Best Dispersed Camping near Bass Lake, CA

Dispersed camping near Bass Lake, California offers several free primitive sites on public lands. Goat Meadow Dispersed Camp Site provides accessible camping close to Yosemite's south entrance, with multiple sites suitable for both tents and RVs. According to reviews, "the area is flat and any car, truck or RV/trailer can make it back easily," though some dirt roads require careful navigation. Yosemite "Boondock National" Dispersed Camping along Mount Raymond Road features well-spaced sites with natural privacy barriers.

No amenities exist at these dispersed sites. Campers must bring all necessary water, as no potable sources are available. Pack out all trash and waste. Cell service varies significantly by location and carrier. Several campers noted that while Goat Meadow offers "plenty of firewood," current fire restrictions must be verified with Sierra National Forest before any campfire is built. A valid California Campfire Permit is required for any stove or fire use.

Road conditions to dispersed sites vary seasonally. High clearance vehicles are recommended for many access roads, particularly after rain or snow melt. The Forest Service maintains information boards at major entry points with road condition updates. Summer temperatures at Bass Lake can exceed 90°F, while winter brings snow at higher elevations, potentially limiting access. Wildlife encounters are common; proper food storage is essential to prevent attracting bears. The standard dispersed camping stay limit is 14 days within a 30-day period on National Forest land.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Bass Lake, California (54)

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Bass Lake, CA

168 Reviews of 54 Bass Lake Campgrounds


  • Thomas K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 9, 2020

    Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping

    Private hotspring with mountain views

    4x4 or high clearance coming in. Long dirt road with dips and rocks. Water only flowing in winter months. Lots of tent camping spots along with 8 back in spots. Really amazing views 360 degrees. No service with Verizon.

  • Val C.
    Jul. 3, 2023

    Mono Basin Dispersed Camp Site

    Epic

    Came up here in July. It gets warm during the day, but there is a good breeze during the day. And an even better breeze at night. lots of bugs. bring bug spray. 4wd not required, but might help. High clearance will help.

  • Dave V.
    Sep. 13, 2018

    Gladys Lake Backcountry, Ansel Adams Wilderness

    Breathtaking Beauty!

    RANGER REVIEW: Mountain House Spaghetti with Meat Sauce at Gladys Lake Backcountry Campsites, Ansel Adams Wilderness, CA

    CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Gladys Lake Backcountry Campsite, Ansel Adams Wilderness

    Backcountry camping often offers great hiking, epic scenery, serene solitude and otherwise missed sights. Depending on location, backcountry campsite locations can offer their own challenges, whether through the permitting process, preparation of gear and meals, logistics, or difficult terrain…but the trade offs can pay out big dividends.

    Leaving behind the din of packed campgrounds…getting unplugged from electronic encumbrances…relaxing beside an untouched alpine lake where the only sound you hear is the whir of dragonfly wings as they dart about.

    Only a set number of backcountry permits are issued daily, so crowds and impact remain minimal to nonexistent.

    Permits are necessary for all backcountry overnight stays in the Inyo National Forest. https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/inyo/passes-permits

    Whenever backcountry hiking/camping in California, do yourself a service and go online https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/inyo/passes-permits/?cid=stelprdb5139009 and take the California Campfire Permit test to acquire your certificate and possess it when in the backcountry.

    Several ways to get to Gladys Lake exist…

    1. John Muir Trail (JMT) thru-hike permits NOBO or SOBO

    2. John Muir Trail section hike permits

    3. Wilderness Permits Day hike permits

    You could enter from Reds Meadows and follow the JMT north to Gladys Lake…or better from Agnew Meadows and follow the Shadow Creek Trail (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=21272&actid=51 ) up and around Shadow Lake and then south on the JMT past Rosalie Lake to Gladys Lake. Each access trail has a daily quota…such as Shadow Creek, which has a daily quota of 30…18 secured through reservation and 12 walk-ups. So if you are choosing to walk-up, have some flexibility of starting days.

    We had a JMT SOBO permit acquired six months in advance through the NPS permit lottery. But next visit, I will likely enter through Agnew Meadows via day permit.

    Most hikers will stop and camp at Rosalie Lake, which is a wonderful option and a much larger lake. Some would suggest a more picturesque lake than Gladys Lake…but that is all in the eye of the beholder.

    August of 2018 saw little precipitation and the winter snowfall was below expectations, so lake water levels were lower and surrounding shoreline not marshy or soggy. Which made for dry and mosquito free conditions.

    The effects of local forest fires did cover surrounding mountain views during certain times of the day, and brought with it a bit of lung burning and eye stinging. Early morning and late evening hours brought clearer skies.

    Be forewarned that seemingly every backcountry campsite brings with it a steep uphill slog, but worth it. Gladys Lake is at 9600 ft elevation.

    I believe there was one other camper at Gladys Lake the night we stayed…but we neither heard nor saw them. It was a perfectly peaceful evening!

    Amenities? Well, no showers…no toilets…no water spigots…no electricity…no picnic tables…one lonely stone fire ring but open fires are not permitted. No cell service or WiFi…no general store or local grocery store. However, Gladys Lake water was refreshing both to wade and drink (filtered). You are surrounded by fragrant conifers that buffer sound. A perfectly peaceful location to relax and dream.

    PRODUCT REVIEW: Mountain House Spaghetti With Meat Sauce

    https://www.mountainhouse.com/

    As a frequent user of Mountain House freezes dried dinners, and being a creature of habit, I often settle into a couple favorite meals and don’t deviate to new offerings. Mundane and boring?…perhaps.

    But…after winning $100 worth of Mountain House meals through an early season TheDyrt.com contest… and with my daughter as my hiking buddy, I selected several different meals to avoid mutiny.

    One of these meal pouches was Mountain House’s Spaghetti with Meat Sauce.

    I admit, I was a little suspect as to how freeze-dried spaghetti with meat sauce would taste, but we were both very pleased with the sauce flavors, seasoning and the amount of meat in the sauce. The only thing I would add is a couple slices of toasted garlic bread.

    If the next rotation of Mountain House Spaghetti with Meat Sauce was easily located in our bear canisters, we would’ve likely had a second helping…but sadly, it was not.

    In pairing down weight before our backcountry hike, I removed the contents from Mountain House’s original packaging and utilized a commercial vacuum sealer to make smaller, lighter meal packs as 11 days of food needed to fit in a bear canister. It worked, but the distinct drawback was not being able to prepare the meal in the resealable pouch. A pot was necessary to allow the freeze-dried contents to soak in the boiling water. So clean up was more extensive than it would’ve been by using the Mountain House resealable pouch. It was a trade off and we made it work.

    If you are new to Mountain House freeze dried meals, directions are printed plain and simple on the pouch.

    •Measure out the prescribed amount of water

    •boil water

    •open meal pouch and remove moisture packet

    •pour boiling water in pouch and stir contents thoroughly

    •seal pouch for prescribed time

    •open pouch and stir contents

    •serve and enjoy

    It doesn’t get any easier.

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Yosemite “Boondock National” Dispersed Camping

    Amazing boondocking!!

    What a brilliant place! Nestled amongst trees right on the edge of Yosemite. Was quite busy when I was there but managed to find a quiet spot tucked away & private. Bumpy roads around the actual camping area but manageable in a camper van. Actually saw a few big rigs here too. 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!

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2022

    Owens River Road Dispersed

    Lots of Spots Along Owens River Rd

    There are a ton of spots to camp along Owens River Rd.  All the spots closest to 395 were taken when we went in late September, but we found this spot that I've marked here that was easily accessible in our 26ft Motorhome.  Owens River Rd itself is paved, but the offshoots are hit or miss so take it slowly and proceed at your vehicle's ability. 

    This particular spot was nice and big and is probably suitable for any size rig.  The pavement on the road heading in was partly washed out but we were easily able to drive around the pits.  See video - it's long but I recorded us leaving the spot and showed the pits in the road.

    Good cell reception, very quiet, very little traffic.  

    No amenities, no toilets, no trash service.  Area was clean! Hopefully it stays that way.

  • Mark L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2025

    Van Haven Dispersed Site Yosemite

    Rugged, Remote, Dusty

    Red Cloud Rd offers few viable camping sites. The road becomes increasingly rough and eroded, with deep ruts and drainages. 4WD or AWD is necessary. Site offers scenic views, unobstructed night sky, and interesting exploration.

    Leave no trace!

  • Alex P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2020

    Inyo National Forest Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful dispersed camping

    You can get maps for this area at some of the information boards at the beginning of the dirt roads, they also have an app that will show you all the roads in the area. What’s nice is the map color codes the roads so that you know what your vehicle is capable of driving on. Some of the roads can get a bit rough, so make sure you know your vehicles limits. Once you get out there, enjoy! It’s so beautiful and quiet. Please make sure you pack in and pack out your trash, there are no services for that. Also, be aware of fire restrictions!

  • Megan S.
    Jul. 28, 2022

    Scenic Loop - Dispersed Camping

    Great free camping!

    Got here on Sunday - plenty of spots to park the camper van both Sunday and Monday. Multiple turn offs on the Scenic Loop road to camp at. No bathrooms, water, electricity, or fire rings. Pretty dispersed but close enough to downtown. Would go back!

  • T
    Oct. 3, 2019

    Inyo National Forest Dispersed Camping

    Boondockers welcome!

    We boondocked in Inyo National Forest just last weekend, September 27-29, and it felt like we had the place to ourselves. The location was incredible, there were fellow boondockers around, but not too close, and it felt like we had the place to ourselves. There is no water on site that we found, but we knew that going in. Our rig was 58' long and we had no issues getting in or out. We enjoyed Jeeping on the trails in Inyo National Forest, and we enjoyed the peace and quiet. We will be back.


Guide to Bass Lake

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Bass Lake, California, where nature lovers can enjoy serene landscapes and a sense of adventure without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. This area offers a variety of spots that cater to different camping styles, from tent setups to RV accommodations.

Enjoy Scenic Views while Free Camping near Bass Lake

Top Activities for Dispersed Campers

  • Hiking enthusiasts will appreciate the proximity of the Dewey Point Backcountry Site — Yosemite National Park, which offers breathtaking views of El Capitan and the valley, making it an ideal spot for outdoor adventures.
  • Fishing is a popular activity at Gladys Lake Backcountry, Ansel Adams Wilderness, where you can enjoy the tranquility of the alpine lake while casting a line for some local trout.
  • For those who love star gazing, the JO Pass offers complete seclusion and clear skies, making it a perfect spot to unwind under the stars after a day of hiking.

Must-Visit Attractions for Dispersed Campers

  • The Duck Lake Dispersed area is a great starting point for accessing the John Muir Trail, providing a scenic backdrop for those looking to explore the iconic hiking route.
  • If you're after a more rugged experience, the Silver Pass Lake Dispersed site is located at a high altitude, offering stunning views and a challenging hike for adventurous campers.
  • The Lake Virginia Dispersed area is known for its picturesque surroundings and is a great spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying the serenity of the wilderness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need permits for dispersed camping at Bass Lake?

Yes, permits are typically required for dispersed camping near Bass Lake. At Gladys Lake Backcountry, Ansel Adams Wilderness, wilderness permits are necessary for overnight stays. Laurel Springs Campground and other dispersed sites in the area enforce a 14-day maximum stay limit. During fire season, campfire permits are mandatory if fires are allowed at all. Many dispersed areas implement seasonal fire restrictions, especially in summer months. Check with the Sierra National Forest office before your trip as regulations can change. You may need to obtain permits in advance, particularly during peak season when quotas may be in effect.

Where can I find dispersed camping areas near Bass Lake?

Several dispersed camping options exist near Bass Lake. Goat Meadow - Dispersed Camp Site offers accessible camping close to Bass Lake. For those willing to venture slightly further, Yosemite "Boondock National" Dispersed Camping provides camping spots nestled amongst trees near Yosemite's boundary. While access roads to dispersed sites can be bumpy, most are manageable even in camper vans. Look for established pullouts and cleared areas, being mindful that some forest roads require high clearance vehicles. Always check current forest service regulations before heading out, as available areas may change seasonally based on fire restrictions or other closures.

What facilities or amenities are available at Bass Lake dispersed camping sites?

Dispersed camping sites near Bass Lake offer very minimal facilities. At Mono Basin Dispersed Camp Site, you'll find scenic pullouts with views but no developed amenities. Similarly, Owens River Road Dispersed provides multiple camping opportunities without facilities. Most dispersed sites have no bathrooms, potable water, electricity, or established fire rings. Cell service varies dramatically by location and provider, with many areas having no coverage. You'll need to pack in all necessary supplies, including water, and pack out all waste. These sites are truly primitive, offering the bare essentials of a place to camp with the responsibility of leave-no-trace camping firmly on visitors.