Best Dispersed Camping near Elk, CA

Nice big camp spot in the Sequoia National Forest, the road was really calm mid-April, we had no car during the night. The spot has firepits, a camping table and loads of bushes. The view is nice on the forest or a mountain top. We were alone but the spot is big enough for 3 or 4 véhicules, the access is just before the U turn.

Nice open spaces with tree cover near Hume Lake off the 180. This is a dispersed camping and OHV staging area that is first come first served for camping. Great for those who are backpacking and need a free place to camp before heading off into the Sierras! Most Parks have “backpacker camps” which allow you to camp 1 night before or after a backpacking trip, but Sequoia does not. This dispersed camping area is perfect for staging your next big hike, or simply camping for free in one of the most popular National Parks.

Super convenient free camping between Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. A park ranger directed me here when all the campgrounds in the park were full. There are sites all along the road,  but the first at the junction is great and big enough for a small RV. Also a quick walk to the Chicago Stump which is a must see.

I was expecting bad conditions because of the previous comments but it was actually a good surprise. It's very close to the entrance of Yosemite, in our case it was very quiet and well isolated. There is no view or wow effect but it's great location and isolated.

Secluded with very little traffic. Especially good if you're traveling with dogs to let them roam around. There's a stream and waterfall downhill that makes for great hikes.

Nice 6.5ish hike out to a beautiful subalpine lake. Campsite are scattered around the edge of pear lake with granite mountains surrounding the area. Trout in the lake also

After Marie Lakes we had a very short 300 foot climb up and over Selden Pass and then a long decent past Heart Lake, Sallie Keyes Lakes (where the traditional Indian wood flute was being played) and a major 2000 foot switchback decent to Blayney Meadows and Muir Trail Ranch. MTR closes at 5pm so we were eager to get there and get our resupply. Ironically enough most of my resupply I dumped and grabbed a few things from the free hikers buckets. I wasn't eating nearly as much as I had planned and didn't crave anything I had in my resupply. I really just wanted apple sauce and mashed potatoes. After a nice couple hour break at MTR we headed back towards the JMT on the Florence Lake Trail. It runs along the San Joaquin River and had the most incredible trees surrounding us. The trail runs about 1.5 miles to jump back on the JMT and the camp site is close to the end of that. Maybe less than 1/2 a mile till the merge. It is open along the river and several others chose to camp in this area. The river is fast moving so not one to frolic in but easy enough to wash up and get water. Their is little privacy so a steep ascent up the hill on the other side of the trail is where you'll need to take care of "personal Matters" there's a bit of a trail that'll take you up there if you can find it. We hoped for clear skies and low winds that night as the trees we camped under were so large a pinecone would have caused so serious damage had it fallen on us. It was nice having others around as this area felt a bit like bear country and we weren't keen on uninvited guests. The next morning we would travel a short way to hop back on the JMT and meet up with the Piute Pass Trail.

If you are looking for a challenging hike, beautiful views, and complete seclusion...this is it. 

The landscape is rocky so you will need to be careful when setting up your tents and also be aware of any fire dangers or restrictions in the area. But there is a nearby stream for water replenishment and and easy hike down to Jennie Lake or Rowell Meadow. 

Lots of open space for star gazing at night. You will need a permit for an overnight here but camping itself is free.

I’ve camped here for 14 days on two different occasions. It’s very private other than the manager for the Armenian Camp who comes up and down the road everyday, a few more campers on the weekend.

Heads up to warm afternoons as they get a lot of flies.

Follow signs to the Armenian Campground, the road is fully paved and the campground keeps snow off the entrance forest road in the winter. Big rigs can make it okay. I’ve actually seen a semi drive down this spot.

We had 2 bars of Verizon and intermittent T-Mobile signal. The nearest dump station is at Sequoia RV Park in Dunlap, you just drop $20 in their box and use any available site they have.

Curvy, narrow road. No great pull outs for larger vehicles.

I found this last minute after digging through many campspots on the north side of Sequoia National Park, but most were closed for the season. Everything else was a little bit of a drive away

You have to get up a steep incline, right road off of the main road and the road is narrow. It was not our favorite part.

Stayed here in my 22ft RV after leaving kings canyon and sequoia checking out general Sherman and some other trees. Had my dual sport with me so after parking for first night I unloaded and the next day I road all over the trails. The coolest thing was the fire tower calledDelilah lookout. Highly recommend! Great place for a 2 night stay especially if you have a dirtbike/enduro

This spot is flat, large (fits 2 big rigs at least) and has T-mobile and Verizon reception. In a 2 week period I did have some hunters come by and start shooting very close to the RV but other than that everyone just passes by on the road towards Millwood OHV.

To get here make a right when you get to an intersection pointing towards sequoia lake. This spot is the last turnout wide enough for big rigs afterwards the road gets too narrow.

We arrived in the dark and met one vehicle who was coming down. We were lucky there was enough room to pass plus in the dark you can see what’s coming as other reviews mention, the road in is narrow in parts and around 1 mile before you get to the camp ground. We had the place to ourselves in our campervan, there was room for a few more vehicles. Great views coming down in the morning

While the road to get up there is a bit nerve wracking (hoping no one comes around those corners the other direction!) It's worth taking it slow and steady. We were the only ones there and enjoyed a very peaceful night bathed in moonlight and the sounds of nature. Great place!

I visited both parks and needed a place to sleep in my car, I had seen this spot on this site before so I looked and found it, it’s a dirt road but my matrix did fine driving through. Very close to the Chicago stump! Lots of wood laying around also.

I was directed to these sites by a park ranger when all the campgrounds in the national parks were full. Great sites, with the first being big enough for a small RV. Also a quick walk  to the Chicago Stump which is a must see.

This is a good spot if you go deer hunting or like roughing it.

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 but wait it's closed