Best Tent Camping near Cedar Ridge, CA
The Sierra Nevada foothills surrounding Cedar Ridge, California offer tent campers several established and dispersed camping options in Stanislaus National Forest. Top of Arnold Dispersed Camping on Forest Route 5N56 provides free primitive tent sites, while North Grove Campground in Calaveras Big Trees State Park offers more developed tent camping with amenities among towering sequoia trees.
Most dispersed tent sites near Cedar Ridge have minimal facilities. Forest Route 4N39 provides roadside camping with level grounds on the ridgeline, suitable for tent campers seeking solitude. Boards Crossing, while technically decommissioned, offers walk-in tent camping with swimming holes nearby. Campers should pack all water and supplies, as most areas have no potable water or restroom facilities. Fire restrictions vary seasonally, with complete bans common during summer and fall. Bear boxes are provided at established campgrounds but not at dispersed sites, making proper food storage essential for tent campers.
Tent campsites in the area range from densely forested to open ridgelines with expansive views. North Grove Campground provides a more developed experience with bear boxes, fire rings, and picnic tables, though tent sites near the highway may experience road noise. One camper noted that North Grove has "well maintained grounds, friendly rangers, and hiking trails close by." Dispersed camping areas offer greater solitude but require self-sufficiency. A visitor to Forest Route 4N39 shared that the best camping is found "at the back area for tree shade and level grounds." Most tent sites become inaccessible during winter months due to snow, with higher elevation areas sometimes seeing snow into early summer.