Diamond Gulch, near Yosemite, California, is a charming campground that offers a unique blend of rustic charm and modern amenities. With 13 sites nestled under a canopy of oak trees, it’s a cozy place to unwind after a day of exploring the stunning landscapes of Yosemite.

Campers rave about the outdoor showers and the convenience of having firewood ready at each site. The atmosphere is relaxed, with plenty of space to enjoy nature, and many visitors have commented on the beautiful scenery surrounding the area. One camper noted, “The scenery is beautiful! Wish we had more time to stay here longer.”

While the sites can be a bit unlevel, they provide a comfortable base for your adventures. The campground is equipped with basic facilities like portable toilets and running water, ensuring you have what you need for a pleasant stay. Plus, the host is known for being responsive and helpful, making your experience even better.

If you’re looking to explore, Diamond Gulch is just an hour’s drive from Yosemite Valley, making it a perfect launch point for hiking and sightseeing. Campers have enjoyed the peaceful nights filled with the sounds of nature, and many have expressed a desire to return for another visit. Whether you’re passing through or planning a longer stay, Diamond Gulch offers a welcoming retreat in the heart of California’s great outdoors.

**In Groveland CA and right next to Pine Mountain Lake and 30 miles to Yosemite !**

We are new to The Dyrt but please read our incredible reviews at the Hipcamp:

[https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US/land/california-diamond-gulch-nelhzzp2?search\_source=homepage-autocomplete&adults=1&children=0](<https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US/land/california-diamond-gulch-nelhzzp2?search_source=homepage-autocomplete&adults=1&children=0>)

We have 824 acres on a beautiful ranch with two small ponds. On our property you'll find frogs, turtles, lots of oak trees, pine trees and stunning views of Yosemite. We're 30 miles from the main gate of Yosemite National Park and there’s a golf course less than a mile away. We're not far from town either -- in just a few minutes you can drive to our local grocery store and pizza parlor. When you come to the ranch it feels like you are hundreds of miles away from civilization and it's real quiet.

This is a great place for someone who wants to escape city life and enjoy the tranquility of nature. Much of the ranch is open wilderness for you to explore, and it's not uncommon to see deer, frogs, turtles, quail, turkeys, or the other countless species of birds. Diamond Gulch Camp is the perfect place to relax if you’re a photographer, artist, family or a group of friends looking for a place to camp near Yosemite. A small portion of the property was used as a gold mine years ago, and you may find remnants of old home sites if you go exploring. We're not far from Wards Ferry Road, Groveland, Lake Don Pedro and other interesting places.



Diamond Gulch

Searching for the best camping near Groveland, CA? Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Groveland. Find the best campgrounds near Groveland, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.

Groveland

The Best Camping Near Groveland, California

We booked this spot as we were leaving Yosemite and I am so glad we found it!
You feel like you're in the middle of nowhere but you're so close to things.
Directions are easy to follow, leveling is required but there were pretty good lots. The toilet was one of the cleanest port o pottys I have ever seen. The host really takes care of the site.
The stars were so so beautiful, you can see the milky-way and in the morning you're greeted by cows outside the fence!

We will absolutely stay here again on our next trip to or from Yosemite. 

Stars and Cows

We have not had such a perfect, joyous vacation like this in such a long time and how amazing this campground is certainly played a huge part. 
The directions from Google Maps got us there and then we followed the road to signs for Diamond Gulch.
We loved waking up to cows and turkeys, and an incredible sunrise view. There were such sweet little birds grazing nearby at sunset. At night, we didn’t hear much other than the sounds of nature and the wind, and we felt safe in the fenced off area of the campground.
Having the tent already set up was so incredibly helpful as we had to rent a small car and needed to pack lightly. A clean portable toilet, sink, water hose were all helpful too. The campfire wood was perfect, and just one small example of how we thought the owner, John, put a lot of care and thought into the campground.
We really couldn’t believe how perfect this location was for our Yosemite trip.

Absolute bliss!

Great stay at Diamond Gulch! Host was responsive and available. The bonus of free firewood and hot showers were next level. The sites were clean. Overall a great stay! It’s a little misleading as you think you are booking a specific site, when in actuality all sites are first come first serve. We pulled up in the evening and it was unclear how the process worked to pick a site, especially when we thought we had “site 1”. We had a lot of room because only a handful of campers there. Everyone was quiet and respectful. But if all sites are booked it may have been a different vibe.

Clean and great amenities

We stayed here for the night prior to a Hetch Hetchy backpacking trip. We arrived in the dark. We had reserved a site with a small two person tent already set up for us. It was a bit hard to find in the dark, but the camping area is fenced in under an oak grove so eventually we found the stump with our name on it next to the tent. In the future, I think I’ll just bring my own tent and deal with the small hassle of setting it up—the tent provided was fine, but definitely would not have been a good choice if there had been rain. And you could tell it is essentially set up 24/7—some tiny insects living inside etc. The campsites themselves were sufficiently spacious and the host has nice fire pits with fire wood provided for each site, plus picnic tables. Basic portapotties plus some running water for bathrooms. Fellow campers were an interesting mix of folks from all over, though I wish the owner had quiet hours posted and communicated—our immediate tent neighbors sat out chatting and laughing until nearly 1am which was annoying. The coyotes and owls at night were lovely. 

Cozy little spot 

Spots are unlevel, but not horribly. Firewood already at the site for your use. Wonderful outdoor showers! The scenery is beautiful! Wish we had more time to stay here longer. Favorite site of our trip so far

Amazing!

Booked a reservation through The Dyrt app for this place. Reservation says I booked for a “tent”, meaning a tent will be ready already and should have a bed inside. We wanted a place to sleep before heading to Yosemite the next day, without having to unpack our stuff.After booking on 5/18, I emailed the owner of the campground to make sure my reservation went through and I mentioned that I booked it through the dyrt app and it was a reservation for a tent. The owner replied with “it did”. Upon getting to the site, the owner was not there and we didn’t know where we needed to go. Some of his family members were camping there as well and helped us get a hold of him. 
When we finally spoke with the owner, he said that the dyrt app is not supposed to do reservation for the tent. We were put in an empty campsite because all the tents were occupied. This was around 9 pm, we don’t have time to set up tent so we took everything out of the back the car and slept in the back of the car.
I emailed the dyrt app to get a refund, I paid for the tent but got a camp site instead so I should be refunded for the difference plus not to mention the inconvenience. It was not my fault the reservation was incorrect, I also did my due diligence to make sure the booking was done correctly. It is not my fault the owner did not read my email properly when I asked. The dyrt app will not issue a refund because the owner said he will not issue a refund. 
Although the amount is not a lot, I would rather only pay for what I got. The owner was nice and his family was nice but we are really disappointed with our experience. 

Disappointed 

We used Diamond Gulch as our base while exploring Yosemite for 5 days.  Overall, it was a great experience with a great host!  We visited in mid to late July, so it was very hot, and this means the campground was a little dusty, but manageable.  As others have stated, there is free firewood at your site, but we were a little scared to light a wood fire given how everything was so dry.  Also, as others have mentioned the showers were great, but we did have issues with getting them to heat up.  

  

One thing to keep in mind is that while Groveland is only ~30 minutes from Yosemite, the drive within the park can take up 45-60 minutes.  So, plan accordingly and be prepared.  Our experience was that if we left camp around 7:30 we'd be through the gate with no line at 8am, and be at a parking lot around 9am.  This always worked for us to get a parking spot without any hassle.  After a long day of hiking and exploring the drive back to the campground felt a little long.

  

Something we did not expect was how little there is in Groveland itself.  We tried to spend a couple of hours there one afternoon, and ended up just grabbing coffee and going back to camp.  There just isn't much to do in town.  This isn't to discourage anyone, but keep that in mind.

  

The good:

\* Good host

\* Beautiful scenery from camp

\* Clean, well serviced bathrooms (porta potties)

\* Water available in camp

\* Excellent showers (especially when you can get them to heat up)

\* Very relaxed atmosphere

  

The okay:

\* The sites have wood chips spread to keep down dust, but those get tracked everywhere.

\* A bit of a drive from the sights in Yosemite

\* On busy weekends it can get a bit crowded

Excellent base for exploring Yosemite

Was a wonderful experience!
The host was super helpful even at night when we didn’t find our designated spot (even though it had super obvious signs - our fault)
Super lovely host and a beautiful ranch. A lot of fireplaces with wood. Can only recommend lighting up a little campfire and stargazing at night! Bring some marshmallows with you ! 

Photos of Diamond Gulch

Real photos from real campers