Buckeye Campground

This is a very nice well kept campground right outside of Bridgeport California. The camp host this season was really pleasant as well. Lots of great hiking opportunities and many beautiful views to enjoy. Additionally there is a well maintained dirt road that you must take to reach buckeye. Minimum 2 miles from twin lakes road. I am not sure how accessible it would be during winter without 4x4.

We have a 42’ rig so we decided to dry camp down in the valley and just drive up the dirt road every day to hot springs. Lots of choices toward top but probably under 28’. Cell service was very poor if it all at times. Hot springs are great but often crowded. Early morning - late evening- midday- always people. But they are large enough to accommodate and there is more than one. Washboard road going up so take it slow. Wildlife is abundant.

We went on a Saturday in June, there were plenty of campsites available. Camp host sells fire wood bundles, keeps the grounds and restrooms clean. We chose campsite 63 it was next to a stream. It’s a short drive over to buckeye hot spring or a long walk. Only $18 for the night.

The road in is dirt, depending on the winter season it can be a little rough. 4wd is NOT required though. There are several dispersed campsites along the lower section of the road and creek, as you continue there is a campground with vault tiolets and sites with firepits, and tables. No bear boxes. The creek runs along one side of the campground area but the dispersed sites on the lower section are along both sides of the creek. It can get busy on weekends but I have never seen it full. I have always come the same day and been able to get a spot in one of the camping areas. The dispersed camp sites usually have a rock fire pit but you are supposed to get a burn permit to use them and check current fire conditions as they do ban burning during high fire danger years. From the upper campground there is a trailhead that leads further up the canyon. There are also trails along the creek. You are also not a far drive from Twin Lakes. 

    Again if you read this far there are hot springs!! 💧The dispersed camping is within walking distance to the springs where the campground is about 1 mile from the springs, but there is a small parking area near the springs. The hike down is extremely steep and narrow while it is very short it it very difficult. The springs are rock pools that people build after the snow melt. The hotspring water trickles down from the hillside above into the creek and pools below. There is also a small warm pool on the hill above the creek near the parking area by a small pine tree. The pools vary in size and heat depending on the year and way they are built to let the creek water in. It is great to be able to soak in the hot water then jump in the cold creek and then back into the hot spring as they are only separated by a few rocks. Definitely a yearly favorite and nice to be able to get a spot even on busy weekends.

Be prepared for a long bumpy ride but it's well worth it!

There are several areas/loops to camp.  Driving in you will cross over a bridge and just up and off to your right you will see the parking area for the hot springs.

To the left just after crossing the bridge is a road you can pull off on and there is excellent fishing.  

I grabbed campsite #28.  There are fire rings and picnic tables. 28 also is close to one of the pit toilets and also has a path down to the river.  It's a bit of a steep grade down to the river but worth it for the solitude while fishing.

Was super quiet even though there were a few campers close by.

Great shade from the trees.

Amazing location! We camped across from the hot springs and got to watch the sunrise whilst enjoying hot springs. The dispersed camping offers many beautiful spots! The drive to the hot springs / campground can feel a little sketchy but really isn’t too bad.

Clean well maintained, campsite by the the creek or the hot springs. Bring your water to cook and drink there is no water hookup. Really enjoyed my stay there with my family and the hot spring were perfect.

I’ve been going to Buckeye since I was a kid. It’s become a tradition in our family and I am excited to keep it alive. This is a great campground with several spots next the the creek. It has pit toilets and no longer has water spigots so make sure to bring your own water to cook and clean with. The dirt road up the mountain is a bit rough, but to me it is well worth it. The campground is quiet and out of the way, which is what camping should be!

Great little hotsprings in a relatively accessible spot. They are situated right by the creek and I loved how quiet and unused the area is. The canyon can get chilly (esp. in winter months) just get from your campfire to the springs to your tent quickly.

We visited this site Memorial Day weekend after driving through the 108 on Sonora Pass. It took about 30 minutes to get to the campground from the main road. Our site had two tent spots, a picnic table, and a fire ring. The campground itself has vaulted bathrooms. Each site was a short walk to a creek and the trail that leads to the hot springs. The campground can get busy, but each site is a good distance from eachother. They allow dogs too. They do not have bear boxes so be careful where you leave your food. You are a short driving distance to twin lakes which has beautiful scenery of the Eastern Sierra, and the town of Bridgeport has Hot Springs too. Overall a stunning campground with amazing views.

Free dispersed camping along the road leading into Buckeye Campground. We had a beautiful site overlooking the river, just across from Buckeye Hot Springs. There were others camping in the area but it was very quiet and a wonderful place to stop for the night.

No bathrooms, showers or tables