Dispersed Camping near Auberry, CA

Dispersed camping near Auberry, California centers around several areas in Sierra National Forest where elevations range from 3,000 to 5,200 feet. Most sites experience significant temperature variations between seasons, with summer daytime temperatures often reaching the high 80s while dropping to the 40s at night. Free camping options typically follow a 14-day stay limit and require visitors to pack out all waste, with limited cell service throughout much of the region.

What to do

Mountain biking on forest roads: Ten Mile Road (Forest Service Road 13S09) offers numerous trail options for mountain bikers of various skill levels. A camper noted that the area provides "solid, peaceful places" with "a left turn on a forest road" leading to good parking spots on FS Road 13s09 Dispersed Camp.

Chicago Stump historical visit: Located near several dispersed sites, this historic landmark is worth exploring. "Also a quick walk to the Chicago Stump which is a must see," reported one visitor staying at Cherry Gap OHV Staging Area.

Wildlife observation: Many sites offer opportunities to spot local deer, coyotes, and other wildlife. One camper at Goat Meadow shared that "coyotes and bears are active in the area—coyotes raided a bag I had hanging from a tree and stole my food!"

What campers like

Proximity to Yosemite: Many campers value the convenient location near Yosemite's South entrance. One visitor described their experience at Goat Meadow - Dispersed Camp Site: "Beautiful scenery, clean, close to Yosemite, and easy to reach. As others have said, follow Mount Raymond Rd up until you see the sign for the snow play area, and look to the right."

Seclusion with cell service: Some sites offer both privacy and connectivity. At Road to Armenian Camp, a camper reported: "We had 2 bars of Verizon and intermittent T-Mobile signal. The nearest dump station is at Sequoia RV Park in Dunlap, you just drop $20 in their box and use any available site they have."

Room for multiple vehicles: Many areas provide ample space for groups. A camper at Ten Mile Road observed that "the spot is big enough for 3 or 4 véhicules" and "has firepits, a camping table and loads of bushes."

What you should know

Seasonal changes in popularity: Holiday weekends dramatically affect site availability. A visitor to Yosemite "Boondock National" noted: "Stayed about a week which also crossed over Memorial Day weekend. Arrived the Tuesday before. This place gets CROWDED. At 5:30 it's like everyone got off work and headed home, it's nuts."

Bug activity varies by time: Insects can be problematic at certain hours. One camper reported: "What a brilliant place! Nestled amongst trees right on the edge of Yosemite... Only negative was the biting bugs which were everywhere & hungry but didn't spoil the evening, just wish I'd taken bug spray or a citronella candle!"

Tree sap concerns: Some parking areas have sap issues. A visitor cautioned: "Only downfall: We were in an area near trees that produced a lot of sap. It was all over our car the next morning and it stuck to the bottom of our shoes pretty bad. We took sticks and really had to dig out all the gunk."

Tips for camping with families

Snow play area access: Families can combine winter camping with sledding activities. One camper at Goat Meadow explained: "When I was there recently, some of the 'campsites' had 0-3", whereas other spots were about 6-8". Consequently, there were about 6-8 cars/vans that ended up camping in the parking lot of the snowplay area... around 7am, the place filled up with people sledding."

Finding flatter areas for tents: Seek out meadow areas for easier tent setup. A visitor described Goat Meadow as "a quiet, large space for setting up" with "plenty of space for all vehicle sizes" and noted the "roads are very accessible."

Off-season timing for privacy: Visiting during shoulder seasons provides more space. One camper reported: "Quite a large level area, though it was November and not peak season so there were loads of space. We pulled in and there were a couple of trailers with horses and a couple of other vehicles and we parked with loads of space between."

Tips from RVers

Road condition assessment: Check forest service road conditions before attempting access with larger rigs. At Bald Mountain Lookout, a camper warned: "If you enter from the Tamarack trail head and go down Rock Creek Rd its easy to get to the overlook tower. If you enter from the Dinkey Creek entrance get ready for some good offroad ohv trail action. I was able to get my 13ft offroad camper up there but it was a struggle."

Camping near alternative entrances: Free camping is available near less-used park entrances. A camper reported: "Great spot near Yosemite south entrance. Very quite and private." Another mentioned their spot was "only about a mile or so off the main road" with "spots a little confusing as there's no direct road through the sites, but you'll find a spot."

Finding level parking: RVers should scout for flatter areas. One visitor noted that "the spot has firepits, a camping table and loads of bushes" and was "nice big camp spot in the Sequoia National Forest" with road access that "was really calm mid-April."