Best Tent Camping near Elk, CA

Tent campsites in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Elk, California offer diverse options for primitive camping experiences. Camp Ikigai Animal Sanctuary provides basic tent sites with access to drinking water and toilet facilities, while Camp 4 Campground offers a more rustic setting with picnic tables but limited amenities. The San Joaquin River Gorge area maintains several tent-specific campgrounds with varying levels of accessibility depending on seasonal conditions and road quality.

Sites throughout the region typically feature natural surfaces with minimal site development, particularly at walk-in tent locations like Little Yosemite Valley Campground. Most tent-specific areas offer fire rings where fires are permitted, though seasonal fire restrictions are common during summer and fall. Vault toilets are available at established campgrounds like Bretz Mill, but primitive tent setups in more remote areas require campers to pack out waste and bring sufficient water. Many locations maintain 14-day stay limits and require proper food storage due to wildlife activity, especially bears in the higher elevation areas.

Walk-in tent sites provide a quieter experience away from vehicle noise and RV generators. Areas near Kings Canyon National Park offer tent campers access to extensive hiking networks and scenic viewpoints without the crowding found at fully developed campgrounds. Primitive tent campgrounds typically receive less use than those accommodating RVs, allowing for more secluded camping experiences. The terrain varies from forested settings to more exposed sites, with shade availability depending on location and recent tree management. A visitor at San Joaquin River Gorge commented that "the view is amazing if you like looking up at mountains," though they noted the parking areas can fill quickly on weekends. Areas around Bass Lake offer additional tent camping options with varying proximity to water sources and amenities.

Best Tent Sites Near Elk, California (45)

    1. Dunlap canyon retreat

    7 Reviews
    Dunlap, CA
    21 miles
    +1 (408) 761-2610

    $40 - $150 / night

    "Just 25 minute drive to the entrance of National Park.  But did enjoy staying in campground with nice walking trails around the property and peaceful pond to canoe. "

    "He is super attentive and friendly without being in your face, he strikes the perfect balance between helpful and respectful of your privacy. Great place!"

    2. Camp ikigai Animal Sanctuary 501c3

    1 Review
    Dunlap, CA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (844) 424-4424

    $39 - $69 / night

    3. Camp 4 Campground

    1 Review
    Dunlap, CA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (559) 338-2251

    $10 / night

    "Great little spot close to a lot of nice trail heads and close to all of the amenities of Yosemite. Was recommended this spot by a friend who works for the park and was so glad!"

    4. San Joaquin River Gorge

    2 Reviews
    Prather, CA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (661) 391-6000

    "It's a nice place real nice open large camp area pretty cool nice trail to a bridge overlooking the San Joaquin River gorge I really enjoyed it it's much more fun if you have horses to ride"

    5. Bretz Mill Campground

    3 Reviews
    Shaver Lake, CA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (559) 297-0706

    "Good supply of wood clean restrooms clean creek water , definitely going back"

    6. Ya-gub-weh-tuh Campground

    1 Review
    Prather, CA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (661) 391-6000

    8. Little Yosemite Valley Campground

    5 Reviews
    North Fork, CA
    32 miles
    Website

    "We hiked the waterfall trail, which is breathtaking, but full of a lot of people! Once you get passed the 2nd huge waterfall, the crowds start to die down and its just you and the mountains."

    "One of the nicest backpacking campgrounds. Nice bathrooms and right next to a clean blue river perfect for swimming in! Surrounded by granite rocks in one of the most wonderful place Yosemite"

    9. Crystal Springs Campground — Kings Canyon National Park

    3 Reviews
    Hume, CA
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (559) 565-3341

    $50 / night

    "Camp ground was very easy to find, very spacious, picnic table, pit fire, restrooms are not too far & not too close to any site, flushing toilets and showers are not too far away located next to the"

    "Great camp sites. we got in at 10pm and were still able to find a free site. it is so close to the General Grant so we didn’t have to get in the car, we just made it a long hike."

    10. Green Cabin Flat Campground

    1 Review
    Dunlap, CA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (559) 338-2251
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Tent Camping Reviews near Elk, CA

752 Reviews of 45 Elk Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Christina S.
    Jun. 13, 2019

    Princess

    Great Stop!

    We were planning on driving through the Great Sequoia National Park and camping at one of the campgrounds. We figured since it was the middle of the week they wouldn’t be packed full. However neither of us realized how much the park catered to tourists. All the open campgrounds were full and the rest were closed probably because it was still a little early in the season. We were starting to think we’d be driving all night to get out and find a place but then we crossed over into the National Forest and saw the Princess Campground. It was pretty late and there were no self service envelopes for payment so we found an open site and in the morning the campground host came around to collect the payment! Really nice sites with a picnic table, fire ring, and metal bear box for food and smellable items. There are vault toilets, trash bins, and clean water available. There are even some giant sequoia/sequoia stumps throughout the campground.

  • Darlene M.
    Jun. 18, 2018

    Sample Meadow Campground

    Stunning forested campground

    It is a beautiful campground located off Kaiser Pass Road. Even in June there was so many wildflowers and vibrate green. There was bathrooms and each site had a picnic table, fire pit, and bear box. Creeks ran though many of the campsites. There was trails close by and so many meadows. The roads nearby can take you to Kaiser Wilderness and Kaiser Peak. By car it’s only assessable between June and October and it’s worth the wait if you happen to try to come up the beginning of November like we did the first time near huntington lake. The road is pretty haggard to get to the campground. It also gets extremely cold at night so make sure to bring warm clothes and have a good tent and sleeping bag. The creek was really cold so if you need drinking water you should bring some or bring a filter. I would also suggest bug spray of some type because the mosquitoes are pretty relentless there. The stars are beautiful and the site is free too.

  • Brittanie R.
    Sep. 1, 2022

    Dorabelle Campground

    Cute Campgroud

    We had spot 29 which was the first of 4 sites sitting on a roundabout. Had a picnic table, bear box and a fire pit ring. The site itself sat behind our trailer so we didn’t use much of it. The lake is a 5 minute walk and our site was well shaded. Hosts were friendly. The bathrooms weren’t the cleanest but we don’t expect much from vault toilets. Would definitely come back!


Guide to Elk

Tent camping near Elk, California offers diverse experiences along the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, with elevations ranging from 1,200 to 4,500 feet. The region experiences hot, dry summers with temperatures often reaching 90-100°F between June and September, while winter camping requires preparation for occasional snow at higher elevations. Seasonal closures affect campground availability, with most primitive sites closing from November through April.

What to do

Hang gliding observation: At Dunlap Canyon Retreat, visitors can watch hang gliding and paragliding activities from a unique perspective. "There are people hang gliding and paragliding here which was super cool to watch both at take off (upper spot) and landing (main camp)," notes Courtney F. The property features both launch sites and landing areas.

Water recreation: Many campgrounds provide access to small lakes or rivers for swimming and paddling. Dunlap Canyon Retreat offers "a beautiful pond and hang gliding site" according to Martha H., while other visitors mention canoeing opportunities on the property's pond. Sites near rivers often provide cooling relief during summer months.

Hiking to viewpoints: The region offers numerous trail networks with varying difficulty levels. When camping at Little Yosemite Valley Campground, Kate W. recommends: "If you are attempting Half Dome you could exhaust yourself and hike up from base, or you could extend the trip and hike here first, stay a night, wake up early, and be the first on the Dome to watch the sunrise."

What campers like

Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and shower facilities rank high on camper satisfaction lists. At Crystal Springs Campground, Virgil O. appreciated that "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."

Natural water features: Access to rivers or ponds enhances the camping experience for many visitors. Nyssa L. enjoyed Little Yosemite Valley Campground because they "passed out immediately in our hammock to the sound of the river next to the site." These water features provide both recreational opportunities and natural cooling during summer heat.

Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds offer chances to observe local wildlife. At Camp Ikigai Animal Sanctuary, Rob H. describes "a working animal sanctuary with horses, chickens, ducks, dogs, humans, etc." The sanctuary offers a unique environment where "animals and humans living off grid in harmony."

What you should know

Road conditions: Access to many campgrounds requires navigating unpaved roads. Miguel M. warns about Bretz Mill Campground: "The road to get to campsite can get rough. It's a good 8 mile dirt road. Some parts are collapse. And others parts get muddy so make sure you got a good car."

Fire restrictions: Many Sierra foothill campgrounds implement seasonal fire bans during high fire danger periods. Always check current fire regulations before your trip, as conditions change rapidly during summer and fall months. Most established campgrounds with fire rings require campers to purchase firewood locally rather than collecting it.

Insects: Expect to encounter wasps and mosquitoes during summer months. Azizah T. reported at Crystal Springs: "Every time we brought ANY food out we were swarmed with wasps. It made the experience a bit unbarring." Miguel M. also noted "lots of mosquitoes around" at Bretz Mill Campground.

Tips for camping with families

Primitive tent options: Many campgrounds offer walk-in tent sites suitable for families seeking quiet experiences. At Ya-gub-weh-tuh Campground, Aliza N. explains: "Several sites with picnic tables and fire rings but all are walk in sites for tenters. Fee is $10/night." These sites typically require carrying gear a short distance from parking areas.

Animal interactions: Campgrounds with animal residents can provide educational experiences for children. Rob H. describes Camp Ikigai Animal Sanctuary's unique features: "Amazing outdoor shower has grapes and herbs growing in it. Laundry facilities and kitchen available in a welcoming community area."

Bear awareness: Campers should practice proper food storage, particularly in higher elevation sites. At Little Yosemite Valley Campground, Esther Y. advises: "Watch for bears ... they are common here." Most established campgrounds provide metal food storage lockers or require bear canisters.

Tips from RVers

Site accessibility: RV camping options are limited in this region, with most sites accommodating smaller rigs only. At Dunlap Canyon Retreat, Courtney F. notes: "We stayed at lower main camp with 30 ft RV, and had plenty of room... The sites have water and sewer hookups & when we stayed he had one spot with full electric but he is working on full hookups for all the sites."

Generator restrictions: Many campgrounds prohibit generator use to maintain quiet environments. Check specific campground rules before arrival, as policies vary widely between locations. Some campgrounds offer designated generator hours during midday to allow battery charging.

Parking limitations: At walk-in tent camping areas, parking is often limited. Manny R. observed at San Joaquin River Gorge that "the parking lot was completely full" during peak times, making early arrival advisable, especially on weekends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Elk, CA?

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

What is the best site to find tent camping near Elk, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 45 tent camping locations near Elk, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.