Best Tent Camping near Avery, CA
Several tent camping options exist near Avery, California, with varying amenities and settings. Top of Arnold - FR 5N56 Dispersed offers primitive tent sites along Forest Route 5N56, while North Grove Campground within Calaveras Big Trees State Park provides established tent camping among giant sequoias. The dispersed camping areas typically require campers to navigate dirt roads, while established campgrounds offer more developed facilities.
Access to dispersed tent sites near Avery often involves rough dirt roads with ruts and potholes. The Top of Arnold area features dirt roads that can be challenging but are still passable for standard vehicles. A camper noted, "The dirt road up is full of ruts and potholes, but my Toyota Yaris made it up." Most dispersed sites lack amenities like toilets, water, or trash service, requiring campers to pack in supplies and pack out waste. In contrast, North Grove Campground provides bear boxes, picnic tables, fire rings, flush toilets, and coin-operated showers.
Tent campers at North Grove experience camping beneath giant sequoia trees with spacious sites. The ground at established campgrounds consists primarily of soft, powdered dirt that can become dusty during dry periods. Sites in the Top of Arnold area offer more seclusion but with occasional noise from dirt bikes and target shooting. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, the area provides "2 bars LTE of Verizon" service, making it suitable for those needing limited connectivity. Dispersed camping areas typically allow fires when fire restrictions aren't in place, while North Grove Campground provides designated fire rings. Many tent sites throughout the region offer good shade coverage and proximity to hiking trails, with the state park providing access to numerous trails through the sequoia groves.
