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Best Tent Camping near Dunlap, CA

872 Reviews

Tent campers exploring the foothills near Dunlap, California can choose from several established campgrounds within 30 minutes of Kings Canyon National Park. The area features options like Dunlap Canyon Retreat which offers designated tent sites with picnic tables and access to clean restroom facilities. Camp Ikigai Animal Sanctuary also provides tent-specific areas with access to water hookups and shower facilities in a more rustic setting.

Most tent camping areas near Dunlap require advance planning as amenities vary significantly between locations. Sites typically feature dirt or gravel pads with minimal grading, and while some campgrounds like Dunlap Canyon Retreat provide water and clean bathrooms, others like Hume Lake Rd Overlook offer primitive dispersed camping with no facilities. Fire restrictions are common during summer months, particularly in dispersed areas. One camper noted that "even though all the sites were full, it was surprisingly quiet" at Crystal Springs Campground, highlighting the respectful camping culture in the area.

The tent camping experience near Dunlap offers unique advantages for those seeking proximity to Kings Canyon National Park. Areas farther from developed campgrounds provide deeper seclusion with fewer crowds, though road access can be challenging. A visitor to Weaver Lake Trail Campsites described it as "worth the effort" and "a beautiful place few people visit," noting its clean, quiet atmosphere. Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for day hikes into the surrounding mountains, with several sites offering direct trail access. Early fall brings cooler temperatures ideal for tent camping, while summer months can be warm with occasional issues from wasps or insects. Most tent sites throughout the region provide natural shade from oak and pine trees, creating comfortable microclimates even during warmer periods.

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Best Tent Sites Near Dunlap, California (59)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Dunlap, CA

62 Photos of 59 Dunlap Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Dunlap, CA

872 Reviews of 59 Dunlap Campgrounds

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 16, 2021

    Big Pine Creek Campground

    Creek side paradise

    I stayed here May 10-12th with my two dogs. I chose a site right along the creek which was wonderful to fall asleep to the sounds of rushing water. Many sites are quite spacious and offer a sandy area for tent set up. Most sites have a picnic table, fire pit, & metal bear box for food storage. Vault toilet available that were surprisingly clean. Camp host was friendly and had firewood on site available for purchase for $8/bundle. The website lists nightly rate as $21/night but when I arrived the sign had been updated to $23/night. This was the perfect basecamp for some day hikes up Big Pine Creek Trail to some beautiful blue lakes.

  • Dave V.
    Sep. 7, 2018

    Thousand Island Lake Backcountry

    Solitude, Splendor, Serenity!

    Thousand Island Lake is a backcountry camping area located at 9,839 feet elevation in Ansel Adams Wilderness within the Inyo National Forest, California.

    If you desire 360 degree mountain beauty, a cool lake to fish, float, swim or reflect by, epic sunrises and sunsets, star-filled night skies...or just desire the unearthly quiet of being unplugged and being a speck in rugged vastness...this is for you!

    This incredible dispersed backcountry camping area must:

    1. Be hiked into
    2. Possess a permit
    3. Use approved bear canisters
    4. Leave No Trace

    There are a few methods of getting to Thousand Island Lake...all involve backpacks and hiking. First, if you are hiking the Pacific Crest Trail NOBO or SOBO, you will at some point of your journey reach Thousand Island Lake. Second, if you are hiking the John Muir Trail NOBO or SOBO, you will reach Thousand Island Lake during your journey. Third, you can choose a beautifully scenic 14.3 mile out and back from Mammoth, CA...the shortest of the three options. Fourth, there are horseback/mule train options.

    We happened to reach Thousand Island Lake as part of our August 2018 SOBO John Muir Trail attempt.

    Choosing to hike in by any of the options takes planning and preparation. This is beautiful country, but it is also rough and unforgiving. The trails are wonderfully cared for, but not groomed and flat...know this and adequately prepare.

    Every hiking/camping group must possess a permit, which for a short hike directly into Thousand Island Lake is secured through the Inyo National Forest office. PCT and JMT permits are primarily lottery based (although several walk-in permits are granted each day on site...but that's a gamble).Inyo National Forest website page states: "Groups cannot be larger than 15 people (includes day use). Quota of 30 people permitted to start overnight trips each day from May 1 to November 1."

    This is active black bear country, so you must use approved bear canisters for food and odoriferous items (toothpaste, soap, lip balm, insect repellent, etc). Stiff fines by rangers (and they do backcountry patrols) await if you foolishly ignore this law...worse yet, you might receive a catastrophic visit from Yogi or Boo-Boo. We did not see any bear or evidence of their presence but I’m sure they saw us.

    Leave No Trace...pack it in...pack it out. Yes, that means everything. Know the rules and abide by them. Nothing more distasteful and damaging to pristine wilderness are those that believe they are the exception to this rule and leave trash...worse, waste and TP dotting the landscape. Unfortunately, I found myself burying selfish stranger's waste. So bring a small shovel (www.tentlab) and a Ziploc freezer baggie to pack out your TP.

    There is signage at Thousand Island Lake advising where to camp, which is far away from the main JMT trail. Again, abide by the rules and camp at least 40 feet away from the trail and 100 feet from the lake. Read and obey the list of rules on the website.

    We camped on the northwest area of the Lake. Numerous hikers were there, some groups that hiked in for a day or two, others were thru-hikers. I enjoy the "community" of backcountry backpacker's. Day hikers can bring "Fido."

    It is unnecessary to pack in hordes of water, as there seems to be streams and lakes aplenty. I'd recommend a reliable water filter or boiling the water to ensure a parasite free thirst quencher. We used a simple Sawyer Squeeze, which was both lightweight and effective.

    Once camp is set, hike around the trails of this pristine wilderness and soak it all in...or just pull out your sleeping pad and relax.

    I have read and been admonished to use 100% DEET for the mosquitoes on the JMT...particularly June-July, and though prepared, we experienced none in mid-August, nor at this elevation. The elevation should not be bothersome healthwise, as it is not above 10,000 ft. As Floridian Flatlanders, we had no adverse altitude maladies...other than being out of breath while climbing passes. June and early July hikers may experience snow at this elevation depending on the winter accumulations.

    Several notable peaks shadow Thousand Island Lake, Banner Peak being one of them.

    For those securing a day hike permit, search out several websites/blogs for the best starting locations (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/thousand-island-lake-pct).

    If you are looking for the best bang for your buck in backcountry short trips, file this one away as a "must do!" There are others in the eastern Sierra Nevadas...but that's for another post.

  • Caroline N.
    Jun. 20, 2021

    Sunset Campground — Kings Canyon National Park

    Wonderful Campground, Avoid 32 &34

    Great location, centrally located for exploring both Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.

    Nicely shaded spots and the higher elevation is nice for cooler nights during the hot summer months.

    Great views of the sunset from the back of the campground.

    Grant Grove Village is very close by with market and restaurant.

    We stayed in site 32 which was probably the worst spot in the campground. Very hilly spot with one flat spot for a tent right next to neighbors picnic table and fire pit. Both 32 & 34 are tent only spots and right on top of each other. The other sites nearby were much more flat and looked much nicer.

  • Mary S.
    Feb. 18, 2021

    Potwisha Campground — Sequoia National Park

    Campsite 13

    We camped at site 13 between 2/12 and 2/14. There were restrooms and a large sink that is useful to dump bear attracting water located pretty close.

    The campsite itself is fairly large. I would say it lends itself more to tent camping than car or RTT camping. The site is located on a significant slope, this includes the paved parking area and the grass. There are a fire pit, bear box and picnic table located at the site. Be wary, when we went there were numerous large holes that were definitely a trip hazard.

    While there were rangers and employees of the park driving around, there were no actual rangers at the kiosk. Additionally, there wasn't a reservation list posted.

  • D
    Aug. 1, 2018

    Dorst Creek Campground — Sequoia National Park - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    No complaints!

    This was a beautiful campground. The only thing negative I could say about this campground is that a lot of the campsites are very close to each other. But if you choose wisely, as my friend and I did, then I have no complaints. Surrounded by trees and wildlife, we were visited by deer and entertained by a family of quails as we sat around our fire. Our campsite had a fire ring with a grill, two picnic tables and a bear box. The restrooms, which had flush toilets, were clean and well maintained. There was potable water near our campsite and an additional bear box was nearby if needed. There were also trash bins, including separate waste bins for recycling glass and plastics nearby. There was no cell reception in the campground but there was a pay phone next to the ranger station where you check into camp. Though I do not know if it was in working condition so I would not rely on it. If you were planning on hiking to some of the less traveled spots in the park, this campground was nice because there were several trails that you could access from within the campground.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 31, 2021

    Inyo / Lower Grays Meadow Campground

    Beautiful mountain views

    Beautiful small campground at the foot of the mountains, easily accessed from the small town of Independence and about 45 min drive north to Bishop.  

    Campground is currently open (March), but in winter operation mode. No water, no host, no firewood, and no fees.  Campground open date is April 25, not sure when winter season starts. Price is $25 when open.

    There are toilets but they are closed at this time and there are porta potties instead.

    There are trash bins that are unlocked, but the website says that there is no trash service during the winter season so be prepared to pack out your trash if needed.

    Each site has a picnic table, a fire ring, and a bear box. Some sites have a cool rock oven/stove.  Each site has a unique configuration, some being more private and surrounded by brush, and some more out in the open.

    A really nice small creek runs behind the campground.

    We arrived on a Monday in late March and had the entire place to ourselves for a night.  The next day several other campers showed up.

    Cell service is very iffy, especially for Verizon and T-Mobile. AT&T mostly had 1-2 bars of 4G.  However, just a few miles down the road on the way to Independence there is excellent service from all carriers. 

    Really nice campground. $25 seems a bit high but this would be a great place to stay while exploring the surrounding mountains.

  • Sam M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 30, 2018

    Buckeye Flat Campground — Sequoia National Park

    trees trees trees

    This is a really cool little campground near the entrance of Sequoia National Park. The sites are tent only, so no hookups or anything like that. Pretty nice sites though, a lot of space. I think there can be fire restrictions in the summer since it can get so dry, so just be aware of that. As far as places go, it wasn't too pricey. I think we paid about $20 a night. There are bathrooms with running water, and the sites have picnic tables and fire rings. Each site also has storage lockers for your food, so be sure to lock it up in order to keep the bears from getting into it.

    As for stuff to do around here, you obviously have to check out the trees. Go look at General Sherman and all the other Sequoia trees. They're so amazing and honestly it humbles you a little. Also check out Moro Rock Trail. The view from the top is amazing. You'll also probably see a fair amount of wildlife while you're hiking around, so be careful of the bears. Out of all my trips to California, I've seen the most bears here in Sequoia. They are super cool creatures, just keep a respectful distance and of course don't feed them.

  • Heather P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 10, 2019

    Princess

    Beautifully laid out and amazing trees

    While I did not camp here, I did drive through and checked out the sites.

    I was looking to get a bit further on my driving or I would have happily set up camp.  

    I even picked out the site I would have set up camp.  26, huge stump of a tree, bear boxes, fire rings, picnic tables, water on site, flush toilets.  Nice sites for sure.

    Some sites are right on top of each other and others are a bit more spread apart.  Drive around and check them all out.

    In Mid Sept there were only a handful of campers and the majority were in campers just a few tent campers.

  • F
    Nov. 11, 2020

    Sweetwater

    Convenient Yosemite Campground

    We drove in after a long day of hiking in Yosemite. This campground is right off of Hwy 120 and makes for a super convenient stop the night before or after visiting Yosemite.

    At the time we visited (early Nov 2020) there were no water or trash removal services, but the infrastructure is there. Bathrooms were in poor shape, though I'm not sure if this is due it being the winter season.

    Campsites were $16 and included a picnic table, campfire ring, and a bear box. There were plenty of spots within our campsite for three 2-person tents.

Guide to Dunlap

Tent camping near Dunlap, California offers proximity to both Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks while providing lower elevation (1,000-2,000 feet) camping options with milder winter temperatures than in-park sites. The region features a mix of privately owned campgrounds and dispersed camping on national forest land. Fall through spring provides optimal camping conditions, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F.

What to do

Hike to waterfalls: Several trailheads near Dunlap provide access to seasonal waterfalls within 30-45 minutes driving distance. At Dunlap Canyon Retreat, one camper mentioned "the property was wonderful, very quiet, and peaceful. There are 2 lakes on the property & access to another upper mountain ridge (20-30ish mins away) with some great views of the valley."

Canoe or kayak: Some private campgrounds maintain small bodies of water suitable for paddling. A visitor at Dunlap Canyon Retreat noted the "beautiful pond to canoe" and "nice walking trails around the property" that provided on-site recreation without driving to the national parks.

Wildlife viewing: The foothill regions support diverse wildlife populations including deer, foxes, and numerous bird species. At Camp Ikigai Animal Sanctuary, campers can observe rescue animals in a conservation setting. One visitor described it as "a working animal sanctuary with horses, chickens, ducks, dogs, humans, etc."

What campers like

Off-grid camping with amenities: Many campgrounds balance rustic settings with basic facilities. One camper at Weaver Lake Trail Campsites valued that "getting to Weaver Lake may be a bit of a journey for some folks, but it's worth it. It's a beautiful place few people visit. Clean, quiet, and gorgeous."

Affordability compared to park lodging: Private campgrounds offer lower rates than park accommodations. A camper highlighted Dunlap Canyon Retreat as offering "affordable camping 30 minutes to giant Sequoias, low-key peaceful spot with plenty of room."

Year-round accessibility: While higher elevations close seasonally, foothills campgrounds near Dunlap often remain open year-round. Campers at North Fork Confluence appreciate that dispersed sites can be accessed in winter months when park facilities are limited or closed.

What you should know

Fire restrictions: Strict fire regulations apply from approximately May through November. Dispersed campers at Hume Lake Rd Overlook Dispersed should verify current fire policies as regulations change based on conditions. One camper warned about access challenges: "You have to drive up a winding road up 5000ft thennnn you have to drive up on cliff side and down hills to get to the area."

Limited cell service: Coverage varies significantly by carrier and terrain. Most campgrounds near main roads maintain adequate service while more remote sites experience gaps.

Water availability: Many dispersed sites have no water sources. One camper at Weaver Lake Trail Campsites noted that "there is something very satisfying about hiking in and having a water source at your first night's location" — highlighting that water access is noteworthy rather than expected.

Insect seasons: Wasps and mosquitoes can be problematic in warmer months. A camper at Crystal Springs Campground shared, "Staying here the end of August 2018, was pretty warm but nice weather. I normally camp in colder weather so the amount of contact we had with wasps here was extremely annoying. Every time we brought ANY food out we were swarmed with wasps."

Tips for camping with families

Reserve group sites when available: Larger family groups benefit from designated group camping areas. At Crystal Springs Campground, a camper noted the group site was "very spacious, we had more than enough room."

Consider campground amenities: Families with young children often prefer sites with toilet facilities. A camper at Crystal Springs mentioned, "restrooms are not too far & not too close to any site, flushing toilets and showers are not too far away located next to the John Muir Hotel."

Plan for temperature swings: Foothill elevations can experience 30-40°F temperature variations between day and night. A visitor to Weaver Lake Trail Campsites recommended layered clothing systems, noting "we had a lovely stay here last August. It was a bit crowded for a hike-in only site but still very enjoyable."

Tips from RVers

Road access limitations: Many forest roads leading to dispersed camping have clearance or length restrictions. Larger RVs should use established campgrounds with designated sites.

Hookup availability: Most private campgrounds offer partial hookups only. A visitor to Dunlap Canyon Retreat explained, "RV parking area is very open with space between and provides water and sewer and picnic table. Lots of dry grass as is expected this time of year so there were fox tails in the pet fur."

Seasonal planning: Spring offers optimal RV camping conditions with moderate temperatures and flowing water sources. One RVer noted, "When we stayed he had one spot with full electric but he is working on full hookups for all the sites."

Frequently Asked Questions

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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Dunlap, CA is Dunlap canyon retreat with a 5-star rating from 7 reviews.

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