Dispersed camping near Arnold, California includes sites situated between 6,500 and 8,500 feet elevation throughout the Sierra Nevada mountains. Free primitive campsites in the surrounding national forests experience seasonal temperature variations with summer highs around 80°F and winter lows regularly below freezing. Camping restrictions and road accessibility change significantly between seasons, with winter conditions often requiring specialized vehicles or permits.
What to do
Stargazing at higher elevations: Find exceptional night sky viewing at Iron MT. Dispersed where the 7,500-foot elevation provides panoramic views. A camper noted, "The view from this area is spectacular. Beautiful sunsets too. It is a pretty open area with lots of room to camp."
Fishing at riverside sites: Access stream fishing at Silver Fork River Camping where you can camp directly beside the water. According to a review, "All the sites are on the river and have paths down to the water with a little beach. When we were there in early June the water was still very cold. It's a popular fishing spot with the locals."
Off-road trail exploration: Multiple forest routes near Bear Valley Dispersed Camping connect to extensive dirt biking and hiking trails. A visitor mentioned, "Bear valley is my favorite place to go camping, the most you get close to the top of the mountain, the most curvy the road is, so be prepared."
What campers like
Reliable cellular connectivity: Several dispersed sites maintain adequate coverage for basic communications. At Top of Arnold, a camper reported "It's suitable enough of a campground, Verizon works. There is sun for solar panels and enough shade to be fine mostly."
Flat camping surfaces: Mormon Emigrant Trail offers level terrain for comfortable tent setup. One camper described, "Large pull off area I found and stayed at for 4 days with amazing views of the sunset and sunrise! A couple of level spots and lots of room to hike around."
Diverse terrain options: Hardin Flat Road provides varied camping environments with spots ranging from shaded forest to open areas. A reviewer shared, "Lots of available spots along Hardin Flat Road, most with good shade. Passed 10-15 pull out spots for car campers, and at least 10 more easily accessible spots for tents."
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Many access routes require specific vehicle capabilities. Regarding Forest Route 4N39, a camper warned, "You don't need 4x4 but you definitely will need a vehicle with some decent clearance. There are some weirdly purposefully placed speed bumps on the west end of the road."
Weather affects site availability: Seasonal closures impact many dispersed camping areas. At Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping, a visitor encountered problems: "Arriving around 9pm after a long drive to find the gate locked was very disheartening, especially since reception in the area around Kirwood is missing."
Permit requirements exist: Some areas require camping permits despite being free. A camper at USFS Silver Fork Dispersed advised, "You are required to have a permit for any day/overnight use in Eldorado, including this area. They can be easily acquired at recreation.gov."
Tips for camping with families
Look for established pull-offs: Choose sites with clearly defined boundaries for safety with children. A visitor to Bear Valley noted, "This is a nice little private camp spot for the most part, There's a campground with its own fence around it for private camping."
Select lower-elevation options in spring: Higher sites remain snow-covered late into the season. One reviewer at Iron MT commented, "The site was covered in snow, and there was a sign saying no camping in snow clearing conditions. Additionally you aren't allowed in without a Sno-park permit from November 1st to May 31st."
Pack insect protection: Bugs can be prevalent in certain areas during summer months. A camper at Scotts Lake Road observed, "Lots and lots of bugs. I sleep in my car and crack the windows a little bit and i woke up to a shit ton of bugs that got in my car. Even more surrounding the cars."
Tips from RVers
Arrive early for level spots: Securing the limited level areas requires timing, especially for larger rigs. At Scotts Lake Road, an RV camper shared, "We are new to dispersed camping and have a 40 ft 5th wheel as well as a GMC Denali 350 dually. We need a large space to fit into. We arrived on a Monday at noon and found that the large area about 1/4 mile in was not at all crowded."
Know elevation grade challenges: Steeper routes may challenge larger vehicles. One RVer at Dispersed USFS cautioned, "There are prolonged climbs to get here (up to about 8% grade) but my bus did fine. Slow and steady and you'll be fine. Also WATCH THE WEATHER! Rain can cause spots of the road in to get washed out a bit."
Identify suitable turnaround areas: Select sites with adequate space to maneuver. A camper at Silver Fork River advised, "I am parked across from a private drive so I can turn around with my RV if needed."
