Dispersed camping is permitted in Stanislaus National Forest and El Dorado National Forest near Camp Connell, California, with multiple free primitive sites accessible via forest roads. Popular locations include Top of Arnold along Forest Route 5N56, Bear Valley Dispersed Camping, and several sites along Silver Fork in El Dorado National Forest. These areas typically feature undesignated camping spots with established fire rings but minimal other development on public land.
Access roads to most dispersed sites require careful navigation, with many campers reporting rough, rutted dirt roads that may become impassable during wet conditions. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for areas like Top of Arnold, while some locations such as Silver Fork Dispersed and Mormon Emigrant Trail pull-offs can accommodate standard vehicles. Fire restrictions vary seasonally, with complete bans common during dry periods. No drinking water, toilets, or trash services are available at most sites, requiring campers to pack in all supplies and pack out all waste. Camping is generally limited to 14 days within a 30-day period on national forest land.
The dispersed camping areas provide varying experiences based on elevation and forest density. Sites at higher elevations offer panoramic views, while those near waterways provide water access but may have more insects. One camper at Silver Fork noted: "We stayed at a peak that offered 360° views with sunrise and sunset right from my tent." Sites near Arnold feature some dirt bike activity but remain relatively quiet. A visitor to Top of Arnold mentioned: "The dirt road up is full of ruts and potholes, but my Toyota Yaris made it up. Some noise from chainsaws in the distance one day, and some target practice, but neither lasted long." Cell service varies by location, with some areas providing limited connectivity for basic communication.
"A very secluded primitive site that is only a couple miles or less to town over paved and dirt roads. The roads are not four-wheel drive and are perfect for van lifers."
"Be sure to obtain a fire permit from Cal fire and check fire restrictions in the area have a bucket full of water and a shovel next to your fire at all times again this place was amazing"
"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 prepare."
"Lots of trails to ride your bike and walk."
"Amazing spot, several areas to pick from, safe and quiet with amazing views. Few other people but that also made me feel safe. I would definitely come back."
"Powerlines are nearby but there are a few fire pits. They seem to be logging the area and running cattle but it’s pretty quiet."
"While there’s a no trespassing sign, this is indeed a Forest Service-managed site and confirmed as a dispersed location."
"Our first dispersed camping experience, so i'm not sure how it compares to others. There is tons of space, no bathrooms, no water, basically no people - kind of lovely."
"The ranger drove by briefly both days but didn't stop to give us any feedback. We followed the coordinates using GPS out to this site just fine without losing signal."
"This is a fairly easy to reach dispersed site in the El Dorado NF, north of HWY 88 and about 1-2 miles from a developed NF campground called PiPi (pr PiePie)."
"Easy access and reasonably good road quality make it very RV friendly - I would say that it was at least 75% RVs/Trailers. Beautiful views of the valley and hills to the east."
"Easy to see right off the road with plenty of campsites down either side of a nice dirt road. Rocky and steep road access to Scott’s lake, but easy camping on the edge of the valley."
"Access road isn’t bad and it’s close to the park."
"I stayed to car camp and had an overall nice time. There was a good amount of ice but with 4x4 not problem. The ice was melting so if you go anytime after the snow should be a lot less."
"The coordinates listed on the app are simply for the entrance to the dispersed camping. There are infinite amounts of primitive roads to drive down and find camp."
"The area is spacious and conveniently located not too far off the main road, making it easy to access without feeling too isolated."
"I was there on weekdays so was pretty much alone the whole time but even if the main spot is occupied there’s a couple of dirt roads that lead to more areas to camp."
"Needed a place to camp after driving 12 hours from Washington . Wanted to stay as close to Yosemite . This place did the trick . No one was there . Quiet and serene . Lots of scorched trees ."
"This is full wilderness camping off the main road between hope valley and the blue lakes."
"Several areas along Blue Lakes Rd offer dispersed camping."
RangerNot even sure i found the exact place. Go through a little neighborhood an come to a gravel road. Found a little turn around an spent the night. Didnt see anyone. Cell coverage enough to get texts.
TravelerOur first dispersed camping experience, so i'm not sure how it compares to others. There is tons of space, no bathrooms, no water, basically no people - kind of lovely. The ground is all fairly rocky - so expect bumps and lumps under your tent. 😅 There is TONS of space in what I assume was their parking lot. Easy RV parking for sure. There is also a dirt road you can go down to get a bit further from the main road. Reccomend AWL or FWD if going more than half way down. Come prepared with enough water etc. - the views are absolutely worth it. Oh! And I often had 5G signal with Verizon. Sometimes only 4G, but very rarely fully lost signal.
GuideOnly one designated site from what I saw, but more cars could fit! A rocky and bumpy drive up, but my 2WD rav-4 did just fine. Did see some bears on the way! Had two bars with t-mobile
GuideOnly about 25 minutes from South Tahoe, pretty drive, and designated spots to pull in! Didn’t have any issues with noise, sites were very clean, and there was a pit toilet!
TravelerWe timed our visit in the middle of the week after school had started so we were alone which made this an incredible spot. Great spot if you have a big group. We only we to the large open spot at the top with what looks like two actual sites. It’s right in the OHV area so we could see how it could get really busy and noisy.
ScoutThis was just an overnight stay for us so we closed the windows and put on music to avoid the hum of the generators surrounding us. Beautiful view as others have mentioned, and easy access back into Tahoe if you'd like. But was already packed by 3pm and a consistent hum of vehicles. But lots of level sites and easy to get back on the road!
TravelerOnly a couple people here dispersed camping on a weekend. Arrived on Friday around 2 PM and the best spot was taken, but there were several others that were very good. It’s an unusual place as it is in abandoned ski resort. Lots of wide open spaces, but to the west there are two spots that are fairly secluded, but still open space and allow for good son for solar and great mountain and Sunset views. Very spotty cell service make sure you bring Starlink. It is a little close to the road so there’s slight road noise and on the weekend you can hear gunfire far away in the distance as people are in the forest taking target practice. No big deal though, very safe place. The sites are about 7500 feet above sea level. So even on the hottest days, it’s relatively cool and very comfortable at night (50s to 60s).
GuideStayed here 3 nights when visiting Yosemite. Approx. 5 minutes from west entrance and one hour from Curry/Yosemite Villages. Tons of spaces, some set back from the road/pull in and some are next to the road (but still fairly spacious). Would definitely stay again. No service for me with Verizon.
ScoutHigh clearance vehicle and 4wd highly recommended. The place has gotten pretty popular, so many groups and in and out traffic I lost count. It’s a beautiful place, we enjoyed the lake.
Dispersed camping near Camp Connell, California offers several options across Stanislaus and El Dorado National Forests at elevations between 5,000-8,300 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 45-85°F, with forest roads closing seasonally during winter months. The surrounding area features mixed conifer forests with ponderosa pine, sugar pine, and incense cedar trees.
Fishing access: Multiple dispersed camping spots provide river access, particularly along Silver Fork. "There are a total of 3 established sites. 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," reports a camper at Silver Fork River Camping.
Stargazing: Open areas away from light pollution create excellent viewing conditions. At Bear Valley Dispersed Camping, one visitor noted, "We arrived when it was dark and had no problem finding a spot! It was open with plenty of spots & we were the only ones! Perfect spot for star gazing!!"
Mountain biking: The region offers numerous trails for various skill levels. "There are plenty of sites to choose from, catering to different preferences," says one camper, while another at Dispersed USFS mentions "near-by trails for dirt bikes, Jeeping, horses, mountain biking or hiking."
Panoramic views: Elevated camping spots provide exceptional scenery. A visitor at Iron MT. Dispersed shared, "The ground is very flat and many areas are paved with gravel. At 7500 feet above sea level, the view is wide and the scenery is beautiful, especially the sunset view." Another camper noted, "Great spot with an amazing view. There are also many OHV trails close by."
Solitude: Many dispersed sites offer privacy despite proximity to more popular areas. A camper at Mormon Emigrant Trail Dispersed Pull Off reported, "Large pull off area I found and stayed at for 4 days with amazing views of the sunset and sunrise! I was there on weekdays so was pretty much alone the whole time but even if the main spot is occupied there's a couple of dirt roads that lead to more areas to camp."
Accessible water features: Streams and lakes enhance the camping experience. A visitor to Silver Fork River Camping described sites that "are on the river and have paths down to the water with a little beach," while another camper mentioned "Rivers for fishing and endless hiking and biking."
Cell service variability: Connectivity differs significantly between locations. At Top of Arnold - FR 5N56 Dispersed, 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." At Iron MT. Dispersed, visitors had mixed experiences: "We had 3 bars of AT&T connection there," while another noted, "I had no service with Verizon or t-mobile."
Road conditions: Access routes vary in difficulty and may change seasonally. A visitor to Dispersed USFS warned, "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 and deep puddles can appear."
Camping permits: Some areas require permits for overnight stays. A camper at Silver Fork Dispersed noted, "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."
Look for established sites: Pre-used areas often have basic improvements. At Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping, a visitor with a family mentioned, "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."
Consider campsite proximity: Some areas are close to recreational facilities. A camper noted that their spot was "near enough to Rush Creek Lodge that you could hear kid noise from the pool during the day but it got quiet after 9pm."
Pack insect protection: Bug activity varies by location and season. One visitor warned, "Lots of ticks! be prepared," while another mentioned avoiding creek-side camping because "the spots along the creek were very buggy. We found one away from the water and not at all buggy."
Arrive early for level spots: Finding suitable parking for larger vehicles requires planning. A camper at Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping advised, "We had our choice of several places to set up. It is very quiet here, not hearing any road noise. A forest ranger told us there were more spaces up near the lake, but we didn't venture up there."
Check elevation and grade: Higher sites may require more powerful vehicles. A visitor to Dispersed USFS mentioned, "Elevation is 8300ft so definitely a bit high. The trees help with the air however. Not nearly as tough as the high desert of Utah (Zion or Brice) but just take it easy if you're not used to high altitude."
Scout before committing: Pre-check sites for suitability before attempting to park. "We recommend taking some time to survey the land before setting up camp, as some spots are slightly sloped," advised an overnight camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Camp Connell, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Camp Connell, CA is Top of Arnold - FR 5N56 Dispersed with a 3.9-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Camp Connell, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 32 dispersed camping locations near Camp Connell, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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