Stanislaus National Forest offers dispersed camping opportunities near Arnold, California. Surrounded by dense pine forest, it provides a peaceful and rustic setting with easy access for standard vehicles.
Stanislaus Forest Spur Dispersed
This unpaved dirt spur in the Stanislaus National Forest offers primitive dispersed camping opportunities. It is accessible by standard passenger vehicles under dry conditions and provides a quiet forest setting.
Stanislaus Forest Spur
A secluded dirt forest road spur located in the Stanislaus National Forest, offering quiet dispersed camping options among the pines.
Stanislaus Forest Spur
A quiet forest road spur within the Stanislaus National Forest near Arnold, California, providing opportunities for dispersed camping along a native dirt road.
Stanislaus Forest Spur
A scenic dirt spur road within the Stanislaus National Forest that provides access to dispersed forest camping.
Stanislaus Forest Spur Road
An unpaved forest spur road located within the Stanislaus National Forest near Arnold, California, offering seasonal dispersed camping in a quiet wooded setting.
Stanislaus Forest Spur Road
A scenic dirt spur road within the Stanislaus National Forest offering dispersed camping options. Accessible by most passenger vehicles during the dry season, this corridor provides peaceful camping amidst the pine trees. It is ideally situated near local springs and natural attractions.
Stanislaus National Forest Dispersed Camping
This dispersed camping area in the Stanislaus National Forest offers a quiet, wooded setting for self-contained vehicles looking to escape into the Sierra Nevada.
Stanislaus River Campground
Nestled within a mature conifer forest along the North Fork Stanislaus River, this developed campground offers 25 sites equipped with picnic tables, hand-pumped water, and vault toilets. Its proximity to Spicer Meadow Reservoir provides scenic views and water access. Ideal for quiet river recreation.
State Park - Lone Snag Environmental Site
This primitive environmental campsite in Calaveras Big Trees State Park provides a quiet, forested retreat for walk-in campers. Accessible via a short hike from the nearest parking area, the site features a rustic layout with minimal amenities. Reservations and state park fees are required prior to occupancy, and overnight vehicle sleeping is not permitted.
State Park - Memorial Parkway Environmental Camp Area
Located within Calaveras Big Trees State Park, this environmental campsite offers a secluded walk-in camping experience amidst towering pines and giant sequoias. The site must be reserved in advance through the state park system, and a daily fee is required. Campers must park at the designated trailhead and hike in with their gear, as direct vehicle access and rig camping are prohibited.
Sugar Pine Environmental Camp
An environmental walk-in campground located within Calaveras Big Trees State Park, offering a rustic tent camping experience nestled among towering pines. This campground requires a short hike to access the sites, ensuring peace and privacy away from vehicles. Parking is designated for registered campers, but overnight vehicle sleeping is prohibited.
Sugar Pine Point Campground
Spacious developed campground nestled under towering sugar pines on the shores of Union Valley Reservoir. It offers paved parking spurs, campfire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets, with direct access to the water for boating and swimming. Ideal for recreational vehicles, trailers, and tent campers seeking easy lakefront access.
Tanglefoot Canyon Road Dispersed
This rustic forest road offers primitive dispersed camping opportunities tucked away in the pine forests of Eldorado National Forest.
Tuttletown Recreation Area
A large, popular lakeside campground area situated along the shoreline of New Melones Lake. Offering multiple loops such as Acorn and Manzanita, this location features paved camping loops shaded by oak woodlands. Amenities include drinking water, a free dump station, flushing restrooms, and pay showers. At least one loop typically remains open year-round, while others may close seasonally.
Wakalu Hep Yo (Wild River) Campground
A beautiful, developed campground set in a mature conifer and oak forest along the wild North Fork Stanislaus River. This location offers rich cultural history, as it was seasonally inhabited by the Miwuk people for thousands of years.
White Azalea Campground
A small developed USFS campground situated along the scenic Mokelumne River near the Mokelumne Wilderness. The area offers basic, primitive campsites nestled under a dense canopy of pine trees.